A new initiative to beautify and clean up Kingston Avenue, the main street in Crown Heights, during Tishrei has been started by a local resident.

Sam Stern, a businessman and activist from Crown Heights, has called upon friends and fellow residents to join in funding the services of a private street cleaning company, which will clean Kingston Avenue every morning. The street cleaners will sweep Kingston Avenue from Lefferts Avenue to Eastern Parkway every day beginning Sunday for the next 2 weeks.

“Between the Tishrei festivities and foot traffic, it is simply too much for the NYC Sanitation to handle and the avenue looks like a dump,” Stern told COLlive.

“This is going to make Kingston Avenue beautiful and clean,” he said.

Stern donated $1,000 himself to the initiative, and says the response has been overwhelming, with hundreds of residents donating and expressing support.

“Many people asked for this to continue through the year,” he said.

Stern hopes to set up the project to continue, and run on its own.

“The community simply becomes overwhelmed with guest festivals and traffic and our Sanitation department doesn’t apply more resources so the streets become disgusting,” he says.

Outdoor dining rules and reduced alternate side parking have also impacted the neighborhood, with trucks not being able to clean properly.

“With all that taking place, we must take matters into our own hands,” Stern says. “If we want to be a beautiful community that proudly represents who we are and how we feel about the Rebbe’s shechuna,” he says.

“We need your help. Any amount will show you care and are happy to see this happen.”

A committee has been formed to oversee this beautiful yet vital Project.

Rabbi Moshe Pinson
Mr. Sam Stern
Mr. Ari Minkowitz