Katz finally working on Jamaica cleanup

Photo from Cleanup Jamaica Queens

From AM-NY:

A new pilot program aimed at cleaning up Jamaica’s streets will also benefit formerly homeless people looking to build job skills.

Borough President Melinda Katz unveiled the “Jamaica Together: A Neighborhood Cleaning Effort” program on Tuesday, announcing a six-month partnership with the Association of Community Employment Programs for the Homeless (ACE) as well as other community stakeholders.

The initiative will lean on ACE-paid workers to clean up and beautify a section of Guy R. Brewer Boulevard, between Tuskegee Airmen Way and 109th Avenue, according to Kat’s office. ACE, a non-profit organization, works with recovering homeless people in the city by providing support services and helping them build key skills that will enable them to obtain and maintain a job.

“Jamaica is one of our borough’s core neighborhoods and it is critically important that we do all we can to make it a fantastic place to live, work and visit,” Katz said. “This program is just one part of our overall effort to revitalize Jamaica and maximize its potential as a residential and commercial hub.”

Each weekday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., a two-person crew will go out along Guy R. Brewer Boulevard to clean the sidewalks and tree pits and remove unauthorized graffiti. The workers will be overseen by a supervisor from ACE, per Katz’s office.

Update on Flushing tree pits

"The downtown Flushing tree pits are untidy no more !
Could the Queens Crap post on 8/27/16 have made this happen ?
I think so ..."

The Queens Sentry

Untidy tree pit tripping hazards

Hi Crapper,

On my way home from the Met game Friday night waiting to board the Q16 bus I could not help but notice some serious sidewalk trip hazards.You can see in my attached pictures how dangerous the sidewalk is. There are a total of six empty tree pits in the middle of 39th Ave between Union street and 138th street. Most are filled with litter including broken glass and cans along with commercial garbage from the local establishments. It just angers me why some home owners in Queens are being nickel & dimed with fines over minute sidewalk and curb conditions while these serious trip hazards are allowed in the middle of a busy transportation hub.

Thanks... The Queens Sentry

Ciafone canopy encroaches on tree pit

Here we are at "199 Green Court" in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. That familiar sign indicates that this is a John Ciafone building.

And one of his classic canopies is in full bloom here.

And it's anchored in an interesting location.

That's right, the post likely drills right down into a tree root because the genius decided that the presence of a public street tree pit should not be a deterrent to jazzing up his private property.

This just oozes class!

Shalimar Diner needs to clean up its act

"When you walk in Rego Park, make sure you're walking in the middle of the block as you pass the Shalimar Diner at 63-68 Austin Street.

Although the Shalimar has knowledge that they are responsible for keeping up the area around the curbside tree, they just ignore it. The grass is nearly waist high and the garbage strewn and hidden in the tall grass makes it a trip & fall waiting to happen.

If you walk too close to the building, you may get hit in the head by pieces of the cement facade that are falling off. Makes one think what is going on in their kitchen with all this obvious neglect!" - Anonymous

Parks cuts down tree instead of unchaining it

"Hi QC,
I don't know how it all happened but the oak mentioned in the post of 6/19 has been taken down.

It was a beauty...unchained, with finality, by a chain saw." - Rachel

Here's proof tha, posting stuff here gets action. Unfortunately, this wasn't exactly the action most of us had in mind... It was nice of them to cut the tree down but leave the concrete sitting there so now it's even more of an eyesore.

Service Request #: C1-1-985659537
Date Submitted: 06/28/14 9:46:05 PM
Request Type: New Tree Request
Details: For One Address

Thank you for contacting New York City 311. Your Service Request has been sent to the Department of Parks and Recreation for action.

Perhaps planting a new tree will take care of it. Unfortunately, that concrete crap is likely to sit there until the next planting season, because this is how the Parks Department rolls.

People should stop being slobs

From the Queens Chronicle:

All Rego Park resident Linda Pakula wants is for those in her community to show some respect.

Throughout Rego Park, some bioswales that normally house appealing greenery and filter rainwater instead feature garbage, oily water or broken, dead trees.

Near the intersection of 63rd Road and 97th Street, a block from Queens Boulevard, two unsightly plots feature all that and more.

Two orange cones wrapped in old caution tape, ripped paper signs and garbage surround a dead tree in a pit on the west side of the intersection.

Just steps away, on the east side of the intersection, a tarp, sandbags and a cone cover the spot where a tree would normally sit, while numerous bags of trash float in a pool of dirty water.

Instead of blaming the Parks Department for allowing the bioswales to decay, Pakula blames her fellow Rego Park residents.

“It’s the people in the community throwing their garbage in there,” Pakula said. “I would never say it’s a city issue, it’s a people issue.”