[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] okay so how many New Yorkers are in the
okay so how many New Yorkers are in the
okay so how many New Yorkers are in the room I’m glad you’re here and how many
room I’m glad you’re here and how many
room I’m glad you’re here and how many of you are thinking of your most
of you are thinking of your most
of you are thinking of your most terrific experience with rats today so I
terrific experience with rats today so I
terrific experience with rats today so I just wanted to start off by saying I’m
just wanted to start off by saying I’m
just wanted to start off by saying I’m not actually gonna tell rat stories
not actually gonna tell rat stories
not actually gonna tell rat stories today because I’m sure you’ve had enough
today because I’m sure you’ve had enough
today because I’m sure you’ve had enough of them I’m not gonna tell you about the
of them I’m not gonna tell you about the
of them I’m not gonna tell you about the pizza rat not gonna tell you about any
pizza rat not gonna tell you about any
pizza rat not gonna tell you about any rats that have performed on Broadway
rats that have performed on Broadway
rats that have performed on Broadway giant rats right that may be popping up
giant rats right that may be popping up
giant rats right that may be popping up throughout the city rats that stand up
throughout the city rats that stand up
throughout the city rats that stand up and confront you know horror stories cuz
and confront you know horror stories cuz
and confront you know horror stories cuz actually I’m a research scientist
actually I’m a research scientist
actually I’m a research scientist probably maybe the only scientist here I
probably maybe the only scientist here I
probably maybe the only scientist here I hope maybe there are some other
hope maybe there are some other
hope maybe there are some other scientists here so I’m going to talk
scientists here so I’m going to talk
scientists here so I’m going to talk about how to diagnose a neighborhood
about how to diagnose a neighborhood
about how to diagnose a neighborhood with rat infestation and I’m going to
with rat infestation and I’m going to
with rat infestation and I’m going to try to connect it to community so you’re
try to connect it to community so you’re
try to connect it to community so you’re going to come come along with me on this
going to come come along with me on this
going to come come along with me on this one so first of all think of when you’re
one so first of all think of when you’re
one so first of all think of when you’re sick you go to a doctor you need a
sick you go to a doctor you need a
sick you go to a doctor you need a diagnosis and you you’re examined by the
diagnosis and you you’re examined by the
diagnosis and you you’re examined by the doctor so we do the same thing at the
doctor so we do the same thing at the
doctor so we do the same thing at the health department at the neighborhood
health department at the neighborhood
health department at the neighborhood level we deploy inspectors to examine
level we deploy inspectors to examine
level we deploy inspectors to examine neighborhoods for signs of Radek tivity
neighborhoods for signs of Radek tivity
neighborhoods for signs of Radek tivity if rats are the disease we want to know
if rats are the disease we want to know
if rats are the disease we want to know where they are and why they’re occurring
where they are and why they’re occurring
where they are and why they’re occurring so we do this tens of thousands of times
so we do this tens of thousands of times
so we do this tens of thousands of times a year and we use this data to look for
a year and we use this data to look for
a year and we use this data to look for patterns we use this data to design
patterns we use this data to design
patterns we use this data to design prevention programs we use this data to
prevention programs we use this data to
prevention programs we use this data to take a public health approach to the
take a public health approach to the
take a public health approach to the very pedestrian experience of seeing
very pedestrian experience of seeing
very pedestrian experience of seeing rats in your neighborhood because it’s a
rats in your neighborhood because it’s a
rats in your neighborhood because it’s a public health problem right
public health problem right
public health problem right rats are actually a sign that the
rats are actually a sign that the
rats are actually a sign that the neighborhood itself is unhealthy
neighborhood itself is unhealthy
neighborhood itself is unhealthy for you but also for that neighborhood
for you but also for that neighborhood
for you but also for that neighborhood infrastructure so here’s a map it’s a
infrastructure so here’s a map it’s a
infrastructure so here’s a map it’s a map of lower Manhattan okay so what
map of lower Manhattan okay so what
map of lower Manhattan okay so what happens when you take that map and you
happens when you take that map and you
happens when you take that map and you put three one one complaints on it about
put three one one complaints on it about
put three one one complaints on it about signs of Radek tivity do most people
signs of Radek tivity do most people
