By MOHAMED FARGHALY | mfarghaly@queensledger.com

New York City’s “Sidewalk Slobs” program enforces strict sidewalk cleanliness regulations with increased fines for non-compliance, while a new bill empowers local sanitation departments to use surveillance cameras to address illegal dumping. 

New York City’s “Sidewalk Slobs” program enforces strict sidewalk cleanliness regulations with increased fines for non-compliance, while a new bill empowers local sanitation departments to use surveillance cameras to address illegal dumping.

In a bid to maintain the city’s cleanliness, New York City is intensifying efforts to combat unsightly and hazardous conditions caused by neglectful property owners.

Under the city’s “Sidewalk Slobs” initiative, property owners are legally required to maintain the cleanliness of sidewalks and the adjacent 18 inches of street area outside their properties. The program aims to address increasing complaints about litter and debris accumulation, which affect both the aesthetic and sanitary conditions of neighborhoods.

The Department of Sanitation (DSNY) has been actively issuing summonses to those who fail to adhere to these regulations. For repeat offenders, fines can reach up to $500, reflecting a significant increase in penalties for continued non-compliance. The city encourages residents to report violators through the dedicated website, tinyurl.com/SidewalkSlobs, where chronic offenders may be featured in a “Hall of Shame” gallery.

The New York State Senate passed Bill S.1552, on April 18 earlier the year, sponsored by Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr., designed to tackle illegal dumping in public areas. The new legislation empowers local sanitation departments to deploy surveillance cameras to identify and fine those who illegally discard waste.

Addabbo’s bill aims to curb the rise in illegal dumping, which has been a persistent problem in many neighborhoods, causing sanitation issues and environmental concerns.

“Many responses to my 2023 community questionnaire specified illegal dumping as a major contributing factor in lowering the quality of life in our neighborhoods,” Addabbo said. “It continues to be a serious sanitation and quality of life issue resulting in odor issues and presenting environmental problems, both locally and statewide. My bill doesn’t just help to identify and impose a fine on offenders but also creates a deterrent to future litterers. This legislation will help ensure our neighborhoods remain aesthetically beautiful and environmentally safe for all to enjoy.”

If the bill receives approval from the Assembly and is signed into law by the Governor, it will take effect immediately. The bill’s progress follows a series of complaints from residents about increasing litter and unsanitary conditions.

“This bill is certainly constituent driven. It was born out of many complaints to my office, filed by residents who are frustrated with unwanted community dumping and debris,” Addabbo said.

The COVID-19 pandemic led to significant budget cuts in city services, including sanitation. These reductions, coupled with increased outdoor dining and changes in parking regulations, exacerbated street cleanliness issues. Alternate side parking restrictions were lifted, reducing the frequency of street cleaning and contributing to higher volumes of litter and rat sightings.

The impact of these cuts became apparent as 311 complaints surged for dirty street conditions and missed garbage pickups. The city’s ability to manage street cleanliness was further challenged by these overlapping issues, leading to a noticeable decline in urban sanitation during the early pandemic years.

On May 1, the Committee on Sanitation and Solid Waste Management, chaired by Council Member Shaun Abreu, convened an oversight hearing to address various street cleanliness issues. Proposed legislation includes:

Int 0003-2024: Requires the DSNY to remove abandoned vehicles within 72 hours.

Int 0043-2024: Mandates daily emptying of public waste receptacles by DSNY.

Int 0052-2024: Calls for the creation of Sanitation Sections and cleanliness grading of streets.

Int 0102-2024: Requires DSNY to include time- and date-stamped photographs with violation notices.

Int 0281-2024: Proposes installation of dog waste bag dispensers on public litter baskets.

Int 0736-2024: Establishes a pilot program for rat contraceptives.

Res 0174-2024: Urges state legislation for the return of deposit bottles.

Data collected from April 2023 to March 2024 highlights discrepancies between different sanitation measures. While there were 97,873 OATH violations related to dirty conditions, derelict vehicles, and illegal dumping, 311 complaints totaled 154,401. This suggests that while violations are recorded, community complaints can provide a broader picture of sanitation issues.

The city’s 24,681 litter baskets, essential for maintaining clean streets, have seen significant variation in complaint levels. Notably, a small percentage of these baskets generate a disproportionate number of complaints.

New regulations, effective August and September 2023, require food-related businesses to secure trash and organic waste in lidded containers. This measure aims to mitigate issues associated with food waste and improve the overall cleanliness of commercial areas. Additional changes include the expansion of residential curbside collection and a heightened focus on snow operations.

As New York City grapples with these multifaceted cleanliness challenges, ongoing legislative efforts and policy adjustments reflect a concerted push towards a cleaner, more orderly urban environment.

By MOHAMED FARGHALY | mfarghaly@queensledger.com

New York City is replacing Student MetroCards with Student OMNY cards starting the 2024-2025 school year, offering students 24/7 access and up to four free rides per day on various transit modes.

