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Discussion on rat mitigation techniques and DSNY's focus on containerization

0:58:12

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Council Member Julie Menin raises concerns about rat mitigation in New York City and suggests alternative techniques such as carbon monoxide fumigation of tree pits. Acting Commissioner Lojan emphasizes DSNY's focus on containerization as the primary rat control measure.

Menin highlights successful rat mitigation techniques used in other cities, such as Boston and San Diego
DSNY suggests that some techniques may be better suited for the Department of Health
Lojan expresses willingness to conduct a site walk with Menin to observe and address specific rat-related issues in her district

Julie Menin

0:58:12

Okay.

0:58:12

On WRAP mitigation, so obviously appreciate the comments you've made on WRAP mitigation, but I'm still concerned that we are not deploying techniques that other cities are utilizing.

0:58:24

We know if you visit other major cities across the country, they simply do not have the level of rats that we have proportionately in New York City.

0:58:32

When I first came into office in the council, our team researched what all other major cities were doing.

0:58:38

We found that cities like Boston and San Diego were using a novel technique of carbon monoxide to fumigate the tree pits.

0:58:46

We brought in our own exterminator who utilizing in my district.

0:58:50

We send our exterminator out to any block, and they fumigate the tree pits.

0:58:54

We've had amazing success with this.

0:58:58

It doesn't mean you're never gonna see a rat because we know rats are at construction sites and other areas, but this technique is cost effective, it works, it's also safer in terms of putting down poison vis a vis children, pets, etcetera.

0:59:12

So can you talk about why the sanitation department is not utilizing this technique city wide?

Javier Lojan

0:59:18

So I think some of those techniques will probably be better suited for the Department of Health, but I think that the approaches that we've mentioned about containerization have been the most effective.

0:59:32

And again, I'd I'd love to do a site walk with you and your district and see the areas, and maybe there's other things that we see.

0:59:40

Sometimes what we do see is residents comply when they place out their refuse in containers, but then they store them in bags on the side.

0:59:51

So that could be an area that we could look to make improvements on, but I'd love to have a walk through and see where you're seeing these area these rodent sightings and maybe take a different approach.

Julie Menin

1:00:00

Absolutely.

1:00:01

No.

1:00:01

I'd love to do that because obviously and I'm a big supporter of containerization, and we know that's gonna make a difference, but that's only one of the tools in our toolbox.

1:00:09

That is not enough to eradicate the rat population in New York City, so we need to be thinking outside the box.

1:00:14

I definitely wanna show you what I've been doing in the last couple years in my district with our own exterminator that we're utilizing, and we've had great success with

Javier Lojan

1:00:22

that.

1:00:22

Great.

Julie Menin

1:00:22

Thank you,

Shaun Abreu

1:00:24

you, council member.

1:00:25

Now council member Ng.

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Council Member Sandra Ung questions DSNY on legislation implementation and street vendor enforcement