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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Pedro Suarez, Executive Director of Third Avenue Business Improvement District on Sanitation Challenges and Funding Requests
3:53:11
ยท
110 sec
Pedro Suarez, Executive Director of the Third Avenue Business Improvement District in the South Bronx, testifies about the challenges faced by his district and requests for additional funding from the Department of Sanitation (DSNY) to address various sanitation issues.
- Advocates for more funding for litter basket collections, illegal dumping prevention, and enforcement personnel
- Requests creation of a fund to assist smaller BIDs with purchasing containers for waste containerization
- Highlights the need for customized solutions for BIDs, stating there is no one-size-fits-all strategy
Pedro Suarez
3:53:11
Can can you hear me?
3:53:12
Okay.
3:53:12
Sorry.
3:53:12
I accidentally unmuted.
3:53:14
Alright.
3:53:14
So I am the executive director of the Third Avenue Business Improvement District in the South Bronx, neighborhoods of Mothaven and Melrose, which is one of the oldest and most heavily trafficked commercial districts in the entire city.
3:53:25
We haven't continued to take steps towards implementing containerization and making additional investments in our supplemental sanitation program, but it will take time to get to where I think my bid needs to be.
3:53:36
Additionally, I wanna thank the SNY sanitation workers on the ground, including the Bronx chiefs, for working closely with my bid to address trash issues.
3:53:44
My district continues to navigate challenges with severe quality of life issues, like illegal dumping, littering, homeless encampments, and medical waste, and especially syringes.
3:53:53
As the city moves towards containerization and bids, I'd like to advocate that the DSNY budget include additional investments in the following, allocating more funding to local garages like Bronx 1 for more frequent litter basket collections in the hub and addressing severe illegal dumping and littering situations, allocating more funding for DSNY cameras to address illegal dumping issues in District 17, allocating more funding for DSNY enforcement to hire additional personnel and conduct additional operations related to unlicensed funding, illegal dumping, sidewalk obstructions.
3:54:25
Currently, 40 DSNY enforcement personnel for five boroughs, which includes 76 commercial districts, is not enough to address quality of life issues and hold bad actors accountable on a consistent basis.
3:54:36
The creation of a fund to assist smaller bids with the purchase of containers, especially as many bids need customized solutions to meet the unique needs of their districts.
3:54:45
There is no one size fits all strategy for bids.
3:54:49
Allocating funding to the priority areas above would help ensure that the economic centers, especially in low income communities, have the resources needed to remain clean, safe, and vibrant for all New Yorkers.
3:55:00
Thank you.