RESS RELEASE 

For Immediate Release: Thursday, October 6, 2011

Contact: Gloria Chan (415) 554-6926

PUBLIC SERVICE TRAINEES BEGIN CITY’S CLEAN STREETS PROGRAM

125 Trainees to Preserve Vital Cleaning Services to City’s Busiest and Most Traveled Corridors

San Francisco, CA—In partnership with the San Francisco Human Services Agency (HSA), 100 new trainees began training and working as Ambassadors for the Community Corridors Partnership Program as part of the JobsNOW3 program. Around 45 employees began their first shift on Saturday, October 1 and another 45 trainees will start on Friday, October 7. The new employees will fully staff the Community Corridors Partnership Program and provide key services such as litter pick up, graffiti abatement, landscaping and weeding, and many other services to keep 405 of San Francisco’s busiest streets and sidewalks safe, clean, and vibrant.

“These trainees are vital to preserving cleaning services in our communities,” said Mohammed Nuru, Interim Director of the Department of Public Works.  “Every helping hand makes a huge difference on our sidewalks and streets. These services will continue to improve and enhance the quality of life in San Francisco.”

Over the past few weeks, Public Works provided 90 of these new trainees with training on health and safety, communication skills on conflict resolution and decision making; graffiti removal including product application and best practices; sweeping and weeding techniques, litter and debris pick-up, equipment and radio use in addition to proper protocol and procedures. Trainees also spent time shadowing representatives in the field. JobsNOW3 workers are primarily unemployed individuals on welfare (both county-funded Personal Assisted Employment Services and CalWORKs). In September, Mayor Edwin Lee announced the Clean Streets Program to place up to 200 low income residents in public services trainee positions at DPW and the Recreation and Park Department (RPD).

The HSA established the eligibility of applicants and referred candidates to DPW and RPD for placement in job training programs on City streets and in San Francisco parks.

“The Community Corridors Partnership Program is a critical initiative that ensures the cleanliness of our merchant corridors,” said Doug Marschke, co-owner of Underdog on Irving Street and former President of Outer Sunset Merchant and Professionals Association (OSMPA). “These Ambassadors add a human touch—allowing merchants to interact directly with individuals that act as liaisons between merchants and service agencies so that we maintain a sustainable streetscape for the community.” 

These 90 trainees will add to the existing 35 individuals that are part of the Pre-Apprenticeship Program. Through the Pre- Apprenticeship Program and the JobsNOW Program, a total of 125 trainees are now working as Ambassadors to clean and green the City’s most traveled blocks for one year. For a list of corridors, please visit www.sfdpw.org

The new trainees come at the heels of a City Survey completed and released every two years by the City Controller. The survey analysis suggests that emphasis along major corridors and commercial areas can result in higher perception of the city’s streets and sidewalks. The survey also indicates that the cleanliness of the sidewalks citywide had the most impact on overall residential satisfaction of the city’s infrastructure. For more information on the 2011 Community Survey, please visit the Office of the Controller. 

In May 2011, the City Controller released the Street and Sidewalk Perception Study Report which revealed that pedestrians generally have a positive perception of the cleanliness of streets and sidewalks. The most common complaints were about cigarette butts, trash, smells, grime, and generally dirty appearance. The report also recommended the department to increase public outreach and awareness to property owners about sidewalk cleanliness and maintenance responsibilities.

DPW is responsible for the care and maintenance of San Francisco’s streets and much of its infrastructure. The department cleans and resurfaces streets; plants and maintains City street trees; designs, constructs and maintains city-owned facilities; inspects streets and sidewalks; constructs curb ramps; removes graffiti from public property; and partners with the diverse neighborhoods in San Francisco to provide stellar cleaning and greening services. For more information, please visit www.sfdpw.org

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