3rd Trash Bin 7/25/14

Sad to see as when you travel to other countries their people are not such pigs they are educated earlier not to litter, if trash can full well take it to another don't throw it on floor. Placing 100 containers there will not solve the education issue.

Apparently there is a person who cleans the Plaza once a day because after seeing a filthy mess one Saturday morning around 9:00, three hours later it was clean. Possibly FDC provides this person, but it is not enough. Most people really do try to use the trash cans, but when they are full, trash overflows. That's not human trashiness, that's lack of sanitation providers. I know it's not possible to have trash picked uo constantly, but it's definitely needed. Think about all the pedestrian plazas created in Manhattan by Bloomberg, with thousands of visitors daily. Dirty? No. Trash lying on street? No. What's the difference? Constant monitoring. There must be a source of city funding to provide more service,
It's a shame.

Trash South-West corner of Newkirk Plaza 7/28:

Trash on west side of Newkirk Plaza on Sunday 8/3--1 of 3.

2 of 3--second trash can

3 of 3 -- third trash can Sunday 8/3

For good measure, can nearby on south side of street, SW of Newkirk Plaza.

Still waiting on a response from CB14...happy to post more glamorous pics if needed!

Suggestion: Add additional bins **next to the benches** down the SW corner of the plaza, as well as in front of Chase Bank, next to the bus stop, and on the NORTHWEST corner of Foster and Malborough. The bins near the bus stops on the south side of Foster W of the plaza seem to be helping--when they don't overflow...

CB 14 has forwarded this issue to the organizations who manage the program (Project Sweep) responsible for the baskets on the Plaza. Sanitation is responsible for picking up from the corner but not from the Plaza. Please be advised that Project Sweep does not work on Sundays. They are on the Plaza from Monday-Saturday. Will forward to the appropriate organizations again. Will request additional street baskets near the bus stop. Thank you for your communication.

I believe the MTA own the area above the train station/tracks, and the DOT are responsible for the sidewalk at either end (by the road(s)?

I don't understand the necessity for 'Project Sweep'?
Who funds this? The MTA and DOT? The businesses on Newkirk Plaza?

Eitherway, the solution is more frequent collection/disposal?

Who gets fined/ticketed for this littering? The storefronts? MTA? DOT? 'Project Sweep'?
Valuable revenue for NYC...

Hi CB14. Thanks for your responses so far.

1) I would love it if you could answer all the questions the guest poster raised above.

2) I am also a little puzzled: Why no trash collection in the Plaza on Sundays? We just have to deal with a mess on Sundays? Seems odd.

3) Why can't a couple more bins be added to the Plaza, at least on the south-west corner? Who would be responsible for this? It might solve 70-80% of the problem.

4) I REALLY want to emphasize that adding ONE more bin on Foster near Chase Bank/the bus stop is NOT going to solve the problem--it is going to become a magnet for trash. I really, really would ask (and this is based on a lot of dialogue with residents who have lived here for a long time) that you add MULTIPLE bins, starting with:

One directly in front of Chase
One on the NE corner of Malborough and Foster
One on the NW corner of Malborough and Foster

Residents on the SOUTH side of Malborough and Foster have specifically requested that no bins be placed there--as of this writing the shortage of bins has meant that bins in front of their houses become magnets for trash and overflow.

I would also suggest adding more bins west of Malborough down Foster at the following locations:
1419 Foster (the tree pit becomes a dumping ground)
1411 Foster
Northwest and Northeast corners of Rugby and Foster
North corner of Argyle and Foster

I will say that the bins by the bus stops on the south side of Foster have helped the situation down there.

Thanks for your help.

The inferred request for additional service on Sunday will be forwarded to FDC. Requests for additional baskets at locations on Foster will be reviewed with the Department of Sanitation.

10/7 1 of 3

10/7 2 of 3

9/7 3 of 3

Let's try to get some Sunday collection, yes?

Just FYI: Still issues with trash in the plaza, most of all Sundays, although often Mondays as well...

Trash blowing all over the Plaza due to full garbage cans on Sunday

overflowing can on south west side of Newkirk Plaza Sunday

another overflowing can on south west side of Newkirk Plaza Sunday

Tuesday night

7 weeks later and the DOS have done nothing? Astounding, but not surprising.

Fyi, the modus operandi of the DOS is to remove ALL trash cans (as they did from all street corners on the shopping stretches of Foster Ave). I presume the logic is "if there is no trash can, there will be no trash'.
Unfortunately, in reality, what actually happens is that people drop there trash loose on the corners of the streets where a trash can should be....

