NYC Hosts First-Ever Rat Summit: Mayor Adams Declares 'War on Rats'

NYC Declares War on Rats with First-Ever Summit

New York City Mayor Eric Adams kicked off the inaugural Urban Rat Summit on Wednesday, declaring a "War on Rats" and calling them "public enemy number one." The two-day event, held at Pier 57 in Manhattan, brought together officials and scientists from across the U.S. and Canada to share strategies and best practices for combating the city's rodent problem.

With an estimated three million rats in the city, the summit aims to address a "real quality of life issue" for New Yorkers. Mayor Adams emphasized the impact on mental and physical health, sharing stories of residents dealing with rats in their homes and even in their children's cribs.

Innovative Solutions for Rat Mitigation

The summit focused on a range of solutions, including:

• Containerization of Trash: The Department of Sanitation aims to containerize the 14 billion pounds of trash the city produces annually, eliminating the open "rat buffet."
• Public Housing, Parks, and Construction Site Strategies: The summit addressed specific challenges and strategies for different areas, like parks, sewers, and construction sites.
• International Collaboration: Mayor Adams shared his discussions with city leaders worldwide who face similar rat issues, exploring different methodologies for rat control.

A City-Wide Effort

The summit underscores the city's commitment to addressing the rat problem. Mayor Adams has made rat mitigation a priority, appointing Kathleen Corradi as Citywide Director of Rodent Mitigation and establishing a fourth "Rat Mitigation Zone" in Harlem.

The "War on Rats" will be a multifaceted effort involving everyone from city leaders to individual residents. The success of the summit will be measured by its ability to reduce the rat population and improve the quality of life for New Yorkers.