Queens Councilman Take Aim At Pooping Pigeons Along Sidewalks Under 7 Train
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- There's a pigeon poop problem in Queens and one local lawmaker is determined to do something about it.
In response to constituents complaining about droppings scattered about on the sidewalks under 7-line Train stations, City Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer, who told CBS 2's Dave Carlin he has been peppered with poop a "couple of times" himself, has spearheaded an effort combat the problem.
"Having to walk through a gauntlet of pigeon droppings to get to work -- to and from Manhattan -- every single day, is something we don't want," he told 1010 WINS.
Van Bramer, who consulted on a plan with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, will use $250,000 in discretionary funds to install "thousands of linear feet of pigeon-deterrent bird wire," along with netting, bird spikes and spokes and an ultra-sonic device that is designed to frighten birds, but is inaudible to human ears.
The deterrents will be installed at three subway stations in Sunnyside and Woodside, namely the 46th Street, 52nd Street and 61 Street stations.
"People get hit periodically and even if they don't get hit, they have to step over, jump over, try and avoid pigeon droppings that litter the entrances and exits to these subway stops," he said.
"I've been hit I would say more than 10 times," said Kelly Basso of Sunnyside.
Van Bramer said he doesn't want visitors and newcomers to get a bad impression about the borough and judge it based on the poop, which he added is "not pleasant visually" and "can smell."
"The entrance to a 7 train stop is often the gateway to a neighborhood. People don't want the first thing that people see when friends or neighbors come into a neighborhood to be pigeon poop all over the place," he told 1010 WINS.
The MTA refused to pay for the experiment, saying it is not responsible for the sidewalks under elevated stations.
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