Yeah, well maybe they are working on it.

The funny thing is, they actually did add two trash cans further down Foster near the bus stops, and they've totally been helping with the trash situation down there.

CB14, we WOULD like to know if there's been any progress here... Thank you.

Thank you for your continued updates regarding this issue. CB14 has been in discussions with the managing agents of the Project Sweep program at Newkirk Plaza in addition to the Department of Sanitation regarding needed improvements related to the garbage storage and pickup at this location. We hope to have some results available to post here soon. We have forwarded all comments and photographs to the appropriate agencies. Thank you for your patience.

Photo 1, SW corner of Newkirk Plaza

Photo 2

Photo 3

So does the MTA, whom I understand own this pedestrian area(?) not receive a ticket for littering? Is that why it has not been attended to at all?
If this was a homeowner's property the DOS would have slapped a (littering) ticket on it immediately?

CB 14 continues to forward these comments and discuss the issues raised here with the organizations who manage the program (Project Sweep & FDC) responsible for the sweeping and basket maintenance on the Plaza. The Dept of Sanitation is responsible for picking up from the corner but not from the Plaza. Please be advised that Project Sweep does not work on Sundays, though a request has been placed with local elected officials to fund workers at the plaza on Sunday as well. Project Sweep workers are currently on the Plaza from Monday-Saturday, which is why you will note an increase in litter on Sundays. The MTA is not responsible for the litter pick-up at this location.

Monday 11/24.

Monday 11/24 - 2 of 2

Hi CB14. Well, thanks for staying communicative on this issue. The trash situation in the Plaza continues to be little insane. I can really say that I've never seen any other place, anywhere in Brooklyn or Manhattan, that is such a consistent mess. Obviously, more frequent trash collection would be helpful. But, for whatever reason that seems to not be moving forward, despite the fact that this has been an ongoing issue for years.

It seems like there are three options here to deal with the problem, and for some reason we seem to only be talking about one.

1) More frequent trash collection (the one we are discussing).

2) More trash cans. Why not add cans, as I had suggested above (post of 9/1)? This isn't just for the Plaza, it's also for the street. (The problems on the N side of Foster, especially, are pretty bad. But the trash winds up all spread out and the photo ops aren't great, which is why I don't post pics.)

3) Enforcement. There is no question that there are a lot of people throwing away household and business trash in those Plaza trash cans (look at the photo I just posted above--there's no way that big bag is not household or business trash). Last weekend I saw a guy throw away what was obviously household trash (the can was full, he just placed it right on top), so I confronted him. He told me that it's just easier to bring his bag from his apartment nearby and drop it in the Plaza on his way to the Subway than to go to the trash area of his building and have to sort it out. And that big black trash bag above didn't come from someone's takeout lunch. If we can't get more cans or more frequent trash collection, why not more enforcement? Throwing away household or business trash is a $100 fine. Seems like a little well-timed enforcement might pay for itself.

I still think just adding more trash cans would be the simplest temporary fix. And I would add to my can-placement suggestions above that adding cans BY THE STREET near the West side passage entrance to Newkirk Plaza would really help, especially if there's not going to be stepped-up enforcement--people who come in that way seem to have a lot of trash, which is why the can right next to the subway entrance fills up so fast.

Thanks for keeping us updated.

Thanks again CB14 for your vigilance.

Two things:

1) What/who is 'PROJECT SWEEP'? The collection of store owners? Are they being ticketed for trash as a homeowner would be? Why there is no trash management on the busiest two days of the week at Newkirk Plaza is nonsensical.

2) Michael, the (regular-sized older wire-mesh) trash cans were removed (by the DOS) a few years ago, from the street corners of the storefront/shopping area across Foster Ave branching out from Newkirk Plaza over to Coney Island Ave. Ludicrous really - but this is how the NY DOS handles this situation. This would not happen in a shopping area in Manhattan or anywhere else?

The thought process being - if there are no trash cans people will take their trash to another trash can(?). In actuality what happens is, people dump their trash where a trash can should be, the result being the trash you mentioned strewn all across Foster Ave (as in, again, this morning....).

This fix on the part of the DOS was because the (standard wire-mesh) trash cans were becoming filled too quickly.They didn't want to increase trash pick-ups to a shopping street (?), or INSTALL THE LARGER TRASH CANS eg. on Cortelyou's shopping stretch(?).
Store & business owners also are required to 'contribute' to this cost (in some way?). I agree, this should be enforced.

