New York City appoints first ‘rat czar’

New York Mayor Eric Adams has appointed the city’s first-ever ‘rat czar’ as part of efforts to combat a growing rodent population.

Kathleen Corradi, a former teacher, will take the role of Citywide Director of Rodent Mitigation. The position was advertised last year, with an annual salary of between US$120,000 and US$170,000. The advert stated that candidates should be “highly motivated and somewhat bloodthirsty, determined to look at all solutions from various angles, including improving operational efficiency, data collection, technology innovation, trash management, and wholesale slaughter”.

Corradi’s primary focus will be working with government agencies, community organisations and other groups to crack down on rat populations across the city.

“Rat mitigation is more than a quality-of-life issue for New Yorkers,” said Corradi.

“Rats are a symptom of systemic issues, including sanitation, health, housing and economic justice.

“You’ll be seeing a lot of me and a lot less rats – there’s a new sheriff in town.”

Corradi previously oversaw rat mitigation efforts in the city’s public schools, and most recently served as Director of Space Planning at the Department of Education in Queens, managing US$500 million in capital development funds to optimise schools’ building utilisation and ensure fair distribution of resources.

“New York City has done a lot recently when it comes to fighting public enemy number one: rats,” said Mayor Adams.

“But it was clear we needed someone solely focused on leading our rat reduction efforts across all five boroughs, and I’m proud to announce Kathy Corradi as New York City’s first-ever ‘rat czar’.”

Harlem rat zone

The size of the city’s rat population is unknown, but a 2014 study put the figure at approximately two million, or one for every four residents.

In addition to Corradi’s appointment, the mayor also announced the Harlem Rat Mitigation Zone – a US$3.5 million investment to expand and accelerate rat reduction work across the neighbourhood.

Nineteen full-time staff and 14 seasonal staff will be hired to inspect, exterminate and maintain or clean public spaces to prevent ‘mischiefs’ of rats.

New equipment to better contain and manage waste and extermination supplies, such as bait, traps, sensors and fumigation machines will also be deployed, and exclusion methods, like wire lathe around structural rat burrows and landscaper fabric will be installed.

In recent months, the city has limited the number of hours that rubbish bags can sit on pavements and launched a kerbside composting programme intended to reduce food waste.

Image: NYC Mayor’s office