Dorri Partain 
Assistant Editor

The Independence Avenue Community Improvement District (CID) oversees improvements along Independence Avenue. These improvements include trash collection, beautification, and assistance in a program referred to as GRIME, CRIME & CHIME. The CID’s crew of 10 Urban Street Ambassadors includes Kenny McKinzy, who has been a familiar face on the avenue for the past 11 years.

Over the years, McKinzy has helped with mowing, planting, and trash collection– but has been solely handling the collection of items placed in the Avenue’s recycling receptacles since the CID began a recycling program in 2018. Now on a part-time schedule, he empties receptacles in all four zones three times a week.

McKinzy said the challenging part of his duties are getting people to put the right items in the recycling containers, especially within Zone 2. “Somebody put their used motor oil in there, and it spilled all over me when I emptied it,” he said. “When that happens, nothing in there can be recycled, it all has to go in the trash.”

McKinzy has noticed a great improvement in the appearance of the Avenue since he began working as an Ambassador. “It was an uphill battle back then. It looks so much better now,” he said.

A long-time resident of Historic Northeast, McKinzy has called our neighborhood home since 1992. When he’s not out collecting recycling, he spends his time visiting family, especially his adult “grandbaby”. He enjoys all sports, except baseball, and will even play basketball until he gets too tired.

If you see Kenny working on the Avenue, stop and say Hi and Thank You!