Mayor of New York unexpectedly found money to clean up trash in the city
'17.09.2020'
Vita Popova
Amid growing outrage over the accumulation of debris on the sidewalks of New York City, the city hall unexpectedly found money to solve the problem. The edition writes about it New York Post.
The announcement came on September 15, a few days after a major business association, Partnership for New York City, sent Mayor Bill de Blasio a letter criticizing him for failing to address New York's quality of life issues.
As New York continues to struggle with the COVID-19 pandemic, and citizens are forced to stay at home, the Sanitation Department's budget has been cut by more than $ 100 million. As a result, the streets of the metropolis are mired in garbage that attracts rats and raccoons.
On the subject: The environmental impact of the pandemic: why New York is mired in trash
“New Yorkers deserve clean, safe communities and with today's announcement we reaffirm that we continue to deliver on that promise,” de Blasio said. “Our sanitation specialists were heroes during this crisis. They deserve all kinds of support in their fight to keep New York clean. ”
More than 160 executives from the Big Apple signed the letter that Partnership for New York City sent to de Blasio last week. The letter stresses that the deterioration in the quality of life is preventing the city from returning to normal after quarantine.
“We are concerned about public safety, cleanliness and other quality of life issues that contribute to worsening conditions in the commercial areas and suburbs of the five boroughs,” the letter said.
The 2021 budget hit the Department of Sanitation hard as its drafters sought to close the estimated $ 9 billion deficit.
In line with the fiscal year 2020 budget (which ended June 30 in New York), the city averaged 736 trips on trash routes weekly. In the budget for 2021, the number of such trips was reduced to 272. Now the mayor announced additional funds for the Department, which should increase the number of trips, but the mayor's office has not yet provided details.
It is only known that the money was redistributed in the Sanitation Department's budget to restore 25% of the previously cut waste collection points. At the same time, the press release did not indicate how much money was additionally transferred to the Department of Sanitation and which programs were cut to free up these funds.
Two days before the Partnership for New York City communiqué, former Sanitation Commissioner Kathyrn Garcia accused de Blasio of ruining the department's budget.
“At a time when protecting public health is paramount, cutting down on basic sanitation and hygiene services is unacceptable,” Garcia wrote. "This budget crisis is incredibly serious, but I'm disappointed that the tremendous work we've done over the past six years is rolling back."
