Small groups are encouraged to get out and clean up neighborhoods in a safe way

​Borough President James Oddo and District Attorney Michael E. McMahon announced today they are continuing their partnership to encourage small, organized groups who are interested in hosting cleanups in their neighborhoods to do so.
 
“We continue to combat the war on litter and thank those Staten Islanders who have taken the extra step to clean up their neighborhoods,” said Borough President Oddo. “We are calling on constituents to help us in this fight, and are grateful to those doing their part to correct this self-inflicted problem.” 

The Borough President and District Attorney want to caution groups to hold clean ups only where it is safe to do so, exercise safety at all times, and only clean on good quality air days.
 
“I have lived on Staten Island all my life and unfortunately these are the absolute filthiest conditions as to litter and graffiti I have ever seen,” said DA McMahon. “All City agencies responsible and their leadership should be ashamed! People who litter and commit graffiti vandalism should also be ashamed, and wherever we can, will be prosecuted. Meanwhile, the citizens of Staten Island must come to the rescue. As the weather gets nicer and we begin spending more time outdoors, it’s important now more than ever that we ensure our communities are kept safe and clean. Building on the success of our anti-litter initiative, I am proud to announce my office is once again partnering with Borough President Oddo to take on this important issue. We have been greatly encouraged to see community groups have joined our call to action to help beautify our borough through regular community cleanups, and we look forward to many more clean-ups in the months ahead.”

Local groups who are interested in hosting a cleanup and need a site to clean or need support with supplies – including masks, garbage bags, and/or gloves – should email Irene Maiello at imaiello@statenislandusa.com or Lisa Thompson at Lisa.Thompson@rcda.nyc.gov. 
 
Groups are asked to organize themselves and take necessary safety precautions, including:
Keep groups to 10 people or less
Practice social distancing
Wear a mask and gloves
Stay hydrated
Do not handle illicit drug paraphernalia or potentially dangerous items, report them to 311

Those who participate are encouraged to post before and after photos on social media with the hashtag #SILitterHero to be re-posted by both office’s social media accounts.

​Borough President James Oddo and District Attorney Michael E. McMahon announced today they are encouraging small, organized groups who are interested in hosting clean ups in their neighborhoods to do so.
 
“We’ve had several groups reach out to our office who are interested in doing clean ups,” said Borough President Oddo. “I’m heartened by these groups – Scouts and others – who are willing to go out and clean up. I’d like to encourage those who are willing and able to do so to send us pictures of their work so we can thank you for doing your part to correct this self-inflicted problem.”
 
The Borough President and District Attorney want to caution groups to hold clean ups only where it is safe to do so, exercise safety at all times, and only clean on good quality air days.
 
“Litter is a problem of our own doing, yet too many of our neighbors continue to carelessly dispose of their trash on our sidewalks, streets, and parks. Not only does this selfish behavior become an eyesore and is punishable by law, we know unkept public spaces can become magnets for far more serious criminal activity,” said District Attorney McMahon. “I’m proud to join Borough President Oddo in encouraging and supporting considerate Staten Islanders to clean up after their less-thoughtful neighbors. While it should not have to be this way, together we can make our Island a cleaner and safer place.”
 
Local groups who are interested in hosting a cleanup and need a site to clean or need support with supplies – including masks, garbage bags, and/or gloves – should email Irene Maiello at imaiello@statenislandusa.com or Lisa Thompson at Lisa.Thompson@rcda.nyc.gov.
 
Groups are asked to organize themselves and take necessary safety precautions, including:

• Keep groups to 10 people or less
• Practice social distancing
• Wear a mask and gloves
• Stay hydrated
• Do not handle illicit drug paraphernalia or potentially dangerous items, report them to 311

 
Those who participate are encouraged to post before and after photos on social media with the hashtag #SILitterHero to be re-posted by both office’s social media accounts.

​Borough President Oddo announced today a litter PSA video featuring local kids (Borough Hall staff families) expressing their disgust for litter.
 
