Thursday, October 1, 2026
They are the people no one really sees, the sanitation workers who often come before dawn, before the neighborhood is even awake. They hoist two, three and sometimes four cans of trash and load their contents — rotten food, papers, old and torn clothes — into a huge truck that spews odor and exhaust into the atmosphere. They are out in the frigid cold and the boiling heat.
The sanitation workers are thanked maybe once a year, at Christmas, when some thoughtful people leave cash in an envelope taped onto a garbage can.
Few envy their job.
But a few days ago, they were recognized by State Sen. Todd Kaminsky, a Long Beach Democrat, as "Helpers of the Week" for their work during the coronavirus pandemic.
A group from CSEA Long Beach, Sanitation District 1, including the Five Towns and Valley Stream South, the Village of Valley Stream Sanitation Department and Sanitation District 2 in Baldwin held up signs to spell out the inspiring message "WE WILL NOT QUIT," solidifying their commitment to helping the community remain safe and secure during COVID-19.
"Our sanitation workers do not have the option of hunkering down and staying home, and we are grateful for their service, despite the weather, the circumstance, or even a pandemic," Kaminsky said. "You are truly essential and thank you for being a key part of what makes us strong, resilient communities, and what defines NY Tough."
