Those crews will dedicate one day a week to Third Avenue from 69^th Street to 88^th Street, and two days to both 13^th Avenue from 68^th Street to 79^th Street and 18^th Avenue from 68^th Street to 86^th Street.

“It brings our service right down to the grass roots all over the city, not just for BIDs but for places the community organizes and the council supports,” said George McDonald, founder and president of the Doe Fund from the steps of Salty Dog, offering up a round of applause for his crews.

The Bay Ridge councilmember also successfully struck a deal with the DOS that will see extra basket pickups on Fifth Avenue from 68^th Street to 86^th Street, 13^th Avenue from 75^th Street to 79^th Street, Bay Ridge Avenue from Ridge Boulevard to Fifth Avenue and 18^th Avenue from 81^st Street to 86^th Street – the latter a commercial corridor Coney Island Councilmember Mark Treyger went in on securing funds for, and Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Carlo A. Scissura called a nightmare.

“I applaud the basket pickup but on 18^th Avenue, we do not have baskets,” said Scissura, begging Community Board 11 to “put back the baskets.” “Everywhere in the city of New York has baskets, except 18^th Avenue.”

Eighteenth Avenue resident and business-owner Carlo Lauricella agreed.

“I have seen the great days of 18^th Avenue and I have seen the downfall of 18^th Avenue,” said the 54-year resident adding that 82^nd Street, where his business is located, has become a “dumping ground” for small contractors and anyone looking to dispose of bulk items. “Finally, Gentile and Treyger are taking on this problem on their own.”

Lauricella and Scissura joined the handful of local Business Improvement District (BID) and merchant association leaders that were on hand for the announcement in remaining hopeful that this partnership is what will make all the difference.

“This is a small town in a big city and no matter what happens in the world, we always know that in Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights and Bensonhurst, we are one community we are one family,” said Scissura, a Bensonhurst boy himself. “The reason that this community has always grown … has been because we’ve always come together.”

“Our end goal is to just keep New York City clean and beautiful,” said DOS Citywide Community Affairs Officer Ignazio Terranova, also commending the team effort that brought this deal to life. “If it takes an army to make that happen, then we welcome it.”

Jim Clark, president of the Fifth Avenue BID, said simply, “A clean street means better business, no questions asked.”