NYC Councilman Shekar Krishnan outlines initiative to clear sidewalks

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New York City Councilman Shekar Krishnan, who represents Elmhurst and Jackson Heights, and his team, are getting their hands dirty to clear the crowded sidewalks in his community.

In his weekly newsletter, Krishnan said it was a fact that streets can get crowded and cluttered and some blocks can feel there is no room to walk.

“This is a problem, and our office has been laser-focused on solutions,” he said in the newsletter sent out September 9.

His office has allocated even more funding for the Department of Sanitation to increase trash pick ups, he noted, resulting in an increase in the Sanitation department picking up trash in the district 3 times a day, 6 days a week, and 2 times a day on Sundays.

“We also fund ACE. Their workers clean up our streets, from Diversity Plaza to the mutt mitts on 34th Avenue to Northern Boulevard,” he said.

His office is also working closely with State Assembly Members Catalina Cruz and Steven Raga, to push city and state agencies to launch a joint operation to clean the streets, with a focus on Roosevelt Avenue in particular.

With the help of the Sanitation department, he said, “We got rid of Mango Rico’s black tarp, we’re talking to vendors, and we’re clearing our sidewalks. With the NYC Sheriff, we padlocked half a dozen illegal smokeshops. And with NYPD, we towed derelict cars and unregistered motorcycles and mopeds.”

Over the second half of August, city agencies issued more than 200 tickets and towed 31 vehicles along the busiest commercial corridors.

“My team and I have been getting our own hands dirty as well. We’re picking up bags of trash, scrubbing graffiti, and power washing sidewalks ourselves. It’s not sustainable, but we are willing to do our part while pushing the Mayor and his agencies to do theirs.”

He criticized Mayor Eric Adams for slashing agency budgets, which he maintained, had left them under-resourced and spread thin across the city.

“If we want cleaner streets, City Hall needs to invest in these services and their agencies.