City Councilor Ed Flynn is once again beating the war drum to establish a dedicated rat czar amidst a report of a rat “jumping into a child’s stroller” in South Boston. This follows a similar report from Flynn last year about a South End resident finding a rat in their child’s crib.

“We need to have concrete measures in place to adequately tackle the rise of rodent activity, the spread of potential diseases… including more inspections, working on the weekends, public awareness campaigns, public outreach,” he said. “It’s that serious. When a rat is in a child’s crib or stroller, we can’t ignore it.”

At a hearing to discuss the Boston Rodent Action Plan (BRAP), Flynn said a South Boston resident and their child were returning home from a walk when a rat jumped into the stroller. 

City officials said that since January 1, the Inspectional Services Department (ISD) has responded to 6,018 complaints, issuing 785 citations and treating 750 locations. ISD has inspected 3000 dumpsters, 210 construction sites, and conducted 25 community walk-throughs in neighborhoods across the city.

Rodent-resistant trash cans have been installed in Mattapan and Chinatown, with South Boston and the North End due to receive new sewer traps and sensors. Assistant Commissioner of Environmental Services John Ulrich added that the city would move away from using rodent contraception because it is ineffective.

The Boston Housing Authority (BHA) has hired four dedicated employees to treat sites for rodents. BHA workers have also been offered a higher hourly wage for receiving their “pest reduction license,” to encourage employees to get educated on the enemy.

Despite ongoing efforts by the BRAP, residents continue to report increasing rodent activity. One South Boston resident claimed to have lost count of how many rats he’s killed this year, with eight in just the past ten days.

“The initial wave seemed to coincide with the demolition of the old L St. power station and the second waive with the renovation of the Christopher Lee Playground/Ballfield last year,” he said. “We pretty much succeeded in keeping them from making homes in our yards, but they are continuing to use our yards as almost a highway.”

He added his son spent two weeks in the hospital and one in the ICU following what they suspect was a rat-related illness. Though the resident said they could not know for sure, he said his son has suffered serious liver and kidney damage.

An East Boston resident called Boston’s rodent infestation horrendous and that she personally lives next to “Rat Disneyland.” The resident claimed that a luxury housing development next door has sat unfinished and full of rats despite receiving routine $25 tickets from the City. She added that despite noncompliant properties, the City has approved more projects by the developer.

“People who have problem properties for noncompliance for either the rubbish or the rats, and it has not been mitigated, should not get permission to do more,” she said. “There’s nothing I can do. They do not care one bit about that $25 ticket.”

The resident added that the City needs to crack down harder on big developers who neglect the rest of the neighborhood.