Thank you!

[Joan Pasquale]

Dear Community Residents:
Many thanks to the multitude of Community Residents that attended the Rodent Infestation
Community Information Meeting at the Jackson Mann Community Center in Allston, last night.
 
Thanks to your help, the Inspectional Services Department now has a very accurate list of
problematic, Rodent Infested areas to investigate and address.
 
Thank you for your attendance, great questions, concerns, and problem solving ideas.
Please continue to connect with Mr. Meaney, and the Inspectional Services Department
whenever you see a problem area, or have a concern.
You can contact Mr. Meaney at - 617-961-3340
                                              John.Mea...@ci.boston.ma.us
 
Resident Input and Rodent Sighting Addresses are needed in order to combat this serious
Community Problem. Working together with ISD - Allston and Brighton can once again, be
Rodent Free. Please continue to report Rodent Sightings and Problematic Addresses.
 
Thank you,
Joan Pasquale, Executive Director
The Parents & Community Build Group, Inc. - PCBG,Inc.
The Ringer Park Partnership Group
pcb...@verizon.net
www.parentsandcommunitybuildgroup.org

---

Windows Live™: Keep your life in sync. Check it out.

[Eva Webster]

On 5/14/09 4:07 PM, "Joan Pasquale" <jpasqu...@hotmail.com> wrote:

> Dear Community Residents:
> Many thanks to the multitude of Community Residents that attended the Rodent
> Infestation Community Information Meeting at the Jackson Mann Community Center
> in Allston, last night.

This was indeed a useful meeting — and thank you very much, Joan, for organizing it.  It takes a lot of energy to put together a public meeting, so I (and everyone else I’m sure) really appreciate it.

I went to that meeting because after seeing rats in my neighborhood on many occasions, just the other day when I was driving on my street in the evening, I actually had to stop to let three of them cross the street in front of my car.  They were just strolling leisurely in front of my eyes.  I had to brake for rat pedestrians!

Additionally, I keep hearing from my neighbors in the area that they see rats frequently when they happen to be out in the evening.  In the darkness, you don’t see too well --  so for every rat we see, there must be many that we don’t see that are there nevertheless (and multiply).

But as much as I appreciate the meeting you put together, Joan, I’m afraid you were not necessarily helping our objective (to rid A-B of rats, or at least substantially diminish their population), by repeatedly stressing in the meeting that if people only work with Mr. Meaney (ISD) the way you did, we will combat the rat problem.

It’s not that simple!  The City needs to make a special effort to address this problem effectively — it has to be a full-blown WAR ON RATS -- and such an effort goes well beyond Mr. Meaney.

Your story was that with Mr. Meaney’s help you got rid of some problematic dumpster, and replaced it with smaller trash cans (with lids) that now get emptied daily — and you no longer see rats.  Sure you don’t — those rats just moved somewhere else in A-B where they can find easier access to food.

(By the way, I don’t know how you were able to arrange for daily emptying of those trash cans — unless they belong to a business — because A-B has only once-a-week residential trash pick-up, which frankly is insufficient in the multifamily/densely populated parts of the neighborhood.)

You wrote in your posting:

> Thanks to your help, the Inspectional Services Department now has a very
> accurate list of problematic, Rodent Infested areas to investigate and
> address.

The info. on rat sightings that the ISD got in that meeting was just a SMALL sample of that problem (there were about 50 people in the meeting, and A-B has nearly 70,000 residents, half of whom probably see rats on a fairly regular basis).

Also, I don’t believe that the ISD can “address” the rat infestation in any meaningful way just through ticketing trash violations, which is what they are set up to do.  Ticketing and making people put a lid on trash containers is not enough (rats can chew holes in the bottom of plastic trashcans).

Someone offered some silly advice: “Don’t provide rats with water”, and “Use 2-ply plastic trash bags”.  Rats don’t need people to provide them with water; they find it on their own.  They also have teeth with which they laugh at 2-ply plastic bags.

