{"id":267,"date":"2022-08-05T19:43:00","date_gmt":"2022-08-05T19:43:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/council.nyc.gov\/sandra-ung\/?p=267"},"modified":"2026-08-06T19:49:04","modified_gmt":"2026-08-06T19:49:04","slug":"cm-ung-invites-dsny-to-flushing-continues-cleanup-efforts-in-downtown-flushing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/council.nyc.gov\/sandra-ung\/2022\/08\/05\/cm-ung-invites-dsny-to-flushing-continues-cleanup-efforts-in-downtown-flushing\/","title":{"rendered":"CM Ung Invites DSNY to Flushing, Continues Cleanup Efforts in Downtown Flushing"},"content":{"rendered":"
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In her ongoing efforts to ensure that Flushing is welcoming to residents, shoppers and commuters, Council Member Sandra Ung invited representatives from the Department of Sanitation (DSNY) Community Affairs Unit and Small Business Services (SBS) to educate business owners along Main Street about regulations governing the display of merchandise on city sidewalks. <\/p>\n

\u201cPedestrians on our sidewalks are getting squeezed between the encroachment of storefront displays and the proliferation of street vendors,\u201d said Council Member Ung. \u201cWhile it is a positive thing that Flushing has a vibrant and bustling business district, its success can\u2019t come at the expense of public safety. Our congested sidewalks are making it difficult for everyone, but especially for seniors, parents with strollers, and other people with mobility issues.\u201d<\/p>\n

On Friday morning, the representatives started with a visit to CJ Food Market at 40-33 Main Street, and then walked down Main Street toward Northern Boulevard, stopping to speak with other storeowners displaying merchandise on the sidewalk. They will return next week to conduct further outreach. <\/p>\n

Following complaints from numerous constituents and visitors to Flushing, Council Member Ung sent a letter to the owner of CJ Food Market on June 8 urging him to remove the produce displays from the sidewalk to create more space for pedestrians. Since then, the situation has remained relatively unchanged. <\/p>\n

The visit by DSNY and SBS follows other initiatives the Council Member has spearheaded, including pressuring the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) to increase enforcement efforts on unlicensed street vendors in the downtown area. Over a two-day period last week, DCWP inspectors confiscated the goods from three vendors with numerous violations following extensive outreach efforts to encourage voluntary compliance.<\/p>\n

\u201cDespite the efforts on the part of the city to persuade vendors to follow the law, unlicensed vending has only increased on Main Street,\u201d said Council Member Ung. \u201cThe intent wasn\u2019t to punish the vendors, but to keep the sidewalks clear and safe for all.\u201d<\/p>\n