Will Budget Cuts Contribute To A Rodent Takeover?

Sad Rat and Keyboard Cat play off the 27 slashed positions

Will budget cuts yield more rodents for the city? The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is trimming the number of pest control aides they have on payroll, from 84 to 57! The move will save them $1.5MM (it was mandated that they cut their budget by 15%), but at what cost.

According to MyFox5, the Health Department's Pest Control Services works with 19 other agencies to team up against rats in the city, and they claim they'll still be a vital part of this rodent-combating army. In a statement, they explained The Plan: "there are likely many lots that need cleaning but do not necessarily have ongoing significant rat problem. Reducing the number of lot cleaning teams will enable the program to more effectively target properties contributing to neighborhood rat infestation." So deal with the problem only when it becomes a problem?

Anyway, you can keep track of the growing population on this "rat complaint tracker" map. More coyotes please!

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By Jen Carlson in News on March 31, 2010 12:46 PM

Comments [rss]

RickSuddes

Let the city control the rodent problem. Have the citizens use Fragrance of Rataway to protect property.

Car engines, homes, business, trucks,etc...

Guest

...saw a little mouse in some yogurt place downtown after it was closed last night.

it just sat there, in a little corner, probably contemplating, then it looked back at me and did not move. it might as well have winked and said "hello."

*shudder*

horseplay

So, who are the STD ridden filth that enjoy the company?

Greenpoint60

They are cutting back on the cleanup crews in McCarren Park/Williamsburg. The pigs who leave their trash on the lawn will not find it cleaned up in the AM, the rats will have a field day.

Cannibal

from what I can tell the STD ridden filth that hangs out in Mccarren Park will enjoy the rats. They will probably take Facebook pictures with them.

Greenpoint60

Soon McCarren will look like it was in 1992, a garbage dump. In the summer local pigs have barbecues and leave their trash on the lawn for the AM cleanup crew