Queens, NY – Today, New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams joined community leaders and local small business owners to announce $50,000 in Council funding to provide supplemental cleanup services and a comprehensive action plan to improve the quality of life for small businesses and residents of Liberty Avenue in Southeast Queens. Speaker Adams’ $50,000 allocation, approved by the Council during its Stated Meeting on April 24, funds the Center for Employment Opportunity (CEO) to provide 5-day a week supplemental cleanup services along the Liberty Avenue corridor through the end of the fiscal year on June 30.

“Liberty Avenue is the heart of our diverse and vibrant Richmond Hill community, and it’s home to so many small businesses that exemplify what makes this district so special,” said Speaker Adrienne Adams. “This corridor is vital to the social and economic fabric of our community life, but a multitude of challenges persist, underscoring the need for comprehensive solutions and investments. I’m proud to announce an action plan to improve the quality of life along Liberty Avenue and ensure merchants have the support they need to thrive. With the allocation of new city funding to expand cleanup services on the corridor, we are taking major steps to beautify our neighborhood. I thank our community partners and city agency stakeholders for their ongoing partnership to support this community.”

A video of the press conference can be found here.

In addition to the funding announced today, Speaker Adams unveiled a comprehensive plan to revitalize and improve quality of life on Liberty Avenue, including:

  • The establishment of an inter-agency task force with the Department of Sanitation (DSNY), New York Police Department (NYPD), and Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) with Speaker Adams’ office to enforce city regulations and ensure sidewalks and public streetscapes are accessible
  • Joining Queens Community Board 10 to request “No Standing” zones and additional street sweeping along Liberty Avenue
  • A partnership with the Queens Chamber for Commerce to provide educational workshops to support local businesses
  • The exploration of establishing a new merchants’ association with the Queens Chamber of Commerce, local businesses, and community organizations on Liberty Avenue to promote neighborhood business and success.

Speaker Adams’ announcement addresses community concerns of increased trash impacting the business corridor, unlicensed vending blocking pedestrian pathways, and the need for additional support and resources for local businesses. For Fiscal Year 2026, Speaker Adams and the Council are pursuing additional city funding to continue providing supplemental cleanup services for the thoroughfare. CEO offers people returning home from incarceration with support and job opportunities to achieve financial stability.

“This partnership is a powerful example of what it looks like when communities invest in people’s potential—not their past,” said Samra Haider, President of the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO). “We’re proud to work alongside Speaker Adrienne Adams and other local partners to improve Liberty Avenue, while also providing meaningful employment to individuals returning from incarceration. Community clean-up projects like this not only restore our shared spaces—they also restore hope and create a sense of purpose and opportunity. When people coming home are given the chance to contribute, they build stronger, safer neighborhoods and futures for us all.”

“The Queens Chamber of Commerce is proud to partner with Speaker Adrienne Adams to help revitalize Liberty Avenue and support the small businesses that are the backbone of this community,” said Tom Grech, President and CEO of the Queens Chamber of Commerce. “Under the Speaker’s leadership, we’ve conducted extensive merchant outreach and hosted events to bring resources to the community, foster collaboration, and help local businesses grow and thrive. Together, we’re working to create a vibrant commercial corridor that strengthens the entire neighborhood and reflects the energy and diversity of Southeast Queens.”

“Community Board 10 appreciates the ongoing efforts of Speaker Adams and her office to address the concerns of our residents and merchants along the Liberty Avenue commercial strip,” said Queens Community Board 10 Chairperson Betty Braton. “The Speaker’s actions aimed at increasing overall cleanliness and reducing sidewalk and roadway congestion will help, and CB10 will continue to work with Speaker Adams and her staff to expand them wherever possible.”

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