Local pols join students in community-wide clean-up

Call it spring cleaning.

Student volunteers came out in droves on Saturday, May 23 to take part in yet another neighborhood cleanup organized by Assemblymember William Colton and Councilmember Mark Treyger. The clean-up – considered the first effort of 2015 in the ongoing Speak-Up & Clean-Up campaign – touched on areas of Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst and Bath Beach.

Youth volunteers – with help from Colton and Treyger – helped to tidy a large stretch of 86^th Street from 25^th Avenue to 14^th Avenue, and Bay Parkway from 73^rd Street to Cropsey Avenue.

“An important aspect of this campaign is to inform people and make them more aware of proper trash disposal,” said Colton, explaining that, when they’re not getting down and dirty, campaign volunteers are handing out flyers and encouraging others to get in on the action. “We’re encouraging everyone to do their part to help keep our neighborhood clean.”

The Speak-Up & Clean Up campaign was founded by Colton and community advocate Priscilla Consolo in August, 2011. Today, its goals remain the same: to keep South Brooklyn looking its best.

“The Speak-Up & Clean Up campaign has made tremendous progress over the years towards the goal of a cleaner, greener and more beautiful neighborhood, so I am excited to build on these efforts with the help of dedicated volunteers from our local schools,” said Treyger. “This initiative presents a win-win opportunity by having our commercial corridors cleaned while providing our young people with a valuable opportunity for civic engagement. We are privileged to live in a great neighborhood, and I look forward to rolling up my sleeves once again to help make it even greater.”

Over 75 volunteers participated in the Memorial Day Weekend event, with a number of tools, gloves and trash bags supplied by the Department of Sanitation. This year’s participants included students from District 9 High School, New Utrecht High School, Midwood High School, Brooklyn Technical High School and Edward R. Murrow High School, among others.

“Our youth continue to be role models for the rest of the community,” said Colton, noting that, oftentimes, local residents just walking by will stop and help students pick up litter. “People see our young people volunteering their time to make the neighborhood a cleaner place, and they are often inspired by it.”

This was the campaign’s 16^th clean-up.