New York City is replacing Student MetroCards with Student OMNY cards starting the 2024-2025 school year, offering students 24/7 access and up to four free rides per day on various transit modes.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams, New York City Public Schools Chancellor David C. Banks, and Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Chair and CEO Janno Lieber on July 25 announced updates that will make it easier and more affordable for eligible students to get to and from school and after-school activities via public transportation.

“I’m thrilled about the launch of student OMNY cards because expanding access to public transit means more and more students will have opportunities to explore our city and experience all that New York has to offer,” said New York City Public Schools Chancellor Banks. “I’m grateful to our partners at the MTA and across the city for making this possible for our students.”

Starting this upcoming 2024-2025 school year, students will receive Student OMNY cards, instead of the MetroCards that have been distributed citywide to students since 1997. The new Student OMNY cards will be valid 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, with up to four free rides a day. These changes will significantly expand flexibility for student travel, as students were previously limited to only three free rides each day from only 5:30 AM to 8:30 PM, and the cards could only be used on days when the student’s school was open for class.

“These expanded student OMNY cards are a gamechanger for families across New York City, particularly for working-class families that need just a little more help to afford our city — families where older siblings pick their younger brothers and sisters up from school, or where kids have after-school and summer jobs to help make ends meet,” said Mayor Adams. “This builds on the work we’ve done to make our city more accessible, particularly for young people and low-income New Yorkers. From our subways, to our ferries, to our greenways, we’re making it easier and more affordable to get around New York City.”

Student OMNY cards will be valid on the MTA’s subway lines; on local, limited, and Select buses; on the Staten Island Railway; on the Roosevelt Island Tram; and on Hudson Rail link; and will include free transfers from one mode to another. Students will also now keep the same card for the entire year, through the summer. The expanded benefits provide the foundation for New York City students to learn how to utilize the public transit system and build a culture of tapping.

“Across its diverse neighborhoods and communities, New York City inspires and teaches. Our city is one of the best classrooms in the world. And now, as part of the city’s broader switch to OMNY, New York’s kids have more and better access to it,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations and MTA Board Member Meera Joshi. “Together, the city and its world-class public transportation system are making New York City just a little more livable for the families that call it home. Our kids deserve 24/7 access to a 24/7 city, and now they’re getting it.”

The cards will be distributed to students at the start of the school year by each individual school across the five boroughs. In addition to the cards, students will also receive promotional flyers outlining the benefits of the enhanced program. The MTA and New York City Public Schools will work together to evaluate and promote card usage across school districts. More information about Student OMNY cards is available online.

This announcement builds on the Adams administration’s efforts to make getting around New York City more accessible and affordable, particularly for young people and low-income New Yorkers. In the Fiscal Year 2025 Adopted Budget, the administration partnered with the City Council to invest an additional $20.7 million in “Fair Fares NYC,” expanding eligibility for half-price fares to people making 145 percent of the Federal Poverty Level.

“In this pivotal moment, New York City is not just updating a program but transforming the daily commutes of our students,” said New York State Senator Robert Jackson. “I applaud the collaboration of the mayor’s office, the Department of Education, and the MTA in enhancing access and ensuring no student is left behind. With the Student OMNY cards, every trip becomes a pathway to potential, embedding seamless travel into the fabric of our students’ academic experiences and broadening their horizons every day of the year.”

The budget also included $11 million to provide free MetroCards to Summer Youth Employment Program participants, who — thanks to the Adams administration’s efforts — are also eligible for free two-month Citi Bike memberships. In 2023, Mayor Adams launched a historic greenway expansion to build 40 new miles of protected bike infrastructure in the outer boroughs, bringing safer, greener transportation options to the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island. In 2022, Mayor Adams unveiled NYC Ferry Forward, which created a discount program similar to Fair Fares in which seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income riders pay reduced fares for ferry rides.

“Since its founding, our Youth Council has been dedicated to expanding the number of hours during which students can use their MetroCards to commute to school, internships, sports and other school-related activities,” said New York State Assemblymember Harvey Epstein. “For far too many students, the status quo prevented the use of student MetroCards on nights and weekends, when many extracurriculars take place. In 2020, we ended the practice of charging half the fare for the 130,000 students living less than two miles from their schools making public transportation free for all students. Today’s announcement builds on that success by giving four taps per day, 24/7 for all students. This change in the student transportation policy is going to help hundreds of thousands of students and their families. I want to thank the MTA for making this happen and to our current and former Youth Council members: when you lead, you can make change in our world that helps millions of others.”

by Marcus Ramos | news@queendsledger.com

Interim MTA President Demetrius Crichlow, Senior Vice President Frank Annicaro, and Assistant Chief Officer for Service and Operations Planning Robert Lai at Queens Bus Redesign hearing. Photo by Marcus Ramos.

The MTA held a hearing on July 24 for their Queens Bus Network Redesign, where Queens residents spoke to MTA staff, including president Demetrius Crichlow, directly to voice their opinions on the project. The hearing took place in Queens Borough Hall, where 150 New Yorkers spoke on the bus redesign, either in person or via Zoom.

