New containerized garbage cans, continued measures for public property pest control, and updated outdoor dining rules are needed as part of comprehensive rat control efforts, Mayor Ravi Bhalla said in a lengthy Nixle alert.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
For starters, Bhalla said that city inspectors have distributed nearly 2,000 copies of “education materials” have been distributed in “hot zones” where large rodent populations exist.
He added that the city council will soon be voting on mandating containerized garbage cans for properties with 10 units or less, also noting that $125,000 has been spent to date on pest control vendors.
“In an urban environment adjacent to the river, the unfortunate reality is that rats will never be completely eradicated. We are not alone: other cities, including New York City, are grappling with similar issues of rat infestations since the pandemic as well,” the mayor wrote.
“Nonetheless, we continue to use multiple tools in the toolbox to mitigate rodent activities as best as possible.”
At a special meeting on Monday evening, the council approved allowing the city to provide notice to any property owner in writing that rodent baiting/pest control services are required within seven business days, instead of 14.
At the tail end of that session, Business Administrator Jason Freeman said the administration had hoped to do a special meeting on August 3rd at 5 p.m. to vote on a rat control ordinance related to garbage storage/disposal.
Bhalla said today that the measure revolves around the aforementioned containerized cans, which will apply to businesses as well.
“If adopted at a special meeting, the ordinance will also require properties with 10 or more units to utilize containerized garbage bins with fitted lids, unless there are space constraints prevent the landlord or property owner from doing so,” he said.
“In this case, disposable garbage bags must be used that utilize rodent repellent and at least 1.1 millimeter thick, or if the garbage bags do not have rodent repellent, the bags must be at least 3 millimeters thick. If disposal plastic bags are utilized, the garbage must be stored indoors between collections.”
Specifically, the new garbage cans can be no larger than 32 gallons, no smaller than 10 gallons, constructed of material capable of holding garbage without leakage or spillage, less than 50 pounds when full, tightly fitted lids connected to the container, and the accompanying house or lot number displayed at least six inches tall.
To that end, food establishments can utilize covered storage bins, but should contact recycling@hobokennj.gov to ensure that the bin will fit within the boundaries of the property and the city’s garbage contractor will pick up the garbage from the bin.
As far as extermination and enforcement is concerned, Bhalla indicates that the city’s Sanitation Division has issued 496 summonses in the last three months for improper garbage disposal, along with another 115 tickets for no lids on garbage cans.
Furthermore, citizen rodent reports can be sent to ratreport@hobokennj.gov. Residents should include the exact address of the infestation, along with their contact phone number and any additional details and pictures, if available.
Other preventative measures include Hoboken Engineering and Construction Code officials requiring “rodent control before construction mobilization and site disruption begins, throughout the work duration, and until all equipment and materials are removed.”
Regarding outdoor dining/parklets, also known as streateries, further sanitary guidelines are planned such as washing spaces underneath the parklets and regularly scheduled extermination inspections and treatments.
These, along with other related initiatives, are also pending approval from the city council.
Speaking of which, the governing body also recently approved local legislation that requires designating a responsible agent at every residential building who will communicate with the Department of Environmental Services in the event of a rat infestation.
“With the adoption of this new ordinance, violations and summonses will be issued to the responsible agent, who will be responsible for addressing the City’s notices,” Bhalla explained.
“No permits will be granted to a building that utilizes a property management company if the property has not provided a responsible agent contact to the City. ”
The city’s announcement came after 1st Ward council candidate Paul Presinzano rolled out his rat control program yesterday.
A few hours after the Nixle alert went out, 5th Ward council candidate Liz Urtecho released an 11-point plan that calls for the city to declare the situation a public health emergency, have someone at City Hall dedicated to rat management, and establishing a community-based rat mitigation team, among other initiatives.
“There needs to be a more urgent, ‘all hands on deck’ approach that is anchored by community education and involvement. Unfortunately, the steps to date that the Bhalla administration and City Council have taken have not been effective as we have seen the rat infestations only grow in number,” she said in a statement.
“Hoboken and 5th Ward residents urgently need its leaders to engage with the community on this crisis that is impacting everyone in Hoboken, which has not happened to date.”
Editor’s note: This story was updated with a comment from 5th Ward council candidate Liz Urtecho.
