Where we stand on street cleaning
11 Feb
An interesting email came to us today telling us that we may have been a bit sided with our Quick Poll (Do you think there should be street cleaning in LIC?):
While we tend to favor certain issues for our neighborhood (ie, curb your dog, a hardware store, more schools, etc), we firmly stand neutral on this issue.
What we do want to know is if it’s actually possible to make everybody happy? Can we actually clean the streets of Long Island City and not impose parking rules? Is there a medium that will end this dispute?
Your opinions count (and yes, we will change the answers to the poll).
You can’t have both a free parking space and free street cleaning, especially when we all pay for the privilege in taxes for their free spot.
This isn’t the crime-ridden land that time forgot as it was when I first moved here in 1990. Much has improved and the high-density means that I have had to move my car to a parking lot. Time for everyone to pay for the privilege of owning a car.
RC, your nasty attitude is so uncalled for and inappropriate.
Why do you believe that it is us low life old LIC residents that are responsible for dirty streets?
btw, we pay taxes, we do not get tax abatements, and LIC was NEVER crime ridden. In fact, it was always an extremely safe, low crime neighborhood of respectable working class residents. Obviously unlike anyplace you grew up.
Our homes are clean. Is your home clean? I would bet not. It’s more likely just as messed up as your nasty attitude.
Your just a damn fool.
RC,
What brought you to this crime-ridden land that time forgot in 1990?
Or, was it shelter on Borden Ave.?
This is why you are losing your campaign so badly. You can’t resist personally attacking everyone who disagrees with you.
Good luck to you with your petition! LOL!
1. Losing? Wrong again you fool.
2. I don’t attack, I fight back.
3. If you like to sling mud you should be prepared to taste it when it hits you in the face.
I’m so grateful that RC swooped into LIC way, way back in 1990 to help chase out the vast network of criminals that based their operations in our time-forgotten neighborhood. You’d think this superhero could also figure out how to sweep the streets while preserving bountiful parking in the process.
I want to make a couple pts here.
I lived in Manhattan and hv friends live in upper east. Which is a bitch to find parking unless u pay over $500/month for what? They clean cig butts, and Doritos wrappers off side of street. That the wind just blows back under the cars that fight for the same spot they moved from hr ago. Street cleaning is not what it seems especially how stupid and useless it would be in LIC where the wind blows 60mph and dust and dirt go everywhere. Street cleaning will NOT clean anything. Just screws over ppl that can’t afford parking and have to move around there cars some random ass time of the wk to re-park over whatever u think they just cleaned. U won’t be able to see and difference unless u remove all cars for ever that’s not happening. Unless you put up signs 7am – 7pm commercial vehicle parking then u still don’t solve the problem.
The problem is Ppl not being responsible cleaning up after there dogs and kids. And the Construction. Have the construction company pay to clean up there mess. We need clean sidewalks. We don’t have an issue with dirty streets. We don’t have to worry about leaves. What is there to clean? A bunch of bitches complaining about a little dirt. Sorry but we need to clean up Vernon sidewalks. Up grade paving roads before you throw out some solution like Street cleaning which is possible the least effective tool.
LIC is not the size of NYC. Also not as many ppl per capita givin say a 10block radius in NYC. If you go to Vermont one of the cleanest cities I’ve been to in the US burlington, VT. They have recycle can connect to trash can on EVERY street corner.
Street cleaning is an excuse to get parking tickets to make money of citizens who can find only place to park there car. Last thing some ppl can save money on. I’m telling you I left NYC moved to LIC just b/c I knew I didn’t have to pay for parking. Rationalize the rents in this neighborhood that just shot up after Sandy.
Respect your neighborhood by taking Responibilty to keep your neighborhood clean. Not make excuses and have to pay for another wasteful tax payer service. That they don’t even have the man power or trucks to excute a meaning difference.
Street cleaning hands down is one of the stupidest ideas every thought of. Go through queens and manhattan on street cleaning streets tell me there any cleaner than Midtown? Midtown is clean by UN and 2nd ave where I used to live. Residents were respectful. Not like hipsters in LES or spoiled ppl in UES both w/ street cleaning both Dirty. Worlds apart for
midtown where no stupid street cleaning was. Why is that? I’m done cant believe ppl are stupid enough and have nothing else to talk bout.
ummm . . . sorry to be the one to break this to you bro, but LIC IS NYC.
Since you think LIC is something like it’s own city state surrounded by NYC, I guess I’m not surprised that you think only dogs and kids make a mess. And I’m not surprised that you buy into the conspiracy theory that literally the ONLY reason for street cleaning is to ticket cars.
For once, will someone who is against street cleaning just admit they don’t want to be inconvenienced rather than spout ridiculous reasoning and assigning blame to everyone — DOG OWNERS!! NEW RESIDENTS!! CONSTRUCTION WORKERS!! KIDS!! KIDS!!! KIDS!!!
poor upper middle class childless/dogless people, you have been oppressed for far too long. Stand up for your rights!
btw, if you live in LIC and have neither a dog nor children, I’m pretty sure you can spring for a garage spot. If you can’t, then I’m certain you have enough free time to move your car once a week. If you don’t, then you should sell your car.