The rats need to be systematically exterminated, not just pushed from one area to another in search of food.

But as I learned in the Wednesday meeting -- to my surprise -- the City does NOT bait or trap rats (except in sewers and in city parks).  So every time their source of food is eliminated when some enlightened resident takes steps to ensure that, all that those smart creatures have to do is to raid dumpsters and garbage cans on the neighboring property/street(s).

The number of A-B properties (many absentee-owned, and rented to transient residents) that do not store or dispose of trash properly is so large that rats have no problem finding food.  Even if they stay hungry all week long (unlikely), at least one night a week (when people put out trash in plastic bags for pick-up the following day) they can gorge themselves by ripping holes in the bags that smell of food.

If the City does not provide residents with rat traps and poison, and it does not REQUIRE private property owners’ active cooperation with exterminating rats, we are fighting a losing battle, and the problem will be getting WORSE & WORSE with every passing year (until seeing fearless rats parading in great numbers in front of our homes will be a daily occurrence).

I spoke to Councilor Ciommo after the meeting, and asked why the City won’t install rat traps in areas that are known to have a large rat problem (and by the way, it’s not just Allston — this problems is as bad in the Cleveland Circle/Comm. Ave. area).  Councilor Ciommo said that the City can’t exterminate rats on private property.  So my question is:  Who will?  (Also, if they trap rats in public parks, then why not on public streets?)

Dealing with rats is a communal problem, not just an individual property owner’s problem.  It makes no sense in the eyes of one individual/family to spend money on rat traps (which are not cheap) when they believe that the rats are coming from somebody else’s property, and they can’t stop that.

You won’t find anyone who will admit that their house/property/business is a source of rats, and that they are solely responsible for exterminating them.  We are in lean economic times, and very few A-B residents are willing to spend money on trapping rats that they think keep coming to their street from sewers or somebody else’s property.

When was the last time the ISD was ticketing people for putting out garbage that contains food in plastic bags the night before the pick-up?  How can any responsible city tolerate such reckless behavior?  (Also, restaurant dumpsters are often not properly secured, and overflowing, due to ignorance, laziness, and lack of care by restaurant owners and workers.)

Apparently, residents in North Allston are going to be getting special rat-proof trash cans paid for by Harvard.  Great!  But does anyone realize that this will only make the hungry rats move on to the areas in A-B where Harvard will not be providing trashcans?

(By the way, it’s nice that Harvard wants to help, even though scape-goated them for all North Allston’s rats is unfair, in my opinion.  Harvard dose not feed the rats — careless residents and food establishments do.  The same happens in my area near Cleveland Circle.)


So, NO, Joan, we will NOT combat the rat problem just by working with Mr. Meaney.  Even he admitted that he has limited resources, and all that the ISD can do is to randomly ticket the owners of properties that store trash in a matter that gives rats access to food (but he does not have an inspector who could work at night to see how people dispose of trash for pick-up).

This battle requires A WELL-DESIGNED, ENERGETIC, CONSITENT, CITY-SPONSORED RAT-CONTROL CAMPAIGN in all rat-infested parts of Allston-Brighton.

The City can do a number of creative things:

1. Create a special “Rat-Control Unit” run by a high-level city official (“rat tsar”) with special powers to coordinate all rat-control efforts among different agencies.
2. Negotiate a deep discount on rat traps (direct purchase from the manufacturer) and distribute them to homeowners in the affected areas, and require larger businesses that they buy them (for less than retail if purchased form the city);
3. Prohibit disposal of food in plastic bags that are not in rat-proof containers (and ticket the offending properties aggressively).  If a condo association puts out all their garbage in plastic bags — as many still do because it’s easier for them — they should be fined because there is food in those bags for sure.
4. Send easy-to-read rat-control literature with property bills.
5. Produce easy to read laminated flier reminding people of the rat problem and the need to secure trash.  Then require that this laminated flier be posted by property/business owners in every trash/dumpster area.
6. Divert a certain percentage from Code Enforcement fines towards a special budget to fight rat infestation.
7. Pay a stipend to, or otherwise reward residents/community activists who volunteer to monitor the neighborhood for rat-producing situations and report them.
8. Educate Boston residents by publishing rat-control information in local newspapers, and airing it on local TV channels and radio stations (take advantage of free public service announcements).
9. Ask community groups for help distribute rat-control literature and traps, and to report improper trash disposal (leading to fines when the report is confirmed).
10. Employ a night-time Code Enforcement officer to inspect streets the evening before trash pick-up.
11. Determine which areas in A-B should have twice-a-week trash pick-up, and make it happen.
    