The PSA video shows that “even the kids know” litter is bad for where we live, but “they know what to do”: pick it up and throw it in the trash can.
 
“Staten Island listen up. Our litter problem is a self-inflicted one that Staten Islanders are doing to other Staten Islanders, one that Staten Islanders are doing to kids who are calling on you to help them keep their home clean. We hope these Staten Islanders grow up to be less inclined to act selfishly and demonstrate a greater appreciation for their neighbors and our Island,” said Borough President Oddo.
 
This first video features the children and grandchildren of Borough Hall staffers sharing the message to keep Staten Island clean. This is meant to kick off the new campaign and the Borough President is asking Staten Island parents to share videos of their kids sharing their messages to properly dispose of garbage and keep our borough clean. If interested in your child taking part in our anti-litter campaign, please contact Renee Sarno at RSarno@statenislandusa.com for details.
 
Borough President Oddo last week announced the resurgence of “Own the 18,” an anti-litter program, which encourages home and business owners to remove litter from their property, as well as 18 inches into the street, as required by NYC Administrative Code: Section 16-118(2)(a). During the weekend of July 18 (July 17-18), Borough President Oddo is asking Staten Island property and business owners to commit to taking a few moments to clean in front of their properties. Those who participate are encouraged to post before and after photos on social media with the hashtag #OwnThe18 to be re-posted by the office’s social media accounts.

​Borough President Oddo announced today the resurgence of “Own the 18,” an anti-litter program. “Own the 18” encourages home and business owners to remove litter from their property, as well as 18 inches into the street, as required by NYC Administrative Code: Section 16-118(2)(a).
 
During the weekend of July 18 (July 17-18), Borough President Oddo is asking Staten Island property and business owners to commit to taking a few moments to clean in front of their properties.
 
“We have tried everything under the sun that a local government office can, yet Staten Island seems to as filthy with litter as it ever has been. We fully understand there is a pandemic, an economic and budgetary crisis that has resulted from it, as well as a whole host of street and mental and physical implications from them. None of this justifies the litter we see or prevents us from each doing our small role in addressing the litter we see. So while I would hope Staten Islanders would do their part every day, we are designating one weekend when each of us pledge to remove litter near our homes and begin to reclaim part of our quality of life. Meanwhile, our team is back 'in the lab' crafting new initiates, including a couple designed for children in hopes they grow up to be less inclined to act selfishly and demonstrate a greater appreciation for their neighbors and our Island,” noted Borough President Oddo. “Our litter problem is a self-inflicted one that Staten Islanders are doing to other Staten Islanders. While the majority of Staten Islanders are not engaging in it, we need the majority to help us with the solution.”
 
Those who participate are encouraged to post before and after photos on social media with the hashtag #ownthe18 to be reposted by the office’s social media accounts.

RSVP on our Facebook Event Page to tell your Staten Island friends and neighbors you will #OwnThe18 the weekend of July 18th! 

On Thursday, May 17th, BP Oddo announced a partnership with the Staten Island Advance to help promote the “Own the 18” anti-litter initiative. May 18th to 20th will be this year’s “Own the 18” weekend. “Own the 18” refers to a city law that requires business and homeowners alike to clean the street in front of their store or house to a distance of 18 inches from the curb.
 
The Staten Island Advance has generously donated four orchestra tickets to a show at the St. George Theatre for one lucky winner who “owns the 18” this weekend. To enter the contest, before-and-after clean up photos can be emailed or posted to Instagram anytime from Friday, May 18th through Sunday, May 20th. There is no limit to the number of photos that can be submitted, but there will only be one entry per person. At least one before and one after photo is required.
 
To submit photos, email them to photo@siadvance.com or post them to Instagram with the hashtag #ownthe18.
 
