Ghost Rats Sighted in Allston-Brighton: Rat Walk Time!

[Ricky Meinke]

Neighbors!

There have been multiple sightings of ghostly rats floating through apartments, construction sites, and rat dens. Their glowing eyes along with plasma dripping teeth have scared residents all across Rat City. Rumor has it these rats are the ones captured by Allston-Brighton resident, Mr. Rymkus, when he won the 1917 Rat Day. They are back for revenge and they must be stopped! 

The Rat Rangers are calling upon you to help search for these ghostly neighbors and ensure Rat City is no longer haunted by Mr Rymkus's pesky foes. 

Anyone who attends our Rat Walk will learn about rat mitigation strategies, rat den identification, and how to report rats to ISD. Make sure you attend to learn about our neighborhood's rat issues and how we will address them in the future.

2nd Annual Rat Calling Competition

Despite our best efforts, our Rat Rangers still struggle to catch all the rats in Allston-Brighton. We are recruiting those with the peskiest voices to compete in our 2nd Annual Rat Calling Competition to determine if you could lure the most rats! 

Here are more details for both events!

Halloween Rat Walk: Wednesday, October 29th, 7pm-8pm

REGISTER HERE FOR STARTING LOCATION

2nd Annual Rat Calling Competition: Wednesday, October 29th, 8pm, Lulu's Allston

REGISTER HERE TO RAT CALL YOUR HEART OUT!

See you next Wednesday neighbors! 

Best,

Ricky Meinke

Director, Rat City Arts Festiva

[Anthony D'Isidoro]

Here are Boston’s rodent hot spots (Neena Hagen, Boston Globe: October 16, 2025)

"The North End is followed by Beacon Hill, South End, and Back Bay in rodent complaints. Despite long being known as “rat city,” Allston didn’t crack the top five."

With the Great Scott project approved, when are we going back to "Rock City"?

Tony

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From: allstonbr...@googlegroups.com <allstonbr...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Ricky Meinke <richard...@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, October 21, 2025 9:09 PM
To: AllstonBrighton2006 <allstonbr...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [AB2006] Ghost Rats Sighted in Allston-Brighton: Rat Walk Time!

 

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[Ricky Meinke]

Tony, 

Awesome article of a resource our team has utilized to help guide our Rat Walk routes. Some thoughts though on if we can use this map as a authentic representation of rat levels in each neighborhood:

This map is based on 311 data reports, which if you know Allston-Brighton, is very underreported. This map is a great start, but doesn’t represent many of the rat dens in our neighborhood. It doesn’t even show the dens in the Allston municipal lot. If you’re out in Allston, once it goes dark, you’ll know based on this map that there are a lot of missing spots. 

Our rat walks educate neighbors on the use of 311, why data is important, and how that data influences policy, like why the North End received rat proof trash bins but Allston Brighton didn’t.

With more reports, more accurate data, we can help make sure Allston-Brighton receives the resources it needs so neighbors can live not alongside rodents.

311 to us isn’t a direct-response service, it should be a way to increase metrics and awareness of what’s happening in our neighborhood. ISD is taxed and needs further resources, let’s have data to support their funding/growth so we can have change when you report something on 311.

We try to help with the marketing of city resources so folks understand further how their reports can be used, if not immediately, but long term to help our neighborhood.

I’m glad the city doesn’t use 311 data as their only influence with policy, this map is a primary example of why they shouldn’t. 

Along with community advocacy we can ensure change does happen. If I was the ACA, I would be asking why hasn’t Allston received similar resources like the North End, despite Allston also being named in the 2024 Rodent Action Plan as a primary neighborhood. We need our neighborhood leaders advocating for direct change and direct resources coming to our neighborhood.

I’m happy to keep growing that voice through our rat walks. I’ll ensure our organizing supports ISD and our city efforts to make sure rats no longer call Allston home.

I hope to also see you Tony at the Rat Walk! I’d love for you to see how we bring neighbors together and educate folks on rat mitigation. For some fun, it’ll be great to have you also attend our Rat Calling Competition, either as a participant, or maybe even a judge!

I’m sure neighbors would appreciate seeing their neighborhood leaders participate in a fun event to bring more awareness to our rat mitigation efforts. It’ll certainly be a ratty time. 

Let me know what role you’d enjoy next week if you’re available! 

Best,

Ricky Meinke

Director, Rat City Arts Festival 

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[Bernadette Lally]

Rick,

 Once again I would appreciate it if you would stop calling Allston [my home] Rat City, I understand you have turned this into a business but those of us who live here do not appreciate your nickname for our home. FYI, I have seen more rats in Brighton than Allston these days.

I agree with Tony its Rock City not Rat city.

Thanks,

 Bernadette Moran Lally

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[Paul R. Dixon]

A rat is a rat is a rat.

Allston/Brighton is Rat City. All of Boston could be considered Rat City.

It’s a humorous attempt to deal with a bad problem.

I’ve lived in Brighton since 1999. I think it’s funny.

Lighten up, folks.

On Oct 22, 2025, at 11:44 AM, Bernadette Lally <ward22c...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[tahir h]

Aerosmith wrote a song called Rats in the Cellar but I think it was based on their time living in NYC not when they resided on Comm Ave.

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[Paul R. Dixon]

I’s agree with that. I think the Rat City name came well after the song.

🎭

On Oct 22, 2025, at 12:44 PM, tahir h <tahi...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[David Strati]

I agree  with Bernadette and Tony. I find the name rat city offensive not funny. Please stop calling it that. 

Dave Strati

Sent from my iPhone

On Oct 22, 2025, at 12:46 PM, Paul R. Dixon <prdix...@gmail.com> wrote:

I’s agree with that. I think the Rat City name came well after the song.

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