CLEANLINESS & SAFETY

Clean streets reflect a community that cares about itself. We will invest in our young people and our neighborhoods at the same time.

What We Will Do

Create a year-round SD-17 Civic Stewardship Corps employing local youth to clean their own neighborhood.

Working with DYCD and local nonprofits and community organizations, we will establish a paid corps of SD-17 residents aged 16–24 focused on corridor cleaning, graffiti removal, park upkeep, and tree maintenance. Research shows that every $1 invested in youth employment programs like SYEP returns $3 in benefits through reduced crime, higher graduation rates, and long-term employment. Participating youth are 38% less likely to be convicted of a felony. Getting young people engaged in their community, off their phones and invested in where they live, builds neighborhood pride and reduces crime long term.