NYer Of The Week: Queens Resident Sweeps The Streets Clean
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After seeing a Department of Sanitation sign asking New Yorkers to keep our city clean, the latest New Yorker of the Week decided to do just that. NY1's Rebecca Spitz filed the following report.Thirty years ago, Caroline Eckert took on the garbage along Jamaica Avenue in Queens.
"Everybody was littering, littering, littering and I got sick and tired of that. And I said, 'I am going to do something about that,'" she says.
So for five days a week, Eckert sweeps the streets from 7:30 a.m. until noon, rain or shine. She covers about 20 blocks, starting at 102nd Street.
"She's been a force on the avenue. She just has a great attitude about trying to keep the place clean," says former business owner Lou Gazzale.
Eckert, who is in her 70s, calls herself a volunteer and says she loves her job.
"Sometime sanitation workers didn't know what to make of her, but over time she's been honored by different mayors, and commissioners from the sanitation department, police department and civic groups," says Gazzale.
Eckert wears a cap and uniform that was given to her by the Department of Sanitation.
"She's definitely an honorary member and we consider her one of our own," says DOS District Superintendent Hans Bandison. "She's part of the sanitation family, that she comes out here every day and does her job to help us along with what we do."
She's also unafraid to use her authority. Whenever Eckert spots a litterbug, she blows a whistle.
Business owners have also been supportive of Eckert's work.
"We would probably have quite a number of fines over the years if it wasn't for Caroline," says Gazzale.
A self-taught harmonica player, Eckert has no plans to retire anytime soon.
"When I found out she was in her 70s, I was really surprised to see. She's got so much energy. She just loves it, this is what keeps her going," says President Wendy Bowne of the Richmond Hill Block Association. "If every [neighborhood] had a Caroline, then New York City would definitely be a much better place."
So, for keeping the streets clean for so many years, Caroline Eckert is the latest New Yorker of the Week.
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