Regarding the last point — someone in the meeting told me that the reason other parts of the city have twice-a-week trash pick-up is because they have more food establishments.  I do not buy it — because businesses pay for removal of their own trash (the city does not empty business/restaurant dumpsters).

The real reason that those other neighborhoods have more frequent trash pick-up may be because somebody at some point thought they were more important than mostly transient and working-class parts of A-B.  It’s time to rethink this.

Eva Webster

[KellyJMF]

Um, if you're hoping to get rid of the rats in A-B, why did you brake
for them? You had a chance to remove three in one go and you missed
it.

On May 15, 3:38 am, Eva Webster <evawebs...@comcast.net> wrote:

> > 1. Create a special ³Rat-Control Unit² run by a high-level city official (³rat

> > tsar²) with special powers to coordinate all rat-control efforts among
> > different agencies.

> > 2. Negotiate a deep discount on rat traps (direct purchase from the

> > manufacturer) and distribute them to homeowners in the affected areas, and
> > require larger businesses that they buy them (for less than retail if
> > purchased form the city);

> > 3. Prohibit disposal of food in plastic bags that are not in rat-proof

> > containers (and ticket the offending properties aggressively).  If a condo
> > association puts out all their garbage in plastic bags ‹ as many still do
> > because it¹s easier for them ‹ they should be fined because there is food in
> > those bags for sure.

> > 4. Send easy-to-read rat-control literature with property bills.
> > 5. Produce easy to read laminated flier reminding people of the rat problem

> > and the need to secure trash.  Then require that this laminated flier be
> > posted by property/business owners in every trash/dumpster area.

> > 6. Divert a certain percentage from Code Enforcement fines towards a special

> > budget to fight rat infestation.

> > 7. Pay a stipend to, or otherwise reward residents/community activists who

> > volunteer to monitor the neighborhood for rat-producing situations and report
> > them.

> > 8. Educate Boston residents by publishing rat-control information in local

> > newspapers, and airing it on local TV channels and radio stations (take
> > advantage of free public service announcements).

> > 9. Ask community groups for help distribute rat-control literature and traps,

> > and to report improper trash disposal (leading to fines when the report is
> > confirmed).

> > 10. Employ a night-time Code Enforcement officer to inspect streets the
> > evening before trash pick-up.
> > 11. Determine which areas in A-B should have twice-a-week trash pick-up, and

[Lewis, Catherine]

Some people prefer not having blood and guts on their cars.

I have no rat problems other than the dead ones the feral cats leave at
my door as a thank you for feeding them and offering shelter.
Cat

The information in this e-mail is intended only for the person to whom it is
addressed. If you believe this e-mail was sent to you in error and the e-mail
contains patient information, please contact the Partners Compliance HelpLine at
http://www.partners.org/complianceline . If the e-mail was sent to you in error
but does not contain patient information, please contact the sender and properly
dispose of the e-mail.

[Eva Webster]

On 5/15/09 9:43 AM, "KellyJMF" <kfabi...@hotmail.com> wrote:

> Um, if you're hoping to get rid of the rats in A-B, why did you brake
> for them? You had a chance to remove three in one go and you missed
> it.

Aren’t you hoping to get rid of them too?  I have a sense you would be great hunting them with a rifle ;-)

I guess I’m just not a quick thinking “natural born killer” like you.  And of course I didn’t want to arrive at my garage with rat brains and guts plastered on my tires.