The Queens Bus Redesign is the first borough-wide bus redesign in Queens in 60 years. First revealed to the public three years ago, the plan has faced pushback from Queens residents in the past, who worried the redesign would reduce the bus’s accessibility. This led to the plan undergoing multiple changes, with the current iteration being proposed as the final draft. The redesign aims to improve travel speed, reliability, and connectivity. The plan includes 121 bus routes, an increase from the current 113, new route types called “Rush” routes that connect outer neighborhoods to major transit hubs with fewer stops, and improved connections between bus routes and other transit options like the subway.

After presenting this final draft, the MTA held the public hearing to gauge how Queens residents feel about this new iteration. Despite the changes made to better serve users of the Queens bus network, the majority of those who spoke at the hearing still had grievances with the plan. One of the most vocal detractors was the Passengers United organization, which held their own rally in front of Queens Borough Hall hours before the MTA hearing. 

Passengers United President Charlton D’souza took to a megaphone and outlined flaws with the bus network redesign.

“If you really want to do a bus redesign, you add more bus service,” D’souza said. “You make it easier. You add more buses, add more drivers, add more routes, that’s what should be done.”

Passengers United President Charlton D’souza holding rally hours before the public hearing. Photo by Marcus Ramos.

Passengers United also voiced their frustration during the hearing, presenting their concerns directly to the MTA. D’souza criticized the plan as unequal.

“Equity was not even considered in this redesign,” D’souza said. “You guys promised us a final plan before you implemented this but you changed the game on us, and now you’re saying you’ll release the final plan after this hearing. That is absurd. Go ahead, release your plan and implement this, we will sue you in civil court.” 

Speaking alongside Passengers United was candidate for City Council District 28, Jonathan Rinaldi, who was vocal in his opposition to the redesign plan, claiming that the MTA is not acting in the interests of Queens residents.

“The MTA is an independent body, it’s not public,” Rinaldi said. “These people do not have any of our interests at heart at all. You guys are doing whatever you want without public input. We don’t want this, nobody wants this. Don’t cut the bus services for anyone. It’s supposed to be for the students, it’s supposed to be for the elderly, it’s supposed to be for people with disabilities. You’re cutting the services for all the people that live here and we say no.”

Local officials also spoke to the MTA to voice their opposition to the redesign, such as Councilwoman Selena Brooks-Powers, Senator John Liu, and Assembly Member Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas. Brooks-Powers claimed that while the plan is a step in the right direction, it is still not enough to serve Queens communities.

“For far too long the city has neglected outer borough communities leaving them in transit deserts,” Brooks-Powers said. “The final proposed draft plan is a start, but we need another express bus route from the Rockaway Peninsula bringing commuters to downtown Manhattan. The current redesign only offers routes to midtown Manhattan leaving Peninsula residents without direct downtown access. We need express bus lines that connect all of Southeast Queens to downtown Manhattan and extend the express bus service into the night and weekend.”

Senator Liu also highlighted how the redesign will make it more difficult for Queens residents to access Manhattan.

“I think it’s exciting that we have the Q165 coming in, that’s a new express bus plan,” Liu said. “But what was not mentioned in the proposal is that almost every other express bus line in Queens is being cut. It’s making it more difficult for people to get to and from work from Queens to Manhattan. We need more bus service, both express and local, everywhere.”

Senator John Liu criticizes the redesign. Photo by Marcus Ramos.

Assembly Member Gonzalez-Rojas spoke of how the new bus service will reduce accessibility for seniors who rely on the bus.

“Our office has received complaints regarding the frequency of service and the elimination of bus stops,” Gonzalez-Rojas said. “Particularly near schools and apartment buildings where there is a concentration of older adults. The elimination of the 35th Ave. and 84th St. stop on the Q49 poses a challenge for the seniors who rely on that stop. The residents of my district have vocally advocated for six-minute service, an issue that I have championed in the New York State Assembly.”

Local Queens residents took to the microphone afterwards, with many stating their problems with specific routes being changed thanks to the redesign. Among those speaking was Heather Beers-Dimitriadus of Queens Community Board 6, who condemned the redesigned Q60 route.

“The Q60 stop on 66th Ave. and Queens Blvd. is slated to be eliminated in an attempt to speed up the route,” Beers-Dimitriadus said. “The passengers that use this stop, specifically daytime passengers, are mainly patients and local neighborhood doctors that are using walkers and canes. The problem is, when you go one block up to 67th you’re walking uphill and if you have any of those types of devices it is very challenging.”

Another Queens local, Nicole Faison, highlighted that the MTA should put effort towards ensuring the buses are sanitary and safer for riders.

“The buses need to be clean like they were during COVID,” Faison said. “The buses are dirty and filthy. Sometimes people enter the bus with garbage cans and shopping carts, and the bus drivers are not allowed to say anything.”

Overall, the proposed Queens Bus Network Redesign still faces a lot of resistance from Queens residents. The MTA stated that following the discussion on Wednesday night, they have a clearer notion of when to put the adjustments into effect.