Sort of like a pied piper

BOSTON –  In a key effort to tackle the persisting issue of rats in the City of Boston, Council President Flynn is calling for a hearing on the creation of an Office of Pest Control to lead rodent mitigation operations. This follows a recent hearing in which Councilors Flynn, Breadon, Coletta and city officials at the Inspectional Services Department, Public Works and Code Enforcement discussed the City’s multi-pronged approach towards tackling pest control. Council President Flynn will introduce this hearing order at this week’s Boston City Council meeting.

Since the pandemic, pest control has become a major quality of life issue for residents as food sources moved from restaurants directly to residents’ homes, as well as an uptick of reports of rodent activity and sightings to the city. At the hearing, the Councilors noted that this issue of pest control has become a top constituent complaint across neighborhoods in Boston.

“We have to step up our efforts to address this serious public health and quality of life issue,” said Council President Flynn. “While I commend the Public Works and Inspectional Services team for the great work that they are already doing, we need additional resources and to designate one point person in the City that has overall responsibility and authority on all matters relating to rats and pest control. The creation of an Office of Pest Control would provide the attention and oversight that our neighbors and taxpayers deserve to oversee the City’s rodent mitigation efforts.”

Council President Flynn noted that he is following the development of New York City’s rodent control plans closely and that he has spoken with Mayor Wu’s administration about the creation of a pest control office. Council President Flynn envisions that the responsibilities of this position would in large part include educational outreach, as well as collective coordination with several municipal departments, residents and neighborhood associations to address this public health emergency.

For more information, please contact Council President Flynn’s office at 617-635-3203 and [email protected].