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Foley, Rouse, Kepert, Walsh Board Widen Anti-Litter Effort Town Launches ‘Let’s Clean Up Brookhaven’ Campaign APRIL 24, 2006, FARMINGVILLE, NY –Brookhaven Supervisor Brian X. Foley, Highway Superintendent John Rouse, Councilwomen Connie Kepert and Kathy Walsh and the entire Town Board joined with civic leaders to invite all Brookhaven Town residents, schools, clubs, businesses, and retail centers to help clean up parks, roadsides, shopping areas and other properties as part of a stepped up campaign called “Let’s Clean Up Brookhaven.” Supervisor Foley, Highway Superintendent Rouse and Councilwoman Kepert said at a press conference Tuesday that litter costs Brookhaven Town taxpayers millions of dollars to clean up each year. Besides kicking off the town’s annual “Make It Sparkle…Make It Shine” program at the press conference, Supervisor Foley announced the start of the “Let’s Clean Up Brookhaven” campaign to greatly expand anti-litter efforts. Other parts of the town’s new and comprehensive anti-litter program include: --Public Safety officers writing tickets to litterbugs on town property. “If they see it, they will write it,” said Supervisor Foley --Commissioner of Public Safety Kevin Cronin organizing meetings with Suffolk County Police Department Precinct Commanders to request enforcement of Brookhaven anti-litter laws. --Creating an Anti-Litter Task Force, with two members appointed from each Council District, two members appointed by Supervisor Foley, Highway Superintendent John Rouse or his designee, and Waste Management Commissioner John Kowalyck or his designee. A resolution to appoint the task force will be on the agenda at the May 1 Town Board meeting. --Increasing coordination with the Suffolk County Sheriff Vincent DeMarco’s Labor Assistance Program (SLAP), which provides non-violent prisoner labor for litter collection. Councilwoman Walsh, liaison to the town’s Youth Services department, said she would coordinate with youth groups all over town to pitch in on the town’s expanded cleanup efforts. “Litter in empty lots and along roadsides is one of the most pervasive and unsightly blights on Brookhaven’s landscape and it costs the town millions of dollar every year to clean up,” according to Supervisor Foley. “It affects how we feel about ourselves and how others perceive us. In addition to creating an eyesore, litter harms wildlife and their habitats, and is a potential hazard to motorists, joggers, and anyone who travels our roadways.” The majority of litter along roadways comes from motorists and passengers who toss cigarette butts, beverage containers and food wrappers out the window and from those who drive pick-up trucks but don’t cover or secure their loads properly, or don’t clean out the back of their pickup trucks before driving on roadways. “Once an area becomes littered, people are more likely to contribute to the problem,” said Supervisor Foley. “Spring is a good time to take stock of our surroundings, tidy up, remove graffiti, add fresh paint, and create a clean environment that makes us feel proud and discourages litterers from leaving their trash for others to clean up.” “The Town of Brookhaven spends a lot of time, effort and money cleaning up litter all over town,” said Highway Superintendent Rouse. “The Highway Department, the Waste Management Department and the Parks Department all spend an inordinate amount of time and money cleaning up litter, time and money that could be much better spent to provide our residents with the services they deserve. “I am hopeful that ‘Let’s Clean Up Brookhaven’ can make a real difference in our great town.” “I am pleased to help Brookhaven Town in this important cleanup effort,” said Sheriff DeMarco. “I was happy to work with Supervisor Foley and Highway Superintendent Rouse last year to bring our SLAP teams to town to help clean littered roadways, and they will be back this year.” “I had the pleasure of kicking off ‘Make It Sparkle, Make It Shine’ with the Supervisor last year, and now want to expand that program,” said Councilwoman Connie Kepert. “Litter like graffiti sends a message that no one cares about this neighborhood or this community. Litter not only detracts from our communities, but costs Brookhaven taxpayers $3.5 million within a 24-month period. “It is time we initiated a program within Brookhaven that takes the burden off the backs of taxpayers, and places it where it belongs, on the backs of those who litter. Like other communities across the United States, Brookhaven is sending a message to those who litter: ‘Litter and it will hurt.’ “Today we are initiating a 3-prong program: Enforcement, Education, and Eradication. As the Supervisor stated, we will be using our Public Safety officers to write tickets for those who litter on town property, we are working to enlist the help of Suffolk County Police officers, and we are encouraging town residents to report incidents of littering. “We will be creating several Public Service Announcements targeting the most prevalent forms of litter, tossing items like cigarette butts, and drink bottles out windows of cars, and contractors who do not cover their loads. I am working with our state representatives to help us launch a signage campaign, which advertises the ‘Litter, and It Will Hurt’ campaign. “As the Supervisor mentioned, we will be creating a task force, and working with community organizations to adopt certain areas for cleanups. The message needs to get out that we are serious about litter.” Individuals and groups are asked to choose a location they feel needs attention and register their clean-up crew for “Make It Sparkle…Make It Shine” by calling the Brookhaven Town Waste Management Department at 451-6222. The Department of Waste Management will provide litter collection bags and will collect the filled bags from the roadside by appointment with each group.   ### Office of the Supervisor One Independence Hill • Farmingville • NY 11738 • Phone (631) 451-6955 • Fax (631) 451-6677 www.Brookhaven.org
Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 (Archive on Monday, June 25, 2007)
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