Of course I admit that I do not want to be inconvenienced twice a week to sit in my car for an hour and a half each day.
Twice a week is just not necessary. There are other alternatives to be addressed wherein we may all be satisfied. I shouldn’t have to sell my car.
so after 5 paragraphs you’re done Andy…finally
yes to clean streets.
yes to compromise if it tones down the extremism and shrillness. Maybe 1 day a week?
There is bigger fish to fry around here like lack of good early education choices that are affordable. the re-zoning of more of hunters point as zone a. the effects of climate change. the lack of community spaces. the 7 train being down all the time. LET’S MOVE ON.
* btw – resident-only parking which would help all of us have more parking spots, has been stalled in state government for the same reason some of you are against street cleaning – because republican senators are arguing it’s a tax grab.
Andy, one of us is very confused. Last I checked, LIC lies within NYC. Otherwise I’ve somehow been able to illegally vote for mayor and a councilman all these years.
Anonymous, I am confused about exactly why you are confused.
Andy never said LIC does not lie withinn NYC. Why would you suggest that he did?
“LIC is not the size of NYC.” “I left NYC moved to LIC.”
That’s the equivalent of “I left the U.S. and moved to NY.” Please reconcile, counselor for Andy.
Anonymous, Your just looking for some silly thing to bicker about to take away form his many valid points.
Furthermore, it is not the same as “I left the US and moved to NY.
If you live in Manhattan, you’re in NY, NY.
If you live in LIC, you’re in LIC, NY.
Not LIC, NYC.
We may be considered metropolitan nyc area, but we are Queens, NY.
Just saying. lol
Actually, I believe we’re considered, Long Island City, Queens, if you were talking to a NY’er.
Actually, he didn’t say NY,NY. He said NYC when he clearly meant Manhattan. I love my borough and my ‘hood, both of which are a PART of NYC. This isn’t astrophysics folks.
And what valid points were made in that rant? Homey admits that he moved from Manhattan solely b/c he expected unfettered free parking in perpetuity. As many
They should do it 1x per month (instead of 1x per week). The streets get the occasional cleaning, and it would hassle the park-and-store car owners without inconveniencing the local residents and workers too much.
Yes, it would be a slight hassle to remember to move your car on the first Thursday (or something like that) of every month, but it would be better than having to do it every week.
Nice KG, I like your idea. It makes people move their cars, but not too often. It cleans the streets. And it appeases the masses.
Well done!
That’s a great idea.
However, I doubt the sanitation dept is willing to clean our entire neighborhood in one day.
It’s definately worth asking for. Good Luck.
If all the pig residents would just put their trash in the garbage cans instead of throwing it on the sidewalk like animals, then maybe once a month would be fine
Once a month sounds good, although it’s doubtful that the DOT will create new parking signs to communicate once a month street cleaning…
By the way, there used to be trash cans on street corners throughout LIC. Where’d they all go?
It’s funny how these comments are being discussed as if they are actual options. FYI – No decision makers are reading these.
Don’t worry. The decision makers heard the once a month idea at the CB2 meeting. It was recommended as a possible option by one of the speakers. When a speaker addresses the committee the speech is turned into the CB2. The street cleaning could be done on the same two days first proposed but only once a month.
We’re talking about change here folks. Changing signs is lot less expensive and convenient than the alternative.
We still have some, but I think some street cans are gone because the restaurants don’t want the poop odors and mess of people missing the can.
Also, very often people were leaving large pieces of furniture as well as mattresses leaning on the corner trash can.
People are weird.
Anyone know what’s up with the Baby Gap? Are we getting one or not?
Nope, no Baby Gap.
I told you it is going to be a funeral home.
The lack of corner garbage cans most definitely contributes to the filthy street problem.
It’s somewhat ironic that at a time when Fort Greene, Park Slope and Riverdale have experimented with limiting ASP Long Island City residents want to embrace it. If other communities don’t want it, why are we so keen to get it?
Just to reiterate what I’ve said before:
I see little evidence of just which streets are in need of cleaning.
Many of the specific complaints about dog poop, trash on sidewalks and clogged drains won’t be addressed by running a street sweeper through twice a week.
Under the current proposal, the additional ASP traffic on our roads will coincide with the peak time for commercial traffic passing through our neighborhood on Vernon Blvd and 11th Street.
The question is are we getting a benefit to our community or are we just taxing those who choose to park here?
i wish the kids and dogs would clean up the half eaten chinese food and broken glass they leave in the streets.
i park on the street and am not looking forward to dealing with this. that being said, people are pretty pathetic when it comes to accountability and entitlement (typically an inverse relationship). i don’t think anyone here is part of the problem. well, i dunno, maybe you are. but the point is we’re surrounded by enough jackasses that we need to clean up after them.
not that the city will do a very good job at it. sigh.
Who are “RESIDENTS OF HUNTERS POINT, LONG ISLAND CITY”?
Just wondering because they Sponsored the petition for ASP.
Are they a neighborhood organization that I’ve not heard of?
Not sure, but believe petition was a joint effort by Dr. Savad and Shiela from the Chocolate Factory.