Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Jim Martin, Executive Director of ACE New York, on DSNY's Containerization Initiative
5:13:49
·
152 sec
Jim Martin, Executive Director of ACE New York, testifies about the challenges posed by DSNY's new containerization initiative for supplemental sanitation providers. He urges the city council and mayor's office to fund the purchase of required containers in the FY26 budget to prevent severe financial strain on nonprofits like ACE.
- ACE removes over 1 million garbage bags annually from city streets, but lacks funds to comply with new container requirements.
- The initiative could lead to job losses for 165 ACE employees, many of whom have overcome personal challenges.
- Martin argues that the cost of containers should be borne by DSNY and the City of New York, not nonprofits providing vital services.
Jim Martin
5:13:49
Good afternoon.
5:13:50
My name is Jim Martin.
5:13:51
I am the executive director of ACE New York, a Queens based nonprofit organization.
5:13:56
For over ten years, ACE has worked in partnership with the city council and the Department of Sanitation removing municipal trash from city sidewalks, gutters, parks, and abandoned areas, keeping the city safe and clean for all New Yorkers.
5:14:09
We remove an excess of 1,000,000 guards bags every year from city streets.
5:14:13
Beginning August 1, supplemental sanitation providers like ACE will be required to place all trash bags and containers located on city streets for DSMY collection as part of DSNY's containerization initiative.
5:14:26
The Department of Sanitation will begin issuing fines for organizations for noncompliance come 01/02/2026.
5:14:33
We have estimated the cost to purchase, ship, install, insure, and maintain the necessary amount of containers at several million dollars.
5:14:40
As a nonprofit on a limited budget, ACE does not have the funds necessary to be in compliance with this policy.
5:14:46
Should these expenses be passed on to our city council partners, it would greatly limit their ability to fund the vital services we provide to over 40 council districts every year.
5:14:56
Ultimately, the burden of purchasing these containers may result in ACE closing its doors after nearly thirty four years of service to New York City, Meaning the 165 ACE employees who provide these services would lose their jobs.
5:15:09
These men and women, as many of you know, have graduated our vocational program, have overcome homelessness, incarceration, and addiction.
5:15:17
And this job has been a lifeline for them as they begin their journeys towards economic independence.
5:15:22
Though unintended, this is a real and incredibly cruel consequence of DSNY's containerization rule.
5:15:28
I'm here today to urge city council and the mayor's office to fund the purchase of these containers in the f y twenty six budget.
5:15:35
The implementation of DSMY's container nation containerization initiative, while a positive step towards rat mitigation and a cleaner, more orderly street, places an undue burden on ACE and other similar nonprofits.
5:15:48
In fact, punishing them for partnering with the Department of Sanitation to help keep city streets clean and safe.
5:15:54
The work ACE does every day benefits the city, its businesses, and residents.
5:15:58
The trash we remove is not ours.
5:15:59
It is municipal waste.
5:16:01
ACE should not be left to shoulder the cost of purchasing these containers.
5:16:04
That responsibility should fall to the Department of Sanitation in the City Of New York.
5:16:08
Very quickly, I wanna thank the council for your support in pushing the administration on this matter.
5:16:13
It means the world to me and the men and women we so proudly serve.
5:16:16
If I can be of more service in this regard, please let me know.
5:16:19
Thank you all for your continued support.