By Juan Soto
The “men in blue” are coming to Rosedale.
The blue army of street cleaners from the nonprofit The Doe Fund will begin picking up litter in Francis Lewis Boulevard, between North Conduit Avenue and Brookville and 234th Street.
City Councilman Donovan Richards (D-Laurelton) teamed up with the nonprofit to combat trash in Rosedale after providing the same efforts in Laurelton and Far Rockaway.
Starting Oct. 12 the fund’s workers, mostly formerly homeless men, with garbage cans and brooms in hand, will beautify the business corridor. The arrival of the “men in blue” is a response to the residents’ complaints about the lack of pavement cleaning in the commercial streets.
“The Doe Fund has been an integral part of our efforts to preserve and promote the beauty of our district,” said Richards. “An important first step in revitalizing our business corridors and promoting economic development is keeping streets and sidewalks free from debris.”
George McDonald, founder and president of the Doe Fund, said that the program helps some “men in blue” change their lives “to work hard and to become a contributing, tax paying member of society.”
He pointed out that with the program, the workers “will have that opportunity.” They participate in a nine-to-12-month work program, and after a few months of street cleaning, the workers spend the rest of the time training at the fund earning certificates to get better jobs upon graduation.
There are 10 council districts in the borough which cover places like Bayside, Glendale and Astoria that benefit from the Doe Fund initiative. The workers clean 150 miles of New York City sidewalks daily.
Richards has allocated $80,000 to have the Ready, Willing and Able bluemen working in the 31st Council District.
McDonald said, “neighbors will have cleaner, safer streets as a result” of the collaboration between the lawmaker, the nonprofit and local associations.
Residents are glad the blue crews are coming to Rosedale.
Bill Perkins, president of the Rosedale Civic Association, said a clean neighborhood is a matter of quality of life for neighbors. For his organization, having Doe Fund crews picking up litter makes Rosedale “a beautiful place to live and raise a family.”
Perkins added, “clean streets are a quality-of-life concern for our residents and business owners, and we will benefit from this support.”
“It has been a long time coming and we look forward to the changes that will take place along our business strip,” said Marcia O’Brien, president of the 148th Drive & Community Block Association.
Reach reporter Juan Soto by e-mail at jsoto@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4564.
