Operations

The core services provided by the East Midtown Association are the most utilized and visible programmatic components, and notably beneficial to our community.

Street cleaning services supplement the work of the New York City Department of Sanitation. EMA cleaners ensure that our streets and sidewalks are as clean as possible, our trash receptacles and other street furniture are clean and not overflowing, and incidents of graffiti are addressed promptly.

Our security patrol is a resource for community information and provides piece of mind for business owners, shoppers, and residents. EMA security officers answer questions, give directions, and provide information to the public, and distribute fliers and other information to area businesses.

Through our contract with the Bowery Residents’ Committee, constituents of the EMA and its homeless men and women have an around-the-clock resource. The BRC was chosen to provide homeless outreach services to the EMA and surrounding areas due to their commitment to addressing the root causes of homelessness. Two outreach workers work on the streets of East Midtown 40 hours per week.

Recognizing that even the most basic services can be refined and improved, we are continuing to work to increase our effectiveness in the community and enhance our operational services by developing a series of objective performance standards and strengthening hands-on field management.

We have also undertaken several initiatives to integrate and promote our security, sanitation, and homeless outreach services, including:

• conducting quarterly ‘Operations Cabinet’ meetings, at which EMA staff and Board members meet with street-level services supervisors to exchange information on what each other is doing and ways we can better improve service delivery;

• creation of an Emergency Phone Number card (in business card, sticker, and magnet versions), which was distributed widely throughout the district and will heighten awareness of our programs; and

• development of an employee photo ID system, which not only helps the public easily identify EMA workers, but also is building a sense of cohesion among the many contract employees of the organization.