News

WATCH: Rats infest NYC apartment

New York City, NY — Some New York public housing residents are fed up with rat infestations in their homes.

"I'm traumatized," Veronica Martinez told WCBS.

An entire family of rats, some as big as cats, have taken over her kitchen, hopping in the sink and into pots and pans. "I should never have to experience not one but seven rats in my kitchen. It's disgusting. All over the stove, the washing machine, they just invaded my apartment," Martinez said.

She's not the only tenant at Claremont Consolidated Houses in the Bronx who's ratting out the problem, with another tenant saying, "My wife can hardly sleep because you hear them in the walls."

Asia Clementes' 1-year-old son was bitten by a rat. She wants Mayor Bill de Blasio to fix the problem. "If we were paying you rent, we deserve to live like human beings, not live like we're savages, because were not," Clementes said.

TRENDING NOW:

Making the situation worse is garbage left out in the courtyard. Residents say it breeds more rats.

"It was as if that family was living in a sewer, infested with rodents. I think we're sick and tired of seeing the Housing Authority and the city at large treat NYCHA residents as second-class citizens," said Councilman Richie Torres.

Bronx Councilwoman Vanessa Gibson says de Blasio should see the conditions firsthand. "Come to Claremont Consolidated," Gibson said, "and see how your residents, how our constituents, are living day to day. It's not acceptable. You wouldn't live like this."

NYCHA agreed, saying it's now taking steps to deal with the problem. A spokesperson told WCBS, "Our residents should not have to live in these conditions. We apologize to our residents and will continue to vigilantly monitor this situation."

The agency said it intends to come up with a comprehensive plan that will include inspections and fixing unsafe conditions.

 

CNN/WCBS

Most Read