You are reading

City’s New Cleanup Workforce Removes 600,000 Bags of Trash in First Six Months

A City Cleanup Corps worker sweeping the streets (Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office)

Oct. 15, 2021 By Michael Dorgan

A city clean-up initiative that launched in April has removed 600,000 bags of trash from New York streets, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Thursday.

The City Cleanup Corps, which consists of nearly 10,000 workers, has also hand-swept more than 50,000 city blocks, repainted 900 defaced properties and cleaned 25,000 rain gardens.

De Blasio created the program as a means to employ residents left jobless stemming from the pandemic, while also beautifying neighborhoods throughout the city. The mayor was subject to heavy criticism at the time he launched the program, with many arguing that the city had become unkempt, with unclean parks and dirty streets.

“City Cleanup Corps members are creating a clear, lasting impact that is being felt by New Yorkers and revitalizing the streets, parks, and public spaces that make our city great,” de Blasio said.

The jobs pay $15-an-hour and the city funds the program with money from the federal stimulus.

CCC workers also helped New Yorkers across the five boroughs clear debris from residential properties in the wake of Hurricane Ida, de Blasio said.

Council Member Danny Dromm praised the workers and said they did a thorough job cleaning the neighborhoods of Jackson Heights and Elmhurst, areas he represents.

“Jackson Heights and Elmhurst look a heck of [a] lot better,” Dromm said.

“There is still a lot of work to be done but the work the City Cleanup Corps is doing is vital to the recovery of the city and its communities especially after Hurricane Ida. Now it’s up to us to keep our neighborhoods clean.”

Council Member Peter Koo said the CCC has been in parts of District 20, which he represents, including 40th Road in Flushing. Meanwhile Bishop Mitchell Taylor – the co-founder of the Long Island City-based nonprofit Urban Upbound – said workers have also helped clean the Queensbridge Houses area.

“Neighbors greatly appreciate the efforts of the residents hired to clean and beautify the area,” Taylor said.

State Sen. Joseph Addabbo thanked CCC workers for cleaning the Addabbo Memorial Bridge and the surrounding area. The bridge, which is named after his father, connects Howard Beach to Broad Channel.

“Having the City Cleanup Corps there cleaning the bridge and adjacent areas has been a great improvement for the community,” Addabbo said.

Jobs with the CCC are still available. To learn more about the positions click here.

City Cleanup Corps workers on the job (Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office)

email the author: news@queenspost.com

One Comment

Click for Comments 

Leave a Comment
Reply to this Comment

All comments are subject to moderation before being posted.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Recent News

Fall fun in western Queens: Your guide to the best seasonal events

Aug. 29, 2025 By Jessica Militello

With beach days and summer BBQs behind us, the start of September rings in the start of magnificent Fall foliage, Halloween and more fun activities that come with the start of Autumn, including a list of Fall events in the area. From apple picking to seasonal ciders and more, there is tons to explore in the community. From Mystic Markets to scary movie meet-ups and more, here is a list of Fall events you do not want to miss.

Astoria doctor sentenced to more than two decades in prison for rape and sexual abuse: DA

An Astoria doctor was sentenced to 24 years in prison on Thursday in Queens Supreme Court for raping unconscious acquaintances and sexually abusing hospital patients.

Dr. Zhi Alan Cheng, 35, of Broadway, pleaded guilty on June 30 to four counts of rape in the first degree and three counts of sexual abuse in the first degree in satisfaction of the consolidated indictments against him. He additionally entered an Alford plea to one count of sexual abuse. The defendant — a former gastroenterologist at New York-Presbyterian Queens Hospital — recorded the abuse of his unconscious victims with his cell phone in both his Astoria apartment and at the hospital.