Generally, if you are in a habit of braking for people, for an occasional moose or deer, for cats and dogs, for squirrels and chipmunks, and for birds — your mind is on a certain life-respecting autopilot.

If we are to count on A-B drivers (or cats) to take care of the rat problem, we will have a rude awakening (the rat numbers will get out of control completely).

To use natural means, we would need to have a very substantial feral cat population to make a dent in this problem that way -- and no one would want that (cats need homes; they can freeze to death in wintertime).

Anyway, it seems to me that rats are ferocious when threatened, and the hardest kill for cats.  My own cat, which goes outside, has brought us mice, birds, snakes, even a squirrel once, and one very young rat -- but never ever a mature rat — despite their obvious presence around here.

(By the way, it¹s nice that Harvard wants to help, even though scapegoating
them for all North Allston¹s rats is unfair, in my opinion.  Harvard does

not feed the rats ‹ careless residents and food establishments do.  The same
happens in my area near Cleveland Circle.)

So, NO, Joan, we will NOT combat the rat problem just by working with Mr.
Meaney.  Even he admitted that he has limited resources, and all that the
ISD can do is to randomly ticket the owners of properties that store trash
in a matter that gives rats access to food (but he does not have an
inspector who could work at night to see how people dispose of trash for
pick-up).

This battle requires A WELL-DESIGNED, ENERGETIC, CONSITENT, CITY-SPONSORED

RAT-CONTROL CAMPAIGN in all rat-infested parts of Allston-Brighton (and Boston).

The City can do a number of creative things:

1. Create a special “Rat-Control Unit” run by a high-level city official (“rat tsar”) with special powers to coordinate all rat-control efforts among different agencies.

2. Negotiate a deep discount on rat traps (direct purchase from the manufacturer) and distribute them to homeowners in the affected areas, and require larger businesses that they buy them (for less than retail if purchased from the city).

3. Prohibit disposal of food in plastic bags that are not in rat-proof containers (and ticket the offending properties aggressively).  If a condo association puts out all their garbage in plastic bags (as many still do because it’s easier for them) they should be fined because there is food in those bags for sure.

4. Send easy-to-read rat-control literature with property bills.

5. Produce easy to read laminated flier reminding people of the rat problem and the need to secure trash.  Then require that this laminated flier be posted by property/business owners in every trash/dumpster area.

6. Divert a certain percentage from Code Enforcement fines towards a special budget to fight rat infestation.

7. Pay a stipend to, or otherwise reward residents/community activists who volunteer to monitor the neighborhood for rat-producing situations and report them.

8. Educate Boston residents by publishing rat-control information in local newspapers, and airing it on local TV channels and radio stations (take advantage of free public service announcements).

9. Ask community groups for help distribute rat-control literature and traps, and to report improper trash disposal (leading to fines when the report is confirmed).

10. Employ a night-time Code Enforcement officer to inspect streets the evening before trash pick-up.

11. Determine which areas in A-B should have twice-a-week trash pick-up, and make it happen.

Regarding the last point ‹ someone in the meeting told me that the reason
other parts of the city have twice-a-week trash pick-up is because they have

more food establishments.  I do not buy it -- because businesses pay for

[Joan Pasquale]

Eva:
To address your issues:
I disagree with you on several issues.
 
The Rodent Infestation Problem is a Citywide Issue and everyone in Boston, does need to work with ISD to combat the problem. It's easy to complain amongst ourselves, but that will not assist ISD in determining problematic locations. Residents need to take a personal responsibility and report the locations to ISD. 

