Mayor: Streets Clean and Will Grow Cleaner

Mayor: Streets Clean and Will Grow Cleaner

By ARI PAUL

The city's streets are the cleanest they've been since at least the mid-1970s, Mayor Bloomberg announced Aug. 16.

USA photo by Jim Cummins NEARLY A CLEAN SWEEP: Uniformed Sanitationmen's Association executive board members surround President Harry Nespoli Aug. 13 after the union's new wage contract got yes votes from more than 98 percent of the members who participated. 'They knew a great contract when they saw one,' Mr. Nespoli said of the 54-month, 19-day deal, which provides nearly 17-percent in wage hikes and grants Martin Luther King Day as a paid holiday. According to Scorecard, an inspection program at the Mayor's Office of Operations, 94.3 percent of the streets were "acceptably clean," the highest score issued since the program was instituted in 1975.

'Cleanest of Past 30 Years'

"Our streets are cleaner than they've been at any time since we started keeping track more than 30 years ago," said Mayor Bloomberg. "Our Sanitation Workers do a tough job exceptionally well, and they deserve our thanks."

Sanitation Commissioner John J. Doherty took pride in the announcement.

"The fact that city streets and sidewalks are the cleanest they have ever been is a testament to the diligence, determination and passion of the men and women of the department who keep the Big Apple shining every day," he said in a statement.

The Mayor made the announcement in addition to launching the Street Conditions Observation Unit (SCOUT), an inspection group from the Office of Operations that will examine every city street once a month and submit reports on problems to 311.

"This new team, equipped with GPS technology, will bring an extra set of eyes to our city streets," the Mayor said. "Whenever I'm driving through the city and I see a pothole or garbage on the street, I'll pick up the phone and report the problem to 311, just like thousands of citizens do every day. Now we'll deploy a team of veteran city workers to do the same, armed with new technology and their knowledge of quality-of-life concerns in our city."