Showing posts with label rats. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rats. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 9, 2019

City reportedly winning the rat race; the return of rat-friendly trash cans to Tompkins Square Park


[Photo from December by Vinny & O]

The Wall Street Journal provides an update on the city's $32 million effort to reduce its rat population. (The article is behind the paper's paywall.)

A quick takeaway:

And while it is working, city officials said changes in temperature could make it harder to keep the fast-breeding vermin in check. Warmer winters like this season's, which didn't have sustained below-freezing temperatures, increase rat populations.

"You need three weeks of below-freezing weather so they don't come out for food," said Deputy Mayor Laura Anglin, who oversees the rat-fighting initiative.

Regardless, since the mayor launched his rat-fighting campaign in 2017, information from NYC's 311 service shows that overall rat complaints are down. "Across the city, they fell 7% in 2018 compared with 2017, the biggest reduction in more than a decade," per the Journal.

Anglin gave credit to the use of dry ice instead of poison to suffocate rats from their burrows as well as the installation of those solar-powered Big Belly garbage cans in city parks — including Tompkins Square Park. (Per the article: The 124 parks in rat zones had a 43% reduction in rat burrows.)

Those Big Bellies arrived in and around Tompkins in July 2017. (The Daily News reported at the time that each can costs $7,000.)

While the city is citing success with the Big Bellies, they'd likely have even more (as we've pointed out previously) if the city emptied the trash cans more often — especially on these nice spring days.


[Photo from Sunday morning]

Several EVG readers have also noted that the Parks crew is now using the rat-friendly trash cans again in Tompkins for some reason...



As one reader noted, people tend to use the regular trash cans over a Big Belly given the choice...


[Photos from March 30]

P.S.

Ending with some fun facts and a rather lyrical quote from Robert Corrigan, a rodentologist who has worked as a consultant for the city. He told the Journal that on some Manhattan blocks, rats likely outnumber people 5 to 1.

"They're in sewers, they're in subways, they’re in parks, they're in people’s ceilings," he said. "It's hard to think of where they are not."

Monday, February 18, 2019

Noted

NY news anchor Chris Williamson came across this scene on a Bed-Stuy sidewalk last week...


Apparently there's some sort of copyrat in the works... which might explain this discovery today in Tompkins Square Park...

Sunday, December 23, 2018

Big Belly ache



Two of the rat-proof Big Belly trash receptacles on Avenue A remain out of commission...like this one on the southeast corner at Seventh Street...



... and the northwest corner at 10th Street...



The solar-powered trash cans arrived in July 2017 as part of the mayor's $32-million plan to combat vermin in rat-popular neighborhoods, like this one. The Daily News reported at the time that each can costs $7,000.

Previously on EV Grieve:
8 more solar-powered, rat-proof trash cans arrive in Tompkins Square Park

Looking at the Big Belly 1.0 and 2.0 in and around Tompkins Square Park

City ready to attack rats in Tompkins Square Park (and elsewhere) (again)

Monday, August 6, 2018

Cleaning up the Relaxation Garden on Avenue B and 13th Street



Several Parks Department workers descended upon the dormant Relaxation Garden on 13th Street and Avenue B and removed trash and debris this past Thursday.



As the Post reported, the GreenThumb garden, part of the city’s urban gardening program, had been locked up the past two years during renovation work next door. During this time, the space had become infested with rats — thanks in part to the NYCHA-controlled trash compactor adjacent to the lot.


[Photo from yesterday]

Per the Post:

For about four hours, the workers hauled away trash and construction debris from the lot at Avenue B and East 13th Street, cut down a tree, pruned shrubs and hacked at weeds.

“It’s going to come back as a community garden. We can’t say when,” a Parks Department worker told The Post.

The workers also removed the GreenThumb-branded Relaxation Garden sign from the fence.

Meanwhile, the construction at the building next door, 207 Avenue B, remains at a standstill. The city issued a Stop Work Order in March 2017 because the contractor of record withdrew from the project. That Order is still in place as of Friday.



The Parks Department was reportedly working with 207's landlord to expedite the work so that the garden can reopen.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Report: Rats running rampant in the Relaxation Garden on Avenue B and 13th Street

Monday, July 30, 2018

Report: Rats running rampant in the Relaxation Garden on Avenue B and 13th Street



Residents say that rats measuring up to a foot long have been spotted in and around the Relaxation Garden on Avenue B at 13th Street, the Post reports.



