City to Sweep Bell Boulevard Once Per Month, Avella Says

The city's Department of Sanitation will send a truck once a month to conduct a street cleaning along Bell Boulevard's shopping strip, state Sen. Tony Avella said.

Avella, D-Bayside, had recently requested the city to sweep the street as a method of combatting unsanitary conditions caused by local restaurants leaving trash bags on the curb for days at a time.

Next week, Sanitation will send a truck to clean Bell Boulevard and will conduct similar sweepings once a month at midnight.

"I am pleased that the Department of Sanitation has agreed to keep Bell Boulevard clean," the senator said. "This is a vital and vibrant commercial area that needs and deserves to be kept clean and sanitary. These monthly street sweeps will significantly increase the quality of life for both residents and businesses and allow this area of Bayside to continue to thrive."

There is currently no date set for each monthly cleaning, but the DOS will send a truck to Bell Boulevard when there is an extra crew available during the midnight shift.

Parking along the boulevard will not be disturbed since the sweepings will take place late at night.

"Bringing street cleaning back to Bell Boulevard is very important and very welcomed," President Judith Limpert said. "There's been a delay from trash pickup, so bags often leak onto the street. In the summer, it creates an odor."

Limpert said she hopes that Sanitation would eventually consider sending a truck twice a month, especially during the summer.