The Rodent problem that my Neighborhood encounted was not a minimal problem. It was Huge, and was handled promptly by ISD, as soon as ISD was made aware of the problem.
The Rat Burrows were located in the Wooded Urban Wilds Area of Ringer Park. The Food Supply was the Large Dumpster that was placed on the Private Property Side of the Park Fence, just a few feet away from multiple Rat Burrows. ISD Exterminated the Park Property.
Permanently Sealed Up the Rat Burrows. Had the Parks Department Clear the entire area of land that faced Allston Street of the Tangled Dead Brush that served as a Rodent breeding ground. ISD also, after Multiple Fine and Violation Notification and requests from ISD and Tenants to re-locate that Dumpster - that were being ignored - ISD took the Landord to Court and forced them to remove the Dumpster and replace it with Multiple Rodent Proof Trash Barrells that are Court Ordered to be emptied on a daily basis. Residents working with ISD does solve Rodent Problems. It solved the problems in this neighborhood and it can solve the problem in other neighborhoods. It's a matter or working as a Neighborhood/Community Team with ISD. ISD accomplished what we as Residents could not do, re:the Parks Department and our Landlord. Without ISD's assistance, the problem would never have been solved.
 
Anger does not solve problems. Communication does. The purpose of the Rodent Infestation Community Meeting was to inform the general public of the importance of reporting Rodent Sightings, to answer questions and concerns, and to collect Rodent Sighting addresses, so that the problem could be addressed properly and promptly. As I stated to you at the meeting, as residents we do have a personal responsibility to report issues that affect the qualilty of life in our neighborhoods. You can't complain, if you haven't done anything to assist the creation of a solution. Notifying ISD of problematic areas is assisting with the creation of a solution versus doing nothing at all. I applaud the efforts of everyone who attended that meeting because they could have just stayed home. Instead they chose to attend, supply addresses to ISD, and submit exceptional questions and ideas, and Rodent Sighting Locations.
 
ISD had Information Brochures available for everyone to take home, as well as John Meaney offering to come out to Allston/Brighton Neighborhoods at resident's request and tour their neighborhoods, so that Rat and Burrow Sightings could be logged, and responded to.
 
Re:Your complaint that ISD does not have the authority to enter and exterminate on Private Property. That's a protective legal issue. What would your response be if you looked out your window one day and found the City of Boston/ISD, digging up your front or back yard, filling holes with stones and cement, etc.? ISD may not have the authority to enter private property and trap rats or exterminate, but ISD can be out there on our city streets handling problems in the sewers, parks, abandoned property, etc. Areas that residents are not allowed to respond to, or address, outside of reporting the Rodent Infested Locations.
 
Please don't let anger and frustration, get in the way of common sense. This is a Citywide Issue that all residents have the opportunity to address each day by reporting Rodent Sighting locations to ISD, and by reporting their feelings regarding this issue to their Political Representatives. Beyond the fact that this is an Election Year of Candidate Promises - as residents throughout the City of Boston, we as Tax Payers have a right to demand that Rodent Extermination throughout the entire City of Boston, be a Priority. It is Tax Payer Funds
that support the Inspectional Services Department. All of us, can assist our Neighborhoods and ISD, by insisting that the Rodent Infestation Problem throughout Boston be addressed and attended to properly, by providing ISD with the necessary means/manpower to do their job properly, and to allow ISD to address Private Property Extermination Assistance requests.
ISD is limited by City of Boston regulations, just as we as residents are. But as Tax Payers and Voters, we can insist that Changes to the exhisting system by made. It is up to us to make these issues a personal responsibility priority.
 
I truly appreciate your thanking PCBG,Inc. for setting up and hosting the Rodent Information Community Meeting, but as I stated at that meeting - Eva, you are a well connected, highly intelligent community activist, please use that talent to assist ISD, your Neighborhood and Community, by working with ISD - not against them, to assist in solving this problem. You're a
Tax Payer and Voter. Take a stand to make a Citywide Mass Extermination Process a Priority in the City of Boston - this is the message that everyone should be sending out to All City of Boston Politcal Representatives and Candidates. Let's move our energy in a positive, solution  finding direction.
 
