Rat Race: With complaints on rise, NYC redoubles efforts
To many in New York City, the rats are winning.
The city’s complaint hotline is on pace for a record year of rat calls, exceeding the more than 24,000 over each of the last two years. Blistering audits have faulted efforts to fight what one official called a “rat crisis.” And even jaded New Yorkers were both disgusted and a little impressed by “Pizza Rat,” the plucky rodent in a recent viral YouTube clip seen dragging a large cheese slice down a subway stairwell.
Nora Prentice, who lives in Manhattan’s Upper West Side, has repeatedly complained to the city about a colony of about 200 rats in a neighborhood park.