New York City sanitation (DSNY) workers are banned from issuing trash-related fines to New Yorkers in certain neighborhoods during some weekend hours, including during Shabbos, under a new bill signed by Governor Kathy Hochul.

The bill, which was first introduced by Borough Park Assembly member Simcha Eichenstein, changed the Sanitation Department’s “discriminatory” evening curbside garbage drop-off rules, which have resulted weekly in $50 to $300 fines for Orthodox Jewish residents who are prohibited from handling trash by carrying it outside their home during the religious observance of Shabbos.

“This policy is unacceptable and must come to [an] end,” Eichenstein stated. “New Yorkers should not have to choose between their religious beliefs and avoiding a ticket.” The bill prohibits DSNY agents from ticketing property owners from 3 p.m. Friday to 6 p.m. Saturday.

But in order for this new curiosity to take effect, there’s a catch. The local community board needs to request to opt into the program.

Brooklyn Community Board 12, whose members consist mostly of frum Jews and cover the neighborhoods of Borough Park and parts of Flatbush, has already opted in several weeks ago.

In Crown Heights, the Jewish community is split into three different New York community boards:

Brooklyn Community Board 8 (North Crown Heights)

Brooklyn Community Board 9 (Center and South Crown Heights)

Brooklyn Community Board 17 (East Flatbush and Remsen Village)

Crown Heights Lubavitcher activist and community board 9 member, Benny Rosenberger, who has for years been advocating on behalf of the Shchunah from within CB9, has recently spoken with the district manager of Brooklyn Community Board 9 and is working together with him to implement this policy for the benefit of the entire Center and South Crown Heights, which will hopefully begin to take affect within the next several weeks.

Unfortunately, there are currently no Lubavitchers who are members of community boards 8 and 17.

Anash residing in North Crown Heights, East Flatbush, and Remsen Village have been raising the alarm, questioning where are all the many different Askanim with all their connections when they are needed to advocate on behalf of the neighborhood to fix this issue with community boards 8 and 17?

Many are also questioning where are our local NYC and NYS elected officials, including Senator Zellnor Myrie, Assembly member Brian Cunningham, and Council members Crystal Hudson and Rita Joseph, all of whom claim to represent the Crown Heights Jewish community.

Lubavitcher residents further stressed that this is another reason for the need to elect and vote for one of our own, candidate Ahron Gluck, to the NYS Assembly during next month’s Democratic primary election, and the importance of joining the Yeshivas, Shuls, and Mosdos in participating in the recently launched Democrat voter registration drive so the greater Crown Heights community can finally have proper representation.