Eva, thank you for taking a personal responsibility and the time to create a very informative, solution oriented list - please forward it to every Political Representative in the City of Boston, including the Governors Office, with a copy to John Meaney. A Unified Voice, always makes a louder statement. Every resident needs to make Rodent Eradication a Priority Issue. Make a Statement - Take a Stand! Let's make Boston Rodent Free.
 
Joan Pasquale
PCBG,Inc.

---

Date: Fri, 15 May 2009 03:38:10 -0400
Subject: [AB2006] Rats in Allston-Brighton - what it will take to combat them
From: evawe...@comcast.net
To: AllstonBr...@googlegroups.com

[KellyJMF]

I'm glad you're keeping your excellent sense of humor in the face of
the infestation ;-)

Just don't panic stop to avoid them, 'K? It would be a shame to get in
an accident because the driver behind you isn't as quick thinking or
alert. You're more important than the critters. Well not moose and
deer, they'd mess you up even worse than getting rear-ended. Although
if you're having moose problems in A-B, perhaps another call to ISD is
in order.

On May 15, 1:27 pm, Eva Webster <evawebs...@comcast.net> wrote:

[Eva Webster]

Joan, you wrote “I disagree with you on several issues”.  I then read, and re-read, your message and can’t figure out where you disagree with me.  It’s all common sense.  And towards the end you admit that additional steps, as I suggested, should be taken.  No disagreement.

[Joan Pasquale]

Eva:
I disagree with the thought process of being angry versus pro-active.
You were angry at the meeting, and took the time to write down solution actions that appeared to be presented with anger. ISD is doing the best that it can, with the limitations that it has - the rest is up to us, as residents, to report Rodent sightings and to demand that our politicans represent our requests for assistance properly.
 
It's the same issue with the Animal Control Dept. With all of the problems that residents have had to endour from badly behaved dog owners and off-leash dogs that have attacked other dogs and residents - Animal Control Officers do not have the right to ask for an ID when they write a Citation. After driving all the way out to Ringer Park re:multiple complaints and actually seeing the problems and the problematic owners in action - they can't do their job properly. Animal Control Officers are laughed at and mocked - and they can't do a thing about it, because they cannot legally ask for an ID. Would it be fair to get angry with them, because they're limited?
 
You have so much energy and good ideas - channel it in a postive direction for positive change to help ISD do their job properly. Anger will give you a heart attack or stroke.
Positive channelling will get results that will benefit everyone.
 
Partnering with ISD made a big difference in my neighborhood, and it can have the same results in other neighborhoods - provided that residents do their part and report Rodent sightings. It's not a waste of time, and the Rodent Problem here was not a small one.
In the small Wooded Area of Ringer Park directly in back of my apartment building at the Allston St. Entrance, there were Hundred of Rats. Residents who had bedrooms that faced that section - couldn't sleep at night because of all of the noise. Rats were still out until 9:00-10:00a.m. You couldn't walk down the Stone Wall side of the street, without having Rats jumping off of the stone wall or running in groups down the sidewalk. This was not a small problem, especially where the Rats headed down Glenville Avenue to the surrounding neighborhood streets. My neighborhood was dealing with more than just a problematic dumpster and a few rats. Plus without ISD's assistance and court order, we'd still be in the same situation. 
 
You made a lot of statements, and although I applaud your solution efforts, I disagree with any statements implying that contacting ISD with Rodent sightings is a waste of time.
Everyone that I have refered to ISD or who has contacted them on their own, has reported positive results. ISD is limited as to what they can legally do. We need to work with them, and rally for them - not against them, in order to get the results that we need. You seem to be focusing on ISD's limitations versus what we can do - as voters and tax payers - to make changes to those limitations.  It's the negativity and blame that I disagree with. Moving in a positive direction is the only way to get results. It's an Election Year - Time to Insist for what we want and need in A/B.
 
Joan

---

Date: Tue, 19 May 2009 10:49:29 -0400
Subject: [AB2006] Re: Rats in Allston-Brighton - what it will take to combat them