The repeated cleanups are having an impact.

That’s the message shared by Assemblyman William Colton (D—Gravesend, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach and Dyker Heights), who, with City Councilmember Susan Zhuang (D—Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, Gravesend, Dyker Heights, Boro Park and Sunset Park), has been organizing biweekly community cleanups around the neighborhood over the past couple of months.

This time, the team of volunteers gathered on Sunday afternoon, August 24, and fanned out along 86^th Street, between 20^th Avenue and Bay Parkway; Kings Highway, between West 6^th and West 12^th Streets; and Bay Parkway in the 60s and 70s, wielding brooms and shovels to clean the sidewalk of debris. Among the volunteers were members of Chinese American Social Services (CASS) and the Association of Bensonhurst Commerce (ABC).

“I am really delighted with the results,” said Assemblyman Colton, who himself helped spruce up 86^th Street. “We have been doing these cleanups every two weeks, and I think it’s making a difference. There’s been a major improvement in the areas we have concentrated on, and I am hoping that, seeing how good it looks, residents, businesspeople and visitors will be encouraged to keep the neighborhood clean and trash-free going forward.”

Assemblyman Colton has led community cleanups for over a decade; he and Councilmember Zhuang sponsor cleanups around the neighborhood through the summer and fall.