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A Cleaner
Flushing
From World Journal
November 9, 2002
Three sanitation workers hired by Chinese businesses showed up
on the streets of Flushing for the first time yesterday to sweep
the streets and change garbage bags in an effort to improve the
environment in the area.
It was the first day for the Doe Fund, Inc. to dispatch workers
to clean the streets of Flushing. "This is indeed one of the
dirtiest neighborhoods in New York City," said Andrew Jackson,
one of the workers. "But we will do our best to make it better."
Many residents and business owners are satisfied with the results
and said the efforts gave Flushing a new look.
Initiated by City Councilman John Liu, Destination Flushing, Inc.,
funded by a group of Chinese business owners in Flushing, signed
a contract with the Doe Fund, Inc. last month. The company will
send three workers to clean the streets of Flushing from 11 a.m.
to seven p.m. every day until the Flushing Business Improvement
District is officially established.
According to Ernest Ogden, a senior supervisor from Doe, the section
that they are responsible for includes Main Street (between northern
Boulevard and Sanford Boulevard), Kessina Boulevard (between Main
Street and Buckley Boulevard), Roosevelt Avenue (between Union Street
and Prince Street), Lippman Plaza, 40th Rd, and the areas around
it.
The Doe Fund, Inc. also provides similar service to the Upper East
Side, and other districts in Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx, Ogden
said.
Kenneth Kelly, another worker, was cleaning along Main Street.
Freddie Williams, the third worker, was responsible for changing
the garbage bags and collecting the garbage around the garbage cans.
"The workload is really heavy. There is a lot of garbage here,"
he said.
The founders of Destination Flushing, Inc. are 11 Chinese business
owners in Flushing, including Chen Tsuo-chou, Chang Yung-liang,
Ku Ya-ming, Chuang Shin-hsiung, Chuang Chen-huei and Liang Yi-min.
So far they have raised $60,000 to pay for the service in the first
year. The first day ended with satisfying results and a positive
response from the community.
Translated from Chinese by Larry Tung.
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