The winner can select one of the following shows:
Melissa Etheridge, June 19, 7:30pm
Stepehn Stills & Judy Collins, June 29, 8pm
Dion, July 20, 8pm
Midtown Men, October 13, 8pm
 
“We are grateful to Brian Laline and the Staten Island Advance for partnering with us to encourage Staten Islanders to join us in fighting Staten Island’s litter woes,” said BP Oddo. “I recognize that it is not all Staten Islanders who created this problem. But though you and I may not have caused it, I’m asking that we all pitch in to solve it. And as a bonus, you might end up enjoying some great entertainment for your efforts!”

You can learn more about the contest here.

On Thursday, June 15, BP Oddo joined with DSNY Commissioner Kathryn Garcia to kick off the “Own the 18” weekend. This program, which was first announced in May, encourages Staten Islanders to help improve the litter problem by simply complying with New York City law to clean the sidewalk and 18 inches into the street in front of their properties.

At the event, BP Oddo and Commissioner Garcia discussed the importance of bringing attention to the 18 inch law in order to make progress with the litter problem facing Staten Island.

“What we’re trying to do is encourage Staten Islanders to be a part of the solution,” BP Oddo noted. “On the weekend of June 18th, we want Staten Island property owners to go out and spend five minutes cleaning up the sidewalk and 18 inches into the street in front of their property. Litter is needless, and we have to change the mindset and the culture around littering. It is not normal, it is not acceptable and it should not be a part of everyday life on Staten Island, and that is an ongoing struggle.”

Commissioner Garcia encouraged community involvement, saying, “We need the public. We can't keep New York City clean by ourselves, especially when we see people littering. We hope that ‘Own the 18’ brings more awareness of the 18 inch law and that people get involved in keeping their community clean.”

You can sign up to "Own the 18" here.

On Wednesday, May 10th, Borough President James S. Oddo announced “Own the 18,” a new anti-litter program. “Own the 18” will encourage home and business owners to remove litter from their property, as well as 18 inches into the street, as required by NYC Administrative Code: Section 16-118(2)(a).
 
During the weekend of June 18 (June 16-18), BP Oddo is asking Staten Island property and business owners to commit to taking a few moments to clean in front of their properties. Those who participate can post before and after photos on social media with the hashtag #ownthe18 to be reposted by the office’s social media accounts.
 
“This is our latest initiative to push back against a litter problem that continues to be out of control,” noted BP Oddo. “We are picking one weekend, June 16-18, and asking all property owners to actively clean up the sidewalk and 18 inches into the street. This should be happening every day, but the reality is that it isn’t. We are hoping that by having a call to arms for one weekend, we can educate property owners about the 18 inch law and enlist more Staten Islanders in this battle. Our litter problem is a self-inflicted one that Staten Islanders are doing to other Staten Islanders. We can’t blame historic inequities or anyone else for it. I know the majority of Staten Islanders are not engaging in it, but we need the majority to help us with the solution. Ultimately, we have a legal and moral obligation to clean in front of our properties. We are not looking to lead with the summons book, but we want to challenge as many Staten Islanders as possible to join us on the weekend of June 16, 17, and 18 and beyond.”

“Like Borough President Oddo and many other Staten Islanders, I am sickened by the amount of litter I see dumped on our beautiful borough every day,” said Council Member Steven Matteo. “I have worked with the Borough President, this administration and my City Council colleagues to secure significant resources to tackle this problem, including a dedicated Staten Island Clean Team that has removed thousands of pounds of litter and large debris at hundreds of locations across the borough– but we need more help. My hope is this initiative becomes more than a singular event to raise awareness about littering, but rather a call to action for Staten Islanders to take their trash-strewn streets back, to take some real pride in their communities and to make ‘Own the 18’ a mantra to live by every single day.”
 
“New Yorkers want and deserve a clean and safe city and this unique event being organized by Staten Island Borough President Oddo is an important step in making that goal a reality. When the Mayor was out here last month, we took a walking tour with Borough President Oddo and 18 inch violations were apparent. It’s every property owners’ responsibility to keep that area clean and this innovative event will both remind and encourage Staten Islanders to pitch in,” said Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia.
 
Click here to sign up to "Own the 18."