The GreenThumb garden, part of the city’s urban gardening program, has been locked up the past two years during renovation work next door...





While closed, the garden has become a dumping ground ... and a breeding ground for rats, who apparently have a buffet at their disposal adjacent to the property.

Per the Post:

Some residents blame the growing rat infestation at the lot at Avenue B and East 13th Street on an adjacent trash-compactor area that serves neighboring buildings and NYCHA’s nearby Campos Plaza II housing development.

The trash compactor is privately managed, NYCHA spokesman Chester Soria said.

As a result, the sidewalk there has become a dumping ground for garbage, residents said Friday.

Making matters worse, another maintenance worker, who takes care of trash from two buildings on the block for C&C Management, said the city picks up garbage only “once every five days.”

Department of Sanitation spokeswoman Dina Montes said that “at a minimum” the agency “empties the compact container at this location three times a week.”



Aside from the fact that no one seems to know who's supposed to empty the dumpster (the city or a private company?), the construction at the building next door, 207 Avenue B, is at a standstill. The city issued a Stop Work Order in March 2017 because the contractor of record withdrew from the project.

The Parks Department is reportedly working with 207's landlord to expedite the work so that the garden can reopen.

The rat-baiting caution sign on the garden gate was last dated Feb. 27...



... and this is the poison that some property owners don't properly use, allowing any animal to ingest it... (one of the red-tailed fledglings in Tompkins Square Park died yesterday morning from rodenticide poisoning)...



Back to the Post:

“The city? They don’t do nothing,” added Juan Rivera, 57, who lives at the nearby Tanya Towers. “The rats are so big, like cats. I’m scared. Everybody is scared.”

Monday, May 14, 2018

The latest on the city's rat-curbing initiatives


[Photo from May 9 by EVG reader Annabelle]

The Post checks in on the mayor's latest effort to curb the city's rat population ...

The city has begun stationing an army of workers in 30 parks in Manhattan, Brooklyn and The Bronx to warn people that it “has experienced problems with rats” and make sure they know that “rats are a health hazard, especially to children and seniors,” according to internal Parks Department e-mails and sources.

But some residents say the move only shows that City Hall is a Mickey Mouse operation.

“You know what would be more useful? If de Blasio had them empty the trash more often,” said Rob Wooster, in Tompkins Square Park in the East Village Sunday.

Chelsea Casey, 28, who was at the park with her three kids last week, added, “I don’t know what warning people about rats in New York City will achieve.”

Union members with the Parks Department said workers with both the agency’s Parks Enforcement Patrol and Urban Park Rangers divisions were first dispatched last week. The union said the move is sapping valuable manpower that is meant to police the city’s 30,000 acres of park land.

Last July, the city delivered new solar-powered trash cans to points in and around Tompkins Square Park as part of the mayor's $32-million plan to combat vermin in rat-popular neighborhoods, like this one. (The Daily News reported at the time that each can costs $7,000.)

As the top photo shows, the big bellies aren't really helping with the overflow of trash — at least when they're not emptied, as Rob Wooster told the Post.

The city would not respond to questions from the Post about whether the cans have been effective.


[Avenue A and 10th Street]

Previously on EV Grieve:
8 more solar-powered, rat-proof trash cans arrive in Tompkins Square Park

Looking at the Big Belly 1.0 and 2.0 in and around Tompkins Square Park

City ready to attack rats in Tompkins Square Park (and elsewhere) (again)

Sunday, April 15, 2018

Warm weather aftermath in Tompkins Square Park


[Yesterday morning]

Several residents have pointed out the over-flowing Big Belly trash cans in and around Tompkins Square Park after two days of warm weather...











The new solar-powered trash cans arrived last July as part of the mayor's $32-million plan to combat vermin in rat-popular neighborhoods, like this one. The Daily News reported at the time that each can costs $7,000.

The city delivered eight more Big Bellies to the Park last fall, and they don't seem to be helping with the overflow of trash, especially during nice days.

H/T Vinny & O and JG!

Previously on EV Grieve:
Looking at the Big Belly 1.0 and 2.0 in and around Tompkins Square Park

Thursday, November 16, 2017

Sunday, October 22, 2017

Noted



Discovering a flaw in Mayor de Blasio's plan to help curb the rat population in Tompkins Square Park and elsewhere with the $7,000 Big Belly trash can.

Photo from this morning.

Saturday, October 7, 2017

8 more solar-powered, rat-proof trash cans arrive in Tompkins Square Park



Workers were out in Tompkins Square Park this morning... delivering and installing more solar-powered, rat-proof trash cans — the Big Belly — in the eastern section of the Park.



