Queens, NY – Today, Speaker Adrienne E. Adams joined Majority Whip Selvena Brooks-Powers, Senator Leroy Comrie, representatives from the Parks and Sanitation departments, community organizations, and local leaders to call for cleaner streets, parks, and open spaces in Southeast Queens. Speaker Adams highlighted local efforts already underway to beautify the area, including Baisley Pond Park, where the rally was held. She encouraged community members to come together and get involved in volunteer projects.
After the rally, participating organizations, students, and residents teamed up for a cleanup event at Baisley Pond Park. Photos from the rally are available here.
“For decades, sanitation issues like illegal dumping and overflowing litter have negatively affected the quality of life for residents in Southeast Queens,” said Speaker Adrienne Adams. “In recent years, pandemic-related budget cuts worsened conditions, impacting the health, safety, and well-being of our communities. In response, community leaders and organizations have stepped up to organize cleanups and involve their neighbors in beautification projects. When combined with deeper investments in sanitation services and funding for additional cleaning initiatives, our communities will finally have the clean streets, parks, and shared spaces that we deserve.”
“From Brookville Road to the Rockaway Beach Boardwalk, illegal dumping continues to pervade our communities,” said NYC Majority Whip Selvena Brooks-Powers. “Investments in street sweeping, trash, and organics collection, and regular maintenance keep New York City streets and parks clean. I thank my colleagues in government and our agency partners, specifically Council Speaker Adrienne E. Adams, the Parks Department, DSNY, and NYS Senator Leroy Comrie, for their commitment to advocating for additional resources to ensure clean streets and scenic neighborhoods.”
“I was pleased to join Speaker Adams, our colleagues in government, and community leaders to join in the chorus of advocates calling for clean, green, and open spaces here in Southeast Queens,” said Senator Leroy Comrie. “The pandemic highlighted the need for increased access to our parks and outdoor venues for families while also putting a spotlight on the need for more city services for sanitation pickups, street cleaning, and parks maintenance. With Speaker Adams at the helm, and strong leaders like Majority Whip Brooks-Powers, our community’s open spaces will be a shining example for the entire city.”
“Volunteers are a meaningful part of any healthy parks ecosystem, and we thank Council Speaker Adams for her advocacy and call for volunteerism,” said Department of Parks and Recreation Commissioner Sue Donoghue. “We offer many volunteer programs and events across the five boroughs, and we encourage New Yorkers to visit our volunteer events webpage, or contact Partnerships for Parks to get involved.”
“The cleanliness of our streets is essential to New York’s recovery,” said Department of Sanitation Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “I want to thank Speaker Adams for her advocacy for Southeast Queens – and all of the five boroughs – and look forward to continuing to work with her to give New Yorkers the clean streets they expect and deserve.”
“ACE is proud to work alongside Speaker Adams to keep our local communities clean, beautiful, and safe for all. The New York City Cleanup Initiative is improving the quality of life for everyone right here in District 28 and for millions around the city, but it’s more than just clean streets,” said James Martin, Executive Director of ACE Programs for the Homeless. “This initiative has opened up the door to full-time employment opportunities for New Yorkers who are eager to overcome hardships like homelessness, incarceration, and addiction, and earn a living wage for themselves and their families. Thank you, Speaker Adams, for keeping our streets looking their best and providing life-changing job opportunities to our most vulnerable neighbors.”
“NYC H2O is excited to partner with Speaker Adams and SEQ Cleanup to help clean up Baisley Pond Park. From the spectacular 30-acre freshwater pond filled with fish and Redhead ducks to the park’s shady oasis of 100-year-old oak trees, this area is an incredible community resource,” said Matt Malina, Executive Director of NYC H2O. “We love organizing cleanups here because these events bring out the best – in the best New Yorkers. Cleaning the park helps improve habitat for wildlife, greenspace for community members, and creates a more inviting space for children to learn about the environment and become involved in stewardship. NYC H2O also provides free water ecology and engineering field trips to New York City students at Baisley Pond because of its history as a reservoir that once supplied the City of Brooklyn in the 1800’s.”
“The Hort is proud to play a role in keeping Southeastern Queens beautiful through its horticultural maintenance and enhancements within the community,” said Nick Guntli, Senior Director of Horticulture at The Horticultural Society of New York.
“SEQ Cleanup salutes local elected officials NYC Speaker Adams, Council Member Nantasha Williams, and Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers for putting extra attention into the beautification and addition of engaging programming in our local parks and green spaces across South East Queens,” said Karen “DJ Nett” Lawson, Founder of SEQ Cleanup. “At SEQ Cleanup, we aim to continue to inspire our fellow community members to “do their part” to be a part of the solution rather than just pointing out the problem. Thank you to community partners like Carpenter Contractor Alliance of Metropolitan New York, who are dedicated to the upkeep and beautification of our SEQ community, and local cleanup groups who we partner with often to get the job done. These community cleanup groups include: NYC H2O, Abuela Neighborhood Maintenance, and Family of Five Foundation. Together as a unit, we can make waves!”