A major dumping site at Liberty Avenue Plaza was cleared Sept. 22 by the city Department of Sanitation after residents alerted City Councilmember Joann Ariola’s office to the problem.
Ariola contacted the DSNY on Sept. 21 after receiving complaints about dumped furniture and other debris at the plaza, top, located at Liberty Avenue between 101st Avenue and Drew Street.
“These dumpouts are unacceptable, and they impact the entire neighborhood,” Ariola said in a statement. “We cannot allow these blights to fester in our communities, and I ask any residents of my district to contact my office as soon as they see something like this so we can get it taken care of.”
Frank Lettera, an assistant chief with the DSNY, said inspectors were dispatched after being contacted by Ariola’s office and the debris was removed the following day. The plaza after the cleanup is shown above.
Lettera also thanked Ariola for allocating more than $200,000 for cleanup operations in Council District 32.
The Cityline Ozone Park Civilian Patrol also has worked to keep the plaza clean, per Communications Director Daniel Hill, who said patrol members have spoken with people to discourage littering and feeding pigeons there.
“We hope everyone who uses the plaza will do their part to respect it and keep it clean,” Hill said.
— Kristen Guglielmo