They are taking the place of these ...



... which do not provide much protection against hungry critters ... and whose circular design doesn't display art as well as the Big Belly model...



One of the workers said that they were delivering eight of the new trash receptacles to Tompkins Square Park.


[Photo by Steven]


[Photo by Steven]


[Photo by Steven]

The high-tech trash cans are part of Mayor de Blasio's $32 million plan to help reduce the number of rats in several neighborhoods, including the East Village. The first batch of the new Big Bellies arrived in the Park in July.

Saturday, August 19, 2017

On the fence about this rat capture



In today's red-tailed hawk action... Christo and Dora's 2017 offspring, nicknamed Manhattan (or 10, for being their 10th hawklet), captured a rat. (Not sure is this is her first solo grab.)

As Steven, who shared these photos noted, she then crashed into a Park fence ...



Momentarily stunned, Manhattan stayed in this position for several minutes, then flew off again with the rat.

Monday, August 14, 2017

Rat talk reminder for tomorrow night



Reposting from last week...

Neighborhood rat reduction plan

A public info session with Q-&-A

Aug. 15, 6:30 pm
East Village Community School at 610 E. 12th St., between Avenues B and C.

Join senior officials and experts from the Health, Sanitation, Parks Departments and NYCHA to learn about:
-New state of the art trash cans in your community
-New investments in NYCHA developments to prevent rats
-More frequent trash pickup
-Better Waste Management Practices for Landlords or Enforcement of rat-related violations by landlords

Co-sponsored by: Borough President Gale A. Brewer, U.S. Representative Carolyn B. Maloney, State Senator Brad Hoylman, State Senator Daniel Squadron, Assembly Member Brian Kavanagh, Assembly Member Yuh-Line Niou, Council Member Rosie Mendez, Council Member Margaret S. Chin, and Community Board 3.

Saturday, August 12, 2017

Minty fresh vibes in Tompkins Square Park



A scene from Tompkins Square Park yesterday... where a rat was enjoying the remains of an ice cream/gelato cup ... it was not immediately clear if the flavor was, say, mint chocolate chip or perhaps pistachio ... (if it was mint, then this may be more proof that the flavor isn't a rat deterrent ...)

Thanks to EVG regular Cheyenne for the photos...





Alternate headlines:
I scurry, you scurry, we all scurry for ice cream

Friday, August 11, 2017

Afternoon stuffed pizza rats break



Photo in Tompkins Square Park today by Goggla...

Previously

Let's talk about rats (some more)



Via the EVG inbox...


Neighborhood rat reduction plan

A public info session with Q-&-A

Aug. 15, 6:30 pm
East Village Community School at 610 E. 12th St., between Avenues B and C.

Join senior officials and experts from the Health, Sanitation, Parks Departments and NYCHA to learn about:
-New state of the art trash cans in your community
-New investments in NYCHA developments to prevent rats
-More frequent trash pickup
-Better Waste Management Practices for Landlords or Enforcement of rat-related violations by landlords

Co-sponsored by: Borough President Gale A. Brewer, U.S. Representative Carolyn B. Maloney, State Senator Brad Hoylman, State Senator Daniel Squadron, Assembly Member Brian Kavanagh, Assembly Member Yuh-Line Niou, Council Member Rosie Mendez, Council Member Margaret S. Chin, and Community Board 3.

Friday, August 4, 2017

Let's talk about rats



Members of LUNGS (Loisaida United Neighborhood Gardens) are hosting a public meeting tomorrow (Saturday!) afternoon to discuss rats... specifically, Mayor de Blasio's recently announced $32 million plan to help reduce the number of rats in several neighborhoods, including the East Village.

The meeting is at 1 p.m. in the Green Oasis Community Garden, 386 E. Eighth St. between Avenue C and Avenue D.

Sunday, July 16, 2017

Looking at the Big Belly 1.0 and 2.0 in and around Tompkins Square Park


[10th and B]

Last week, workers placed new solar-powered, Big Belly trash cans in and around Tompkins Square Park as part of the city's $32-million plan to combat vermin in rat-popular neighborhoods, like this one.

Per the city:

The City will purchase 336 solar compactors that restrict access to trash with a “mail-box” opening and that have resulted in 90% rat reductions when fully deployed in concentrated areas. The City will also replace all the remaining wire waste baskets in the zones with 1,676 steel cans — both in parks and on street corners — which should meaningfully reduce rats’ access to food sources compared to current wire baskets.

