By Lisa Kava

One Texas native turned Upper West Sider is on a mission to clean up trash in the neighborhood — one block at a time.

Jake Russell, a real estate tech professional, established Facebook group OneBlock UWS on August 24th. The organization consists of volunteers who “adopt” an Upper West Side block to clean. Each volunteer must commit to picking up trash on their adopted block twice a week. OneBlock has grown quickly; in just a few days 70 people have joined.

Russell, who remained on the Upper West Side throughout the pandemic, began to notice areas of concern in the community he had grown to love. “I knew that our neighborhood was hit hard by budget cuts and economic changes. I had been trying to think of how I could help,” he explained. Russell realized he was often stepping over trash on daily walks. “I wanted to take an action that was immediate in its execution, replicable and inexpensive. Picking up trash fit that bill.”

So Russell decided to start by cleaning up his own block, 76th Street between Columbus and Amsterdam. He purchased a trash grabber and garbage bags at Beacon Hardware and went right to work. ”It took about 15 minutes” Russell told West Side Rag. “I found solace, encouragement, and hope through the simple act of picking up trash on my street.”

The next day, Russell posted about his experience in the Upper West Siders for Safer Streets Facebook group and received an overwhelming response. “My phone buzzed the rest of the day as the post racked up hundreds of likes and comments. People were thankful, appreciative and inspired.”

Russell decided to take his idea a step further; he developed a google form and asked potential volunteers to claim an Upper West Side block to clean. He posted the form in the Facebook group and was met with even more enthusiasm; within 24 hours over 40 people signed up to volunteer.

On August 24th, Russell developed his own Facebook group called OneBlock UWS.

Russell describes the group on the FB page as:

“Community driven. Action focused. Zero complaining. OneBlock exists for those who are willing to take action, and be part of the solution. OneBlock believes in the power of neighbors working together.”

As of Friday August 28th, OneBlock’s 70 volunteers have claimed approximately 60 blocks on the Upper West Side (Russell will allow two people to claim the same block.) Word has traveled quickly: people from Brooklyn and the Upper East Side have reached out to Russell with the hope of starting similar groups.

Hila Paldi, one of OneBlock’s first volunteers told West Side Rag she noticed a significant increase in trash in the “ten block radius around the Lucerne ever since the men were moved in.” When Paldi learned about OneBlock the idea resonated with her and she was excited about the chance to help.

”We can take our streets back by keeping them clean…Many of us have lived here for years. We care about our neighborhood and want to preserve it,” said Paldi, who quickly purchased a trash-grabber on Amazon and has picked up garbage on her adopted block twice. “A few people who have seen me thanked me. One person asked why I was doing it, and when I explained nodded in agreement.” Paldi plans to pick up trash on her block every other day.

Jake Russell and his wife plan to remain in the neighborhood for the foreseeable future; the couple recently signed a new lease on the Upper West Side. “I love the parks, the food and the people. I love the easy access to other parts of the city with the two subway lines. NYC is in for a tough couple of years but I believe that the Upper West Side is primed to be the neighborhood that leads the comeback.”

OneBlock is planning an organized group trash pick up on Sunday August 30th at 9 a.m. The group will meet at the Northeast corner of Broadway and 73rd Street and will proceed to walk up Broadway to at least 83rd Street picking up trash from both sides of the street as well as the medians. All are welcome and volunteers should bring gloves and trash grabbers. Trash bags will be provided. Russell is asking volunteers to wear closed toe shoes and either a green t-shirt or green hat. “OneBlock will be using the color green as a theme for many of our actions.”

To volunteer with OneBlock fill out and submit this form: click here.

OneBlock can be found on Facebook at OneBlock UWS or on Instagram @oneblockUWS. And stay tuned – “I have some big plans in the works,” Russell exclaimed.