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BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — The Boston City Council voted unanimously on Wednesday to establish the Office of Pest Control, following in the footsteps of other cities like New York in creating a “rat czar.”
Councilor Ed Flynn, who represents the city’s 2nd district, brought the ordinance to the council on Jan. 31 in order for the city to be able to “better focus on the issue” with a dedicated department instead of the current cross-departmental system of pest control.
Currently, various departments handle pest control issues across Boston, including Public Works, Inspectional Services, and Boston Water and Sewer Commission.
Flynn cited the importance of addressing pest control in Boston due to the “dramatic rise in rodent and pest activities in our neighborhoods.”
In an October 2023 report, Boston was ranked the thirteenth “rattiest” city in the country by Orkin, a pest control company. In recent years, residents and businesses have reported increases in rat and pest sightings and problems to the City of Boston, the ordinance detailed.
The council ordinance also explained that the problem is a public health issue that affects residents’ quality of life and the cleanliness of Boston’s streets and neighborhoods.
Moving forward, there will be meetings with the Mayor’s Office in the coming months to discuss the details of establishing the new office.
WBZ's Jim MacKay (@JimMacKayOnAir) reports.
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