Staten Island’s Beach Cleanup Sparks in Midland

Midland Beach sparkled last night after Staten Island’s big cleanup hauled 2 tons of trash. Volunteer Mia Chen led 200 locals, bagging bottles and nets off the sand. It’s a push to reclaim NYC’s edge from plastic and seaweed muck. Kids raced with gloves; a retiree nabbed a tire solo. ‘This is our shore—let’s own it,’ Chen says, lugging a sack. The waves crashed cleaner by dusk.

The drive’s new—weekly now, after a storm dumped junk in February. Chen’s a St. George greenie; last night’s crew tripled last week’s. A teen found a crab in a cup—freed it, grinning. The Parks Department chipped in bins, dodging budget cuts. A before-after pic hit X—#CleanSI soared. Midland’s breathing again.

Some shrugged—’It’ll trash up fast,’ sighed a fisherman, casting off. Sand fleas bit a kid, but he laughed it off—tough kid. A rival cleanup’s on in Tottenville, splitting the green vote. Still, 200 bags say Staten’s fighting. Chen’s tally hit a record—pride’s the prize.

She’s eyeing a kayak sweep next, maybe a fest if sponsors bite. ‘NYC’s messy—we fix it,’ Chen says, rinsing sand off. The cleanup’s a Staten flex—grit meets grit. Midland’s shore shines now; pitch in next round. Gloves up—trash down.