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Council Member Stevens addresses sanitation issues in District 16
1:47:19
·
4 min
Council Member Althea V. Stevens raises concerns about sanitation issues in District 16 of the West Bronx, highlighting the lack of garbage cans, ineffective street cleaning, and illegal dumping. She emphasizes the need for equitable distribution of sanitation services and requests immediate action from the Department of Sanitation to address these problems.
- Stevens points out the disparity in garbage can distribution between her district and other areas of the city, such as Fifth Avenue.
- She mentions issues with street cleaning enforcement and garbage left behind after collection.
- The council member expresses frustration with having to use discretionary funding to replace removed garbage cans and requests a plan to restore them without additional cost to her office.
Althea V. Stevens
1:47:19
Hello good morning, good afternoon.
Javier Lojan
1:47:21
Good morning.
Althea V. Stevens
1:47:21
I have a couple minutes for afternoon.
1:47:25
One I just wanted to add my thoughts to the same thing that Deputy Speaker Ayala was talking about, the comparison in districts and and how the lack of additional effort because I think people hear equity and they think equity is we all get the same thing, but we all don't need the same things and so I really need that to be taken into consideration in District 16 in the West Bronx because my streets are filthy.
1:47:50
One of the things that I get the most complaints about is just how the streets are filthy.
1:47:54
Know people don't move their cars for street cleaning, but there's no enforcement either.
1:47:59
Literally up the block from our office on Elton, cars have not been moved in months and not of the truck doesn't even go there anymore.
1:48:07
Garbage cans, there is no garbage cans throughout my district.
1:48:10
You find them on 160 First where the Yankees are and by the courthouse, but once you start to walk down Webster or Morris, there are absolutely no garbage cans.
1:48:18
I know for a fact that my predecessor paid for multiple garbage cans throughout the district that have been removed, and so those things are just unacceptable.
1:48:25
So how do we expect people to keep things clean when there's not even a place for them to put their trash?
1:48:30
And so really thinking about what is the plan to ensure that the equity looking like our communities who need more are getting more in addition to can you please stop removing the garbage cans in my district and put them back.
1:48:41
I do not think it's okay for me to have to use my discretionary funding in a district that has extreme need on replacing garbage cans that sanitation removed.
1:48:52
So can you please tell me your plan to put garbage cans back in my district and me not having to pay for them?
Javier Lojan
1:48:57
Yeah.
1:48:57
And I just council members, some sometimes it's not always us removing them.
1:49:02
We we get requests all the time to replace baskets in in areas, and for some reason, they get removed.
1:49:08
It happens all the time.
1:49:10
So could we figure out who's removing them?
1:49:12
I'm sorry?
Althea V. Stevens
1:49:13
Could we figure out who's removing them?
1:49:14
Because I don't think anyone has taken them upstairs and wipes the project.
1:49:16
So could we figure out where they went?
1:49:18
Could we
Javier Lojan
1:49:19
Yeah.
Althea V. Stevens
1:49:19
Do some of that?
Javier Lojan
1:49:19
I'd be glad to work with you and your office and and seeing where those locations are and and replacing those.
Althea V. Stevens
1:49:24
I mean, honestly the only places in my district you can we can have a ride through it together, there is no garbage can.
1:49:30
Like there is not and again the same the same sentiments.
1:49:32
When we call the folks, the garages are great, they're always trying to be responsive Right.
1:49:36
But that is just not enough.
Javier Lojan
1:49:38
Alright.
1:49:38
I'll be happy to work with you on seeing where the locations are and seeing why why they're being removed and seeing find a resolution for them.
Althea V. Stevens
1:49:45
Absolutely.
1:49:45
Because I I I don't have money to to keep replacing them.
1:49:48
Again, I know for a fact my predecessor had dedicated and spent money before I got there because she was trying to set me up for success and they were removed.
1:49:56
And, we can also talk to her because she's currently the borough president, so she also knows, right?
1:50:00
And, so I think that also thinking about the street cleaning, it's not happening.
1:50:04
I think one of the things that Councilmember Zalam also spoke about is the garbage.
1:50:07
When they do pick up the garbage, they leave loads of trash in the middle of the street, so it's like diapers and clothes like all on the ground and they drive off.
1:50:16
That's not done in other communities and so I would really appreciate when you guys are in my district that there's an extra level of care as well as it is in other parts of the city because it's not being seen because I get so many complaints about it.
1:50:30
Especially on Park Avenue, when you go down Park it's a complete dumping zone.
1:50:35
I have put dumping cameras up, it has not alleviated.
1:50:38
So I need more understanding of even around the dumping.
1:50:41
What does it look like when you have a dumping camera and people are still dumping there?
1:50:44
What is the solution?
1:50:45
Because that's not working either.
Javier Lojan
1:50:46
Right.
1:50:47
Yeah.
1:50:47
And and just to get back to your point, if you have if you had other baskets that were funded, then they should still be there.
1:50:53
So again, glad to work with you on seeing why they've been missing and replace those.
1:50:58
Shouldn't have to pay for it if they were paid for already.
1:51:01
So
Althea V. Stevens
1:51:01
And even if they weren't, there is none in my district.
1:51:03
So we can also go through so you can see how they Definitely.
1:51:07
And how is that possible when I go on Fifth Avenue and there's a garbage can on every single corner?
1:51:13
That's not okay.
1:51:15
And so when people go downtown and they see that and they come back to my district, do you know what they say?
1:51:19
You're not doing your job.
1:51:20
Why are you not fighting for us?
1:51:21
And that's not okay because I am.
Javier Lojan
1:51:23
Right.
Althea V. Stevens
1:51:23
And so I need I need us to come up with a real solution.
1:51:26
If I go to a community and they have a garbage can on every corner, I need to see that.
1:51:30
And the last time I was told, oh they paid for them.
1:51:32
So if I pay for them and you remove them, what are we doing?
Javier Lojan
1:51:34
No, I agree with you.
1:51:35
If they paid for them, they we should they should have them there.
Althea V. Stevens
1:51:37
But I shouldn't have to pay for them.
1:51:38
I shouldn't have to pay for them.
Javier Lojan
1:51:39
Yep.
1:51:40
Great.
1:51:41
Thank you.
1:51:41
Yep.