The city’s announcement also came out after 1st ward candidate Rafi Cordova posted on a 1st ward resident’s facebook page his thoughts on the rat infestation problem in Hoboken, which proceeded Paul’s plan by several days.
That’s interesting/cool, but the reach on a private Facebook post is a few dozen people tops.
’bout 1100 impressions on twitter. guess that counts as a “few dozen” only.
But wait you said Facebook comment and now it was on Twitter, which he doesn’t have and/or use, so how can that be?
snipped and reposted by Hoboken Matters
can you share the link? I just looked and didnt find it.
Eateries should be mandated to wash down their establishments at the end of the evening. In addition, their platforms should be completely closed at the bottom not allowing the rats to enter and set up breeding areas. Businesses should also be required to utilize garbage cans that are enclosed and fined for the use of garbage bags. Inspectors should work the 8pm to 4am hours. Enforcing the rules and codes which should be stringent. It’s not the 10 or less family units that are causing the problem, although the suggested guidelines are very good. We need to be a community that is willing to be diligent and partner in the process to reduce the number of rodents that have taken over our city. It’s governments priority and responsibility due to the health issues involved. However, it is also the responsibility of the residents of the city to take every possible action to assist the city in their efforts and, help protect the health and welfare of their neighbors.
Rules for street eateries like so many other things that are done in Hoboken were done in a rush looking for a headline without understanding the ramifications of what they are doing to the community.
The mayor’s nixle today was after a lot of public pushback on social media, several articles that have been written about the rat problem in Hoboken and emails and statements from councilwoman Fisher, Presinzano, Urtecho and now a post by Cordova. The point is the mayor finally read the room. Rats are a huge public health crisis in Hoboken and the public is looking for him to finally step up. Now, let’s see if the rest of Team Bhalla and other council members will also give attention to this.
City Hall is holding a bogus CAPS meetings for 5 cyclists and a few retired people who want free coffee
Meanwhile the rats ( the 4 legged ) are now in the majority over the 2 legged Rats running the administration.
Maybe if it hurts John Allen’s bars they’ll do something meaningful ?
Maybe we should start by cleaning out all the rats in city hall, starting with the corner office.
How, exactly, are they rats? A “rat” is someone who spills the beans on others, “rats them out”. Who at city hall has been talking, and what have they been saying?
Or maybe you don’t know what rat means, or just making sh%t up.
Filed a ratreport for the second floor of City Hall in Hoboken.
This is what Ravi was afraid of.
Let’s talk about the 500 lb elephant in the room
Or shall we say 500 Rats in the streets
The city is filthy. The DPW is basically left to the Hoboken Business alliance 2 broom guys
All the tree pits around City Hall are covered with weeds. There’s trash bags left out on the corners with nobody picking them up. The homeless are leaving food all over the steps of peoples homes. Let’s talk about that too.
How is it that our next-door neighbor in JerseyCity doesn’t have the problem we’re having the same exact type of neighborhood
Dense , has a lot of cafés and lots of people
But here in Hoboke, in the homeless are a plague, now more than ever
They leave their food and garbage all over the place and nobody wants to make them
move
I’m sorry, but we don’t have a rat problem because steaks and loaves of bread are falling through the cracks of a Streetery LOL
I’m sorry the facts are Paul Presinzano has been the only one talking about this until this week.
Ravi and Rafi were not!
Everything is about finding progressive balance. The homeless in Hoboken need to be balanced with migrants. Right now Hoboken, declared a “sanctuary city” by Ravi and his council contingent need to better balance Hoboken’s population by welcoming migrant entry.
Hoboken needs its fair share of diversity currently lacking. We have tremendous open space, park areas like the SouthWest Plaza that can be readily converted plus the land next to the Hoboken Tea Building as ideal locations. Each ward should be added with a contribution.
Hoboken must add mobile tents to these locations immediately so it can provide emergency support toward its fair share of diversity, inclusion and equity for the emergency migrant population. Ravi should announce this plan soon. Jim Doyle and Emily Jabbour can lead the effort in the City Council.
World’s most obviously troll, although I bet you think you’re really clever.
obvious
This is obvious trolling, although I’ll bet you think you’re clever.