Recchia Wants To Extend Sanitation Deadline

Councilman Domenic Recchia of Coney Island, Gravesend and Bensonhurst sent a letter to the New York City Department of Sanitation pleading with them to extend the January 14 deadline for Sandy-related bulk pickup services.

The increased sanitation service has been vital for small business owners and residents who are experiencing prolonged clean-ups and rebuilding efforts in the wake of Superstorm Sandy. Sanitation has already extended the deadline once, having previously planned to terminate service on December 31.

In the letter, Recchia asked the Department of Sanitation to extend the increased services an extra three months.

“Over the past several weeks, I have met with many residents and small business owners in Brooklyn who have communicated to me the importance of additional sanitation pickups during this recovery phase,” Recchia wrote in the letter.

Recchia noted that delayed payments from FEMA, insurance companies and other governmental agencies have not allowed business owners and residents to begin the process of gutting out and cleaning up their properties. Assuming this money kicks in soon, and the sanitation deadline is not extended, the clean-up and rebuilding efforts for many people will be hampered and slowed.

Recchia concluded his letter praising the work of the Sanitation Department, describing their efforts as “herculean.”