To build a stronger Brooklyn we need to make sure we preserve and protect our neighborhoods. Preserving our neighborhoods means not only keeping them affordable, but stopping out-of-control and out-of-character development, keeping our community clean and ensuring support for vital community based organizations. As Borough President Bill will crack down on illegal development, partner with local communities to keep neighborhoods clean, and work to support vital local arts, cultural, educational and sports institutions. CRACKING DOWN ON ILLEGAL DEVELOPMENT We see it everywhere. Shoddy development. Out of scale and out of character buildings. Fly by night contractors. Architecture that takes away from our quality of life. Developers in Brooklyn are getting away with far too much. To protect our neighborhoods Bill de Blasio believes we need to crack down on out-of-control and irresponsible builders and put the breaks on development that hurts our communities. In the City Council Bill fought hard to encourage the Department of City Planning to down zone Carroll Gardens and has stopped irresponsible architects like Robert Scarano from continuing to violate the city's building code with impunity. As Borough President Bill will beef up enforcement of New York's building code and develop a neighborhood-by-neighborhood plan to preserve our communities. CLEANING UP OUR COMMUNITIES        To preserve our neighborhoods Bill believes we also need to invest to keep them clean. While on the City Council he has improved trash pickups, cleaned up notoriously dirty thoroughfares and brought bigger better garbage cans to streets throughout his district. Cleaning up Church Ave and 7th Ave: For the past two years, Bill has secured funding in the budget to partner with the Doe Fund to clean up Church Avenue and 7th Avenue from 3rd Street to 14th Street. More Trash Pickups: As growth exploded along 5th Avenue in Park Slope, Bill was able to increase trash pickups to twice a day from just once a day – keeping the neighborhood clean. As Borough President, Bill will increase trash pickups in the neighborhoods that need it most. Bigger, Better Garbage Cans: Everywhere you look in Bill's district you'll see new oversized trash barrels. In this year's budget, Bill won funding for twenty-three more. As borough president, the bigger, better garbage can will be available in every neighborhood. Teaming up with local businesses to keep streets clean: Bill has been a strong advocate for forming a BID on 5th Avenue in Park Slope. A Business Improvement District (BID) is a formal organization composed mainly of local merchants who all agree to contribute to improving neighborhood services and appearance. BIDs deliver supplemental services such as sanitation and maintenance, public safety and visitor services, marketing and promotional programs, capital improvements, and beautification for the area - all funded by a special assessment paid by property owners within the district. As borough president, Bill will work with small businesses and community leaders to bring BIDS to neighborhoods where they're needed most. SUPPORTING LOCAL INSTITUTIONS        Bill believes that strong vibrant community organizations are a crucial element of building a stronger Brooklyn. On the Council Bill has secured funding for Brooklyn Bridge Park, the Brooklyn tourism center, Prospect Park Alliance, the Brooklyn Arts Council, local museums and civic associations, the Brooklyn Museum, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, and the Martin Luther King Concert Series, among others. Bill had led the charge in transforming the Park Slope Armory, which had been used since the 1980s as a municipal homeless shelter, into a community recreation center that will serve the needs of children, adults, and senior citizens. In addition to serving as a Little League Coach, Bill has helped fund local organizations that keep kids active, like the Prospect Park Baseball Association, which administers a youth baseball and softball league for kids in Prospect Park. Bill also helped to fund the Playground Associates in Prospect Park, the Prospect YMCA's fitness program, and the new YMCA pool.