Forest Hills, NY – On Friday, November 15, Assemblymember Andrew Hevesi announced he had secured $100,000 in New York State funding to implement a 7-day-per-week street-cleaning program that will span his assembly district. The service began this November, and will continue through 2025, aiming to address recent and recurring sanitation concerns reported to Hevesi’s office, and proactively enhance quality of life in the neighborhoods.

The program will offer daily street cleanings on Austin Street, Yellowstone Boulevard, and Continental Avenue in Forest Hills, extending to high-traffic areas in Maspeth, Ridgewood, Glendale, Middle Village, Rego Park, and Kew Gardens as needed, and as resources allow.

Services through the funding will be administered by ACE Programs for the Homeless. Beyond working to improve street cleanliness, ACE offers employment opportunities to individuals with histories of homelessness, incarceration, and addiction, helping them reintegrate into the workforce.

Hevesi hopes the services will bring long-term solutions to recent concerns, and will continue supporting other efforts spearheaded by local groups that include Metro Village of Forest Hills and the Middle Village Residents Association. Hevesi also plans to continue his district-wide “community cleanup” series which enlists volunteer assistance on an annual basis.

“We really look forward to rolling this out, and think it will go a long way to address concerns we have heard. ACE has a great model, and their team has been absolutely fantastic,” Hevesi said, “Our neighborhoods already stand among the most vibrant and welcoming in our city. This partnership will showcase that, while hopefully making the day-to-day better for everyone who calls here home.”