SEAs

THE HISTORY OF SANITATION ENFORCEMENT AGENTS (SEA)

In 1981, the first class of Sanitation Enforcement Agents was hired. Their job was to work hand in hand with the Sanitation police and the uniformed Sanitation workers. They were created to further ensure that our city was clean and disease free. Sanitation enforcement responsibilities include issuing summonses for recycling violations, public health violations such as unleashed dogs, health code violations such as vendors not properly disposing of litter, license violations, illegal posting and the proper disposal of abandoned vehicles.

The enforcement agents monitor compliance with the health and administrative laws governing the maintenance of clean streets, illegal dumping and proper storage and disposal of waste and recyclables by both residents and commercial establishments. Enforcement agents go through comprehensive classroom and field training. Training classes are held at Floyd Bennett Field. After graduating from training, experienced agents supervise new recruits in the filed helping them become accustomed to their new work.

The job of an SEA entails many aspects:

1- Educating the public with sidewalk litter laws
2- Handling traffic snow emergency while sanitation workers clean roads and highways
3- Interviewing residential and commercial property owners
4- Handing out “routing stickers” that designate cleaning hours
5- Visiting Boro District garages, Community Boards and following up on 311 complaints to ensure a safe environment
6- Going to Environment Court whenever respondents contest a summons
7- K-9 enforces “scoop the poop” laws, unleashed dogs laws and public sanitation laws
8- Posting unit issues summons for all defacing city property; such as illegal posters and flyers

In the fiscal year of 2002, SEAs issued 263,021 Notices of Violations (NOV). These violations and their enforcement are integral to a safe environment. Sanitation Enforcement agents help to make the standard of living in our city one that we can all be proud of and more importantly, a healthier one. Sanitation is known as NY’s strongest and Traffic is known as NY’s toughest; therefore connected to both; I suppose we can be called NEW YORK’S TOUGHEST and STRONGEST.