Project Sweep: Supported Employment - In operation since 1990, Project Sweep is one of New York City’s oldest supported employment programs. Project Sweep workers clean commercial streets and clean offices for local businesses, merchant associations, and business improvement districts. Current sites include the Pitkin Avenue BID, Newkirk Plaza, Cortelyou Road Merchants Association, and East Brooklyn Industrial BID. Some Project Sweep workers do messenger work or are trained as clerical/administrative workers. Workers are supervised by Job Coaches, who meet regularly in one-on-one meetings with workers. As reported in the previous CB14 post, Project Sweep workers are working at Newkirk Plaza Mon-Sat and funding is currently being identified to include Sundays as well. Your statement about "no trash management on the busiest two days of the week" is inaccurate. Please file any additional complaints with 311. This will assist with the tracking of complaints on a city level. For more information about Project Sweep, please visit the following link - middev.org/projectsweep.

Hi CB14, just wanted to make sure you saw the comment before the one your responded to. Thanks.

>>funding is currently being identified to include Sundays as well<<
The DOS ticketing the merchants concerned might expedite this?
I know for a fact homeowners in the same locality would be ticketed for the least of these littering offenses.

>>Your statement about "no trash management on the busiest two days of the week" is inaccurate<<
I imagine it just appears that way because of the trash that accumulates on Saturday evening, Saturday night, and all of Sunday day, stays there till Monday (except for that amount that is blown and redistributed across Foster, Newkirk and Marlborough?

So, to be completely accurate it's:
"no trash management on one of the busiest days of the week" (at Newkirk Plaza).
Thanks for the clarification.

Trash Monday 1/5 at 3PM--all south west cans full, overflow trash all over the Plaza.

Photo 2

Photo 3

Photo 4

Photo 5 --afternoon, Monday 1/5. All cans full.

SATURDAY (not even Sunday) 1/10 1 of 3

SATURDAY 1/10 photo 2 of 3

Saturday 1/10 photo 3 of 3 - trash blowing all over the Plaza

Newkirk Plaza, Tuesday day...

Is anyone accountable for this!?

To address these issues directly, please contact Midwood Development Corporation (MDC), the organization that manages Project Sweep at Newkirk Plaza. You can contact the project manager, Mr. Moskowitz, by calling 718-376-0999 ext.106 or sending an email or photographs to smoskowitz@middev.org. Thank you.

Thank you, continued issues, I have contacted Mr. Moskowitz, who is aware of this page. I will continue to post here so I can use this page as a reference.

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday afternoon

Tuesday evening

Tuesday evening

Thank you for posting these comments. As of last week, Mr. Moskowitz is no longer working with MDC. The new MDC manager of Project Sweep at Newkirk Plaza is Barry Polinsky. He can be reached at bpolinsky@middev.org or (718) 376-0999. CB14 has forwarded this page, along with details of your complaints, to Mr. Polinksky but I encourage you to reach out to him as well to request better management of the garbage issues that continue on Newkirk Plaza. Thank you.

There seems to be no improvement in this situation at all!? Is this company exempt from being fined?

1) As a 'Nuisance to the Health, Safety and Welfare of the General Public' this issue can be brought to court.

2) By not emptying the trash cans as they are being paid-to-do, this company is creating the litter.
Littering is a violation and a low-level criminal offense. You can report the offender to the police or the municipal court and file a complaint. The police and the prosecutor have discretion whether or not to go forward with the case. From then on, it's in their hands; you are only the "complaining witness".

When someone does something that hurts society, so much that it has made doing it illegal, he/that company commits a criminal offense. Then the municipal or county prosecutor, who represents the state (sometimes called "people" or "commonwealth"), brings a criminal lawsuit in municipal or county criminal court.

Also, if the same person or company puts trash on your property, many times or in large amounts (which would be "dumping" more than "littering"), and it costs you money or labor to remove it, you *could* sue in civil court for (a) an injunction, ie. an order preventing them for doing it in the future, and (b) monetary damages, to recover your cleanup costs.

Another solution is to relieve 'Project Sweep' of this contract and award it to another maintenance business?

Secondly, days after the recent snowfalls—the ice/snow was not cleared at all from the center (wide) section of Newkirk Plaza!? Again, if this is beyond the services of 'Project Sweep' they should be replaced.

Would you be satisfied if the Department of Sanitation took half of your garbage, half of the time, and did not clear your street of impacted snow/ice?

CORRECTION: Please Note - The manager of Project Sweep for the Midwood Development Corp (MDC) at Newkirk Plaza is Jason Kellman. He can be reached at jkellman@middev.org or (718) 376-0999. CB14 has forwarded this page, along with details of your complaints, to Mr. Kellman. You are welcome to contact the managing organization directly for further discussion. Thank you.

Tuesday night

I emailed Mr Kellman and did not hear back. This is still an issue, obviously.

Hi Michael, this is Anna, the editor Ditmas Park Corner - could you email me at editor@ditmasparkcorner.com? Was hoping to talk to you a bit more about concerns at Newkirk Plaza. Thanks so much!

Saturday Night Goodies

Sunday

Sunday Again

More Sunday Business

Monday 3/10 1 of 3

Monday 3/9 (not 3/10, sorry) 2 of 3

Monday 3/9 3 of 3

Tuesday 3/10

Wednesday 3/11 at 10AM

Wednesday 3/11 11 PM

Wednesday 3/11 second photo

We'd 3/11 third photo

Wed 3/11 fourth photo

Wed 3/11 fifth photo

Did the person who named it "Project Sweep" have a sense of humor?

It's still the same today. The trash cans are emptied but the plaza is strewn with debris?
I suggest 'Project Sweep' are re;idd of the task and a new service is sought?

Thank you for your posts and photos. They have been received and forwarded to the MDC Project Sweep manager.

*
I suggest 'Project Sweep' are relieved of the task and a new service is sought?

Update: The trash situation in Newkirk Plaza has been vastly improved Monday-Saturday. However, Sundays are still a major issue, with trash cans overflowing and trash covering the Plaza. People don't stop throwing trash away on Sundays just because there is no collection!

Hi CB14, just wanted to let you know things have been much better overall in the Plaza. Thanks for your efforts here.

Thank you for the update. It is good to hear that the MTA's pigeon prevention systems are working. Please let us know if any issues arise at this location in the future.

Oh, this comment was for a separate issue...this is the Trashpocalypse page, not the Pigeon Armageddon page. The Pigeon Armageddon is still a work in progress. Anyway, thanks for the efforts on both fronts.

The trash situation is once again becoming unbearable.

Photo 1 of 4 (5/4/18)

Photo 2 of 4 (5/4/18)

Photo 3 of 4 (5/4/18)

Photo 4 of 4 (5/4/18)

This was Wed night (5/2)

Also 5/2

The city does not help to maintain Newkirk Plaza. Annual dues are collected from merchants, but that is voluntary, and less than 1/2 the merchants pay dues. It is sad, neither Chase, American, nor Santandar bank support the merchants association, nor do they pick up any part of the Project Sweep bill. The cost for the cleaning services from Midwood Development Corporation's Project Sweep are well over $1,000 monthly. Over the past three years the fees for cleaning Newkirk Plaza have raised from $450 per month to $1,100 per month. Between the monies FDC and the Merchant Association raised from Councilmember Eugene, and the merchant's dues it covered cleaning services from July through March. Currently, Almac Hardware is paying to have someone empty the trash cans on the day before sanitation pick-up and clean around the receptacles. Although we are working towards finding a more permanent solution, it would be helpful if you bank on Newkirk Plaza that you ask the branch manager to tell their corporate office that they should pay their dues. Also, please thank the businesses that do pay the association dues Almac Hardware, Leon Fashion Cuts,lo Duca Pizzaria, Plaza Deli, Newkirk Station Liquors, Gyro King, Kings Pharmacy, and Pablos.

I was not aware of the lack of support from the banks on the plaza. Perhaps they should be visited and asked to join, and if they don't, organize petitions, flyers, etc. However, it should be done with the agreement of the merchant's association.

Hi FDC,
Thanks for your response. I will talk to the branch manager at Chase tomorrow.
I'm a little confused. If there is a small amount of litter on the sidewalk in front of our house a few blocks from the plaza, my landlord gets fined $100 from the Department of Sanitation. But mountains of trash can just pile up in a public area around the only entrance to an MTA station...with no repercussions?
Where does the buck stop? How can massive, daily trash pile-ups just be something that is allowed to happen? This is a public area, how can keeping it clean be based entirely on optional contributions? I don't get it.
Thanks for your help clarifying.
-Michael