New York Will Pay ?1.2 Cr Annually To Its First-Ever ‘Rat Czar' To Help City Get Rid Of Rats

The newly appointed Director of Rodent Mitigation for New York City is Kathleen Corradi, who was selected from a pool of 900 applicants, according to an announcement made by Mayor Eric Adams on Wednesday.?

Corradi, a former teacher, shares the mayor's disdain for rodents. Her new role is the first-ever rat czar position in the city.

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At the press briefing in Harlem, New York, Corradi said, "I knew when my wife’s grandma called from North Carolina to see if I would apply, it was meant to be,"?

Having previously been involved in Rodent reduction initiatives at the Department of Education, Kathleen Corradi focused on limiting rats' access to food, water, and shelter.?

In her new role as Director of Rodent Mitigation for New York City, Corradi intends to continue her efforts by emphasizing the importance of using rat-proof compost bins for disposing of food and leftover waste.?

However, she also plans to implement more comprehensive measures to tackle the issue of rodent infestation in the city.

"Rats are symptoms of systemic issues. You can’t deal with one part of the problem," Corradi said. "This is going to take all of us."

Mayor Eric Adams revealed that he was impressed with Kathleen Corradi's emotional intelligence during her interview for the Director of Rodent Mitigation position in New York City.?

Furthermore, Adams noted that Corradi's character ultimately led to her being selected for the role. As a child, Corradi collected signatures to address the rat problem in her neighbourhood, which was also a testament to her determination and commitment to addressing the issue of rodent infestation in the city.

"We have found our rat czar," Adams said.

In late December, the administration of Mayor Eric Adams posted a job listing for the Director of Rodent Mitigation position in New York City, offering a salary range of $120,000 to $170,000.?

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Although rats have been a persistent problem in all five city boroughs, some New Yorkers have ridiculed Adams' efforts to tackle the issue.?

For instance, a recent social media video featuring a long black snake slithering across a subway train was captioned "The new 'Rat Czar' in NYC."?

However, shortly after the video went viral, Kathleen Corradi was appointed to lead the campaign against rodent infestation in the city.

"You’ll be seeing a lot of me and fewer rats," Corradi said.

Kathleen Corradi's appointment as the Director of Rodent Mitigation in New York City comes when the city has implemented new garbage collection rules as part of Mayor Eric Adams' efforts to eliminate rats in all five boroughs.?

These new regulations, which took effect this month, aim to make the streets cleaner by reducing the time putrid and malodorous trash bags can remain on the road. Together, these measures are part of a larger plan to combat rodent infestation and promote sanitation in the city.

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