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BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — A "rat czar" could be coming to Boston.
On Wednesday, Boston City Council President Ed Flynn proposed creating a new department to address the growing rodent problem around the city.
Flynn proposed creating an Office of Pest Control in the city as it is critical to "our residents’ quality of life, as rats and rodents are not only a nuisance, but they also impact public health, the sanitization of our neighborhoods, and the maintenance of our properties."
New York City recently appointed its first "rat czar" to address the city's rat population and strategize pest control efforts. Flynn said he believes Boston could also benefit from having a position dedicated to pest control.
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"Having a dedicated position and office on pest control would allow us to better address the issue, allow for a more streamlined and coordinated process in reducing pests, and come up with more innovative ways in prevent pest infestations," said Flynn.
The council president also said the city needs to address illegal dumping as trash that is not "properly disposed of" attracts rodents and can cause public health issues.
"There is a big rise in rodent and pest activities in our neighborhoods in the past few years, especially during the years of the pandemic, with residents and businesses reporting about the increase of rats and other rodents on our streets and homes, which deeply impacted their quality of life," he said.
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