Justice for the Jewel Streets / “The Hole”

Bordering Brooklyn and Queens lies Amber, Ruby, and Sapphire Street, locally known as the “Jewel Streets”, or its more abysmal nickname “The Hole”. This neglected stretch of land located on the border of the neighborhoods of East New York, Brooklyn and Lindenwood, Queens sits 12 feet below street level, making it the perfect pool for overflowing stormwater and sewage from surrounding areas.

The Jewel Streets resemble more of a Louisiana swampland than the iconography of the world’s richest city in which they reside. Without being connected to the city’s main sewer system, most residents are forced to own and maintain private septic tank systems. This presents challenges during extreme weather events and inevitably leads to flooding, stagnant pools of water, overflowing septic systems, and impassibility of the roadways. The area is also subject to frequent illegal dumping, abandoned vehicles, and underdevelopment.