Helen didn't know that Jamaica was dirty

From NY1:

Queens Borough President Helen Marshall was not aware of the trash problem in Jamaica, so she came to see for herself. She toured 107th Avenue with her staff and Yvonne Reddick, the local community board's district manager and liaison to the borough president

"This is ridiculous," Marshall said.

Reddick had seen pictures of the mess, but she said it looked worse in person.

"It's unbelievable," Reddick said.

Residents said they should have known about this all along. To hear them tell it, Reddick, Marshall and other elected officials have allowed this problem to get out of hand.

Marshall shot back, "Don't point your fingers. I didn't own this house, I didn't sell it to somebody, OK? But I tell you one thing — I don't like garbage all over my streets in Queens."

City Councilman Ruben Wills and Leroy Comrie said they don't like being piled on either.

"Me and Comrie and [Councilman] Eric Ulrich, it's not that bad in his district, have given money to [the Department of] Sanitation," Comrie said.

Wills said sanitation crews now empty city trash bins twice a week on Sutphin Boulevard and the agency has cleared several areas upon his request. Wills and Comrie have also partnered with volunteer groups.

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Last night and today, Part 4 of the 4 part NY1 Series by Ruschell Boone about the Jamaica Garbage Problem. Ms. Boone did an great job by going deeper into the major garbage problem that has been plaguing Jamaica for years.

Last night and today was the local politician's turn to voice their thoughts and all I have to say is Classic Politician and City Official's Bullshit!

Totally clueless Queens Borough President Helen Marshall says that she was not aware of the trash problem in Jamaica and then to add insult to injury said, "Don't point your fingers. I didn't own this house, I didn't sell it to somebody, OK? But I tell you one thing — I don't like garbage all over my streets in Queens." Well, Ms. Marshall, I am not only pointing my finger at you, I am sticking all my fingers up your ass, because you are full of shit. I have been sending your office photos and videos of the problem for almost 2 years now. Besides are not you the Queens Borough President, where the operative word is QUEENS. You should know what is going on in your borough and our locals should be letting you know, which they probably are not. So what you are telling me besides you are doing shit about the problem, you are also clueless and a moron as well, not to be held accountable for what is going on in Jamaica. BULLSHIT!

The other officials who appeared, Councilman Ruben Wills and Leroy Comrie did not fair that much better. Wills said "City Councilman Ruben Wills and Leroy Comrie said they don't like being piled on either. "Me and Comrie and [Councilman] Eric Ulrich, it's not that bad in his district, have given money to [the Department of] Sanitation." You are damn right, you are going to get piled on, you are the damn leaders in the community, you are supposed to lead, make things better, deal with problems and for decades you and your predecessors have do nothing. So yes we are going to pile on you just like you have all let the garbage pile on our community and affect Jamaica's quality of life. I would also like to see [Councilman] Eric Ulrich area that is "not so bad". Studies have shown a link between garbage all over a community and crime. Jamaica has both. Giving more money to sanitation does not help if the problem persists and keeps getting worse. I am also curious about how much more money we are talking about. How about enforcing laws that are already on the book, such as all containers must have a lid, how about changing laws to go after property owners to give them 5 days to clean up their property or else the fine will be doubled and that will accumulate each day that the property is not cleaned up. What about putting security cameras in areas that are known for major dumping. What about more sanitation officers and even police officers to ticket individuals who throw garbage onto the ground or going after all the illegal apartments in the community, since those people throw their garbage anywhere. All I heard from Comrie is that he is drafting anti-blight legislation that would impose stricter penalties, including liens on properties with severe trash violations and the legislation also seeks a reduction in time a landowner has to clear up property. NOW you are drafting it, this should have been done at least 10 years ago. By the time this law is in effect, if it goes into effect, we will all be in the next world, hopefully a much more cleaner one.

And where where the other Jamaica politicians, Senator Malcolm Smith, Assemblymember William Scarsborough and Assemblymember Vivian Cook, whose district is one of the worst. We all would have loved to hear what you have been doing and what you plan to do about the problem, but no you all were Missing in Action. What, there was some ribbon cutting photo op going on somewhere, you had better things to do, WHAT. Where the hell where these so-called leaders?

So now that we have seen this really great series by NY1 Ruschell Boone, what have we learned:

1. Low class ghetto people/low class immigrants are the culprits along with the slumlord property owners and owners of vacant lots.

2. Some in our community really are angry and pissed off about what is going on and the lack of leadership to combat this problem.

3. Others don't give a shit and could care less if they live in filth, hence, the low class ghetto people, like the one guy in Part 2 who said this does not bother him, he did not do it. What tells me that this individual has thrown his share of garbage on the sidewalk.

4. Our local politicians and past politicians have done very little to nothing in regards to this garbage problem that has been happening for decades and only say something when the media gets involved.

5. Queens Borough President Helen Marshal is clueless, useless and as ignorant as the low class ghetto people who are tossing garbage.

Well, I have been preaching these things to our locals for two years, but it took the media to shake them up and put them on the spot.

A big shout out and thanks to NY1 reporter for taking the time to do a series on this horrible garbage problem in Jamaica. Now it is time for everyone who has dropped the ball and do something and not down the road but NOW!!!!!!

I will be watching!!!

Joe Moretti
Jamaica, NY 11432