Coney Island tenants call on city to fix rat problem

<p>Tenants at the Carey Gardens housing complex in Coney Island are calling on the city to fix what they say is a growing rodent problem.</p>

News 12 Staff

Jul 12, 2018, 10:22 PM

Updated 2,107 days ago

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Tenants at the Carey Gardens housing complex in Coney Island are calling on the city to fix what they say is a growing rodent problem.
Resident Shirley Aikens says she hasn't seen anything like the current rat problem in her more than 40 years in the New York City Housing Authority complex. She says rats have been spotted indoors and outdoors, during the day and at night.
Neighbors say they are also concerned for the safety of children since many live in the affected buildings and there is a day care center close by.
"Get it together," Councilman Mark Treyger says of the city's response. "Do your job. Keep them safe. They deserve to live in peaceful, safe housing."
Aikens says the city Department of Health has come by to inspect and that NYCHA officals have closed up some of the rat holes, but nothing seems to be working.
Aikens and members of the community are calling on NYCHA to do more to keep tenants safe. They say their neighborhood has already been exposed to lead, mold and delays during Hurricane Sandy recovery efforts.
The DOH says officials inspected one of the Carey Gardens buildings last month in response to a complaint and that they are working with NYCHA's pest control team to address the problem.
NYCHA officials say they're increasing their extermination efforts with new treatments such as dry ice.


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