However effective, they're no match for someone who decides to dump contents from their apartment at their mail-box opening...



While there are more of the new Big Belly trash cans deployed inside the Park, it may be a good idea to put several of them at key entry points, such as Avenue A and St. Mark's Place, alongside the Big Belly 1.0, which can be overmatched ...



and Avenue A at Ninth Street...



Still, the squirrels seem to like them...

Friday, July 14, 2017

City ready to attack rats in Tompkins Square Park (and elsewhere) (again)


The war on rats began (again) yesterday as city workers installed new Big Belly trash cans in Tompkins Square Park...


[Photo by EVG reader Andy on 7th]

These solar-powered, rat-proof trash cans — which cost $7,000 each, per the Daily News — seem to work when they are not full or have trash stacked next to them...


[Photo from June]


[Photo from June]

The high-tech trash cans are just part of Mayor de Blasio's $32 million plan to help reduce the number of rats in several neighborhoods, including the East Village.

The Mayor announced the renewed rat attack on Wednesday. Here's more via the Mayor's Office:

Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced a $32 million, multi-agency plan to reduce the city’s rat population that targets the three most infested parts of city: the Grand Concourse area, Chinatown/East Village/Lower East Side and Bushwick/Bedford-Stuyvesant. This interagency initiative aims to reduce rat activity by up to 70 percent in the targeted zones by minimizing food sources and available habitats.

This integrated pest management approach will build on the success of the City’s current rat abatement programs and attack environmental factors conducive to rats, which is more effective than poisoning rats alone. By dramatically reducing the available habitats and food sources in targeted areas, rat reproduction will diminish and rat colonies will decline.

The City will achieve this by cementing dirt basements in NYCHA, purchasing better waste containers, increasing trash pickup and increasing enforcement of rat-related violations in these areas. All aspects of this plan will be launched by the end of 2017.

To reduce the rat population, the de Blasio Administration will implement the following new programs in the three mitigation zones:

New waste containers: The City will purchase 336 solar compactors that restrict access to trash with a “mail-box” opening and that have resulted in 90% rat reductions when fully deployed in concentrated areas. The City will also replace all the remaining wire waste baskets in the zones with 1,676 steel cans — both in parks and on street corners — which should meaningfully reduce rats’ access to food sources compared to current wire baskets. Installation of solar compactors and steels cans will begin by September.

Better trash management in DOHMH-designated areas: The plan proposes a local law that requires buildings containing more than 10 units within the Mitigation Zones to curb garbage after 4am the day of trash collection, greatly reducing the availability of rats’ food source.

To further minimize rats’ food source, local laws will be proposed to require enrollment in organics collection by Food Service Establishments and low-performing buildings in the DOHMH-designated areas. A citywide local law will also be proposed to increase fines for illegal dumping by private business from $1,500 to $5,000 for first time offenses, with fines reaching up to $20,000 for additional violations.

More frequent trash pickup and anti-rat staff: The plan calls for increased DSNY basket and residential service in the most critical areas within the Mitigation Zones. Similarly, NYC Parks basket pickup will become an everyday occurrence in all parks within the Mitigation Zones, accompanied by targeted litter removal from parks.

Increased DSNY and NYC Parks waste basket pick up has already begun, with increased DSNY residential pick up beginning by the end of August. Eight staff will be added to DOHMH’s anti-rat team; seven front-line staff and a sophisticated data scientist to allow DOHMH to conduct data-driven rat mitigation efforts. Finally, NYCHA’s MyNYCHA mobile app will be modified to ensure tenants can effectively create work orders for trash removal and rat mitigation.

New laws to require better trash management: We will work with City Council to introduce new laws to improve trash management and reduce food for rats in these mitigation zones. These laws will require buildings with 10+ units to put out trash at 4 AM in DOHMH set areas, call for low-performing buildings to enroll in organics collection, instruct Food Service Establishments to enroll in organics in areas set by DOHMH, and increase fines for improper waste disposal and illegal dumping.

The plans did not include deploying more of the most-effective rat catchers in Tompkins Square Park...





Hawk photos by Bobby Williams

Previously on EV Grieve:
This may have a chilling effect on the rat population in Tompkins Square Park

East Village is No. 1 in Lower Manhattan for garbage, noise and rodent complaints, study finds

The East Village will be testing ground for a 'rat reservoir pilot'

Oh rats: CB3 reportedly tops in Manhattan for vermin