Hankerson introduces Intro 1041 on litter basket removals

Thank you, Chair.

Good afternoon, everyone.

For years, New Yorkers have been calling for cleaner streets and better sanitation services to improve the quality of life in their neighborhoods.

Residents have continuously pushed for more public litter baskets, and council members have even allocated funding to DSNY to bring more baskets into their districts.

Yet, despite these efforts, there never seemed to be enough.

Part of the reason is a shameful practice by DSNY, at least I think it's shameful, of routinely removing public litter baskets in response to illegal dumping or the disposal of household garbage, which the department categorizes as improper use of these baskets.

In doing so,

Entire neighborhoods of thousands of residents are being punished for the actions of the

few bad actors.

And instead of addressing the people responsible for the dumping, we are taking away a service that the rest of the community is in so desperate need of.

In Southeast Queens, where I represent, we have spent a great deal of time fighting to get our streets clean and to keep them clean.

I understand the frustration that comes with repeatedly cleaning the same location, only to return the next morning and find it covered in improper waste again.

But removing a litter basket does very little to address the behavior.

Now, the DSNY has stated that it no longer engages in this practice, and I welcome that change.

Thank you.

But I believe it is in our best interest, Mr.

Chair, for our communities to codify that protection into law so that it remains the standard regardless of who is leading the agency or the city.

Under Intro 1041, DSNY would no longer be permitted to remove a public litter basket solely on the grounds of illegal dumping.

The bill would require the department to notify the local council member and community board before removing the basket and give them 10 business days to respond.

Our local community boards and elected officials hear directly from residents about the situation, I'm sorry, about the sanitation conditions in their neighborhoods.

They should have an opportunity to weigh in before a service is taken away from the very people that they represent.

The legislation will require reporting on basket removals and subsequent litter complaints, giving us a better understanding of whether these decisions are

are actually improving the conditions of the neighborhoods that we represent and live in day after day.

New Yorkers pay taxes for sanitation services, and they have every right to expect those services to be maintained.

If someone is abusing a litter basket, then our attention should be directed to the person responsible.

We should be increasing enforcement against illegal dumping and working with communities to address these problem locations, rather than reducing the very services residents have fought to receive.

I am proud to sponsor this legislation and look forward to working with my colleagues to get it passed.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.