A new call for action by one Queens legislator is urging New York City agencies to do more about the rat infestation in the city, as homeowners say that reporting rat problems has left them with pesky fines.
Councilman Robert Holden, who represents District 30 neighborhoods, has formally requested that the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Citywide Director of Rodent Mitigation reassess how rat complaints are handled across the city.
According to a letter sent by Holden on Monday, Aug. 26, homeowners told the legislator that they are being penalized for reporting rat issues in their neighborhoods. Fines for rat-related health problems issued to a property can cost between $300 and $2,000, according to NYC Health.
Holden’s letter, addressed to NYC Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan and Citywide Director of Rat Mitigation Kathleen Corradi, argues that many homeowners are being unfairly fined for rat problems originating from public spaces, such as street tree pits and rain gardens.
“This is happening even in cases where the source of the problem is a public space rather than the property itself,” Holden wrote, emphasizing that the current approach discourages residents from reporting rat conditions.
Currently, rat problems can be reported through 311, the city’s non-emergency service that directs complaints to the appropriate agencies. However, this is not the only measure the city has taken to combat the rat issue.
In July, Mayor Eric Adams and the NYC Department of Sanitation introduced new trash bins, priced between $45.88 and $53.01 for 35- and 45-gallon sizes. These bins are designed to help reduce the rat population by securing trash with a tight lid, eliminating the need to leave out trash bags.
Despite the city’s efforts, Holden has taken matters into his own hands by creating a Google form for constituents to report rodent issues directly.
Holden aims to relieve homeowners of the burden when reporting rat problems and expects city officials to develop a more effective reporting system.
“Rat issues have exploded across the city, and while City Hall has paid more attention to the problem, we cannot have a system where inspectors visit a location, see that the source of the problem comes from city property and then issue a summons to a homeowner for conditions beyond their control,” Holden stated. “The city needs to focus more on rat mitigation and reform its inspection process to address the root of the issue rather than penalizing residents for effects they cannot manage.”
