Baseball-sized holes once lined the corners of Lorie Atkins’ kitchen, a troubling sign, she says, of rats that refuse to leave her NYCHA apartment in Fort Greene.
“It was like almost, like a foot big,” Atkins recalled. “I jumped up on the washing machine and ran to get away from it.”
Following a recent pest management visit, metal grates and fresh plaster now cover the openings. But Atkins fears the repairs are only a temporary solution, much like the steel wool used during previous attempts to keep rodents out.
“They come and put patches, but they're not fixing the main issue, so they're coming back in,” she said. “I'm not paying rent to live with rats, I'm paying to live with my family.”
Atkins is not alone.
Other tenants say ongoing rat sightings have pushed them to take matters into their own hands rather than relying on building management.
“I don't even call them,” said resident Timothy Lodge. “When I have a problem, I call pest control - or I fix it myself.”
Residents also point to trash-filled scaffolding surrounding the building as a major contributor to the rodent problem. Some say the conditions have forced them to resort to unconventional methods, including keeping cats and using peppermint oil to deter rats.
“They have the scaffolding up, there's garbage all over the place,” said Leandra Jones. “We should keep our community clean so we don't have to deal with these issues.”
In response, NYCHA tells News 12 that "Atkins’ apartment was treated for mice [on Tuesday]" and that "an exterminator is scheduled to return later this month for any necessary follow-up treatments". Additionally, NYCHA states that "residents in need of assistance are encouraged to call the Customer Contact Center at 718-707-7771 or submit work tickets through the MyNYCHA application."
