DSNY using new tactic to keep city sidewalks clean and shaming those responsible

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There is a new tactic being used by the Department of Sanitation in order to keep the city’s streets and sidewalks free of trash. The DSNY is now two weeks into the rollout of the ‘Sidewalk Slobs Hall of Fame’ – the campaign that pushes property owners to keep their areas clean. The sidewalks outside of properties and the 18 inches into the street are required to be kept clean by the property owner. The agency recently posted photos outside of one Brooklyn Walgreens to shame them for the previous trash problem that residents say is no longer there. Residents tell News 12 that this is a good start but that the rat problem and more garbage cans are a priority to keep the community clean as well. The city is also taking another approach. Local Law 67 goes into effect later this year and will make $50 first-time fines go up to $300 for the second summons and up to $500 for the third. The DSNY says that they’ve had 174 complaints submitted in just the last two weeks since rolling out this campaign and have issued over 120,000 cleanliness summonses this year, more than double the amount issued in 2023. "