Liberty Ave needs a BID

Lately, Liberty Avenue has been really dirty especially on the Brooklyn Side. Most vacant storefronts are filled with trash and graffiti. Community members and leaders have spoken about it for years, Is it time to start a BID?

A BID is a Business Improvement District which is a non-profit focused on the businesses within the district. BID’s are reasonable for Street Cleaning & Maintenance, Public Safety & Hospitality, Marketing & Events, Capital improvements, Beautification, Advocacy, and business development.

Woodhaven has had a BID for 28 years and it has worked out great. Within Woodhavens BID, Jamaica Ave is extremely clean, you never see trash cans overflowing or graffiti on a business. From our understanding the BID has a few members on payroll and they are responsible for daily cleaning and maintenance, While they use volunteers for bigger projects like a clean-up day where there is not one piece of trash left on the Avenue.

Councilwoman Darma Diaz (37) has hinted that she will be teaming up with an organization to remove graffiti within her district. Residents are also urged to report any illegal dumping to DSNY via 311. With an upcoming election for Diaz, the question remains will we ever have a clean Avenue.

Painted Rocks Bring Hope to Queens

Rock found in Charles Park by last week’s park clean-up

During the COVID-19 crisis, a group called “Queens NY Hope Rocks” has decided to bring hope and joy back to Queens communities.

It was founded by Tracy Gallagher and Nicole Riker in hopes of uplifting spirits by painting rocks and hiding them with their children. The rocks are painted with fun and strong symbols. Rocks are hidden in locations where passers-by can easily stumble upon them. Rocks are also hidden in areas around funeral homes and police stations in an effort to make someone’s day and bring back hope.

The group hopes to bring families closer by sitting down and painting rocks together, though public events the group had planned were squashed due to COVID. The Facebook group continues to grow as more people find the beautifully painted rocks.

If you would like to participate, all you have to do is paint a rock and hide it within your community.

Queens NY Hope Rocks Facebook

Clean-Up on Jamaica Ave

Photo Credit: Leader / Observer

On Saturday, August 22 Woodhaven BID joined with local volunteers to clean Jamaica Ave. The team of volunteers collected over 25 bags of garbage as they worked their way down one of busiest streets in Woodhaven.

Many believe that the increase in garbage is due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the budget cuts in sanitation. As of late, there have been less frequent DSNY garbage collections. Trash cans also continue to overflow throughout the city.

A huge thank you to Raquel Olivares, executive director of the Woodhaven BID, for organizing this great cleanup in an effort to beautify Woodhaven.