NYC Council passes bills to tackle city-wide rat infestation

The New York City Council on Thursday passed four bills to address the city's growing rat problem as all five boroughs struggle to combat the rising tide of vermin plaguing the Democrat-run metropolis.

From January through September of this year, the city received roughly 21,600 rat complaints, up 71% from the same period in 2020, per the New York Daily News.

Under the Rat Action Plan, the city will set increased pest management standards for private construction projects, create "rat mitigation zones," and publish annual reports on the issue through the city Health Department.

"The rats have plagued New York for so long they have begun to define us," Democratic City Councilman Chi Osse said in a press conference.

One bill in the package would push back curbside trash pickup to 8 p.m. instead of the current 4 p.m. It is common in New York City to see large piles of trash bags, some several feet high, lining the curbs on trash day. Often, there is spillover, overflow or leaked garbage in the street.

Other causes of the surge include increased construction and outdoor dining.

Lawmakers acknowledged that the package was unlikely to fully address the issue.

"We know it's not going to solve everything," Brooklyn Democratic Councilwoman Sandy Nurse said. "But this is definitely putting the groundwork in place."