Jackson Heights Life

Note from Moderator:

This post was split off from the Washington Plaza thread and given its own thread, since it was off-topic in the Washington Plaza discussion.

Joyce45, thank you for raising this issue. I think it's as serious as any in the neighborhood and needs to be tackled with real action by us -- area residents.

I'm a relative newcomer to the area and I have been really disturbed by how trash laden these blocks are, so I'd like to suggest the following:

--There is a merchants association that represents the businesses on this street and we ought to be in contact with them. I will try to dig up the contact info. The person in charge of it recently attended a community meeting set up to discuss policing issues and as an aside mentioned that the merchants are being unfairly blamed for trash because people come from other nabes and dump there. I think that's patently untrue. I walk by the big fruit and vegetable market in 74th each morning and I'm convinced they rarely sweep their sidewalk.
--A group of us should get together and contact our local officials in an organized way.
--We also should attend the local community board meetings and take another step. There is a member of the community board responsible for sanitation issues and that person ought to be contacted too.

One thing I have noticed is whenever the issue of street clutter and illegal vendors is mentioned there's a large group of folks who contend that this is part of the charm of JH and people like us are criticized as folks who want to turn JH in to the Upper East Side. No way that's true. There is nothing ``charming'' about having some of the dirtiest streets around.

Maybe we could set up a meeting to further discuss.

Regarding trash cans- it has been discussed here before with many comments on the fact that these garbage cans fill up in a
matter of hours and that means you need lot's of pickups by Dept of Sanitation. Otherwise they look worse that the litter on
the streets. In other areas of JH where there are trash cans a fair amount of the trash is from households who have extra
tenants or drivers emptying their meals from cars. I think more of the John Doe workers, more fines for businesses, enforcement of street access rules by vendors, more signs and more flowers and plants to show some gives a damn about the look of the area.

The businesses on 73rd and 74th clearly have some exemptions from street cleaning. Some of the sidewalks are
black with grease. And the street vendors are out of control leaning their tables and wares against the street trees- the few
of these trees that survive these streets. I am in this area frequently and shop/eat at a number of the establishments so I
am interested in them doing well, but standards and enforcement in this area are not enforced which is repelling a lot of
residents and for the businesses, more potential customers who see the area as super dirty.

 There is a group of local people organized already which is under the umbrella Friends of Diversity Plaza. Contact them for
more info.

I believe trash is an issue all over NYC.

In other neighborhoods with commercial litter/garbage issues private contractors are used to remove trash daily.

That is the only real valid solution.

To pay for a daily, or twice daily if necessary, private service.

hi, can u share me your concerns! I can write a story on this issue which will make the dept to look into the matter. you can reach me at 929-261-2262 or email me at ra2219@columbia.edu

I think it is amazing how there are no public garbage cans on 73rd / Roosevelt. Just shows how we can't get any official help there...

Jeff is definitely right about the public garbage cans...they were removed by a film crew many years ago and were never put back, despite multiple requests to do so.

I think the garbage cans are only one issue, though. Ultimately the behavior of people who litter needs to be changed. Dozens of times have I seen people on 73rd and 74th or adjacent blocks just throw tea cups, whole dunkin donuts bags, chicken and rice containers, etc in a tree pit, under a car, or in front of someone's building without a care. I've had some angry confrontations with people about it and in most cases they pick it up, but they often give attitude. I don't bother any more because it seems insurmountable and I don't need the stress in my life.

Maybe this is a cultural thing. I don't see these problems in most JH streets.