It's a jungle out there...

From the Forum:

Residents along 165th Avenue in Howard Beach say their quality of life is severely compromised by overgrown weeds covering sidewalks and hiding garbage bags left by illegal dumpers. The smell of garbage fills the air, rats are running wild and the sidewalk from Crossbay Boulevard to 82nd Street have all but disappeared under the growth.

The Forum visited the site after being contacted by several residents who say they are frustrated because it’s not clear which government agency is responsible for the cleanup of the problem area, which lies along the perimeter of city property and Gateway National Parkland.

Sanitation Department Deputy Commissioner Vito A. Turso told the Forum on Tuesday morning that he would send a supervisor to the area to determine the best course of action.

A Gateway employee parked at the scene on Tuesday said he had offered to cut the weeds along the guardrail but was told it was not his agency’s responsibility. In addition, he added that the lack of cleanup from the guardrail to the curb has prevented Gateway from cleaning the interior after the storm.