NEW YORK — New York City’s rat-hating mayor has once again been ticketed for a rat infestation at his Brooklyn property.
Mayor Eric Adams’ latest ticket was issued by a city health inspector May 16 at a row house he owns in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood. The inspector observed fresh rat droppings and a rat burrow “at the front left base of the staircase of the property.”
The ticket, first reported by the Daily News, was Adams’ fifth rodent violation since he became mayor in January 2022.
He can contest the ticket July 7 before an Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings officer.
A spokesperson for Adams, Liz Garcia, said in a statement, “The mayor prides himself on keeping his property clean. He will review the summons and follow all standard procedures.”
Adams, a Democrat, frequently proclaims, “I hate rats!” and once tried to prove it by demonstrating a device that drowned them in a vat of caustic liquid.
He appointed the city’s first “rat czar” last year after posting a help-wanted ad seeking applicants who could commit to the “wholesale slaughter” of the pests.
Adams, who now lives in Gracie Mansion, the official mayor’s residence, challenged the previous rat tickets he got at the Brooklyn property.
Three were dismissed, but the mayor paid $300 to settle the fourth. Adams told a hearing officer he had spent $7,000 on rat mitigation at the property.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio recently received a ticket for a rat infestation at one of his properties in Brooklyn. The property, located in the Park Slope neighborhood, was found to have a significant rat problem by city inspectors.
The ticket was issued after complaints from neighbors about the presence of rats in the area. Inspectors found evidence of rat burrows and droppings on the property, leading to the citation being issued.
This incident has raised concerns about the city’s ongoing struggle with rat infestations. New York City has long been plagued by rats, with the rodents thriving in the city’s dense urban environment. The problem is particularly acute in neighborhoods like Park Slope, where old buildings and abundant food sources provide ideal conditions for rats to thrive.
Mayor de Blasio has faced criticism for the rat problem at his property, with some questioning his ability to effectively address the issue citywide. The mayor has defended his handling of the situation, stating that he takes the issue of rat infestations seriously and is working to address the problem.
In recent years, the city has implemented various measures to combat rat infestations, including increased trash pickup, rodent-resistant trash cans, and public education campaigns. However, these efforts have had mixed success, with many neighborhoods still struggling with rat problems.
The incident at Mayor de Blasio’s property serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges posed by rat infestations in New York City. While efforts are being made to address the issue, more work is needed to effectively control the rat population and ensure that residents can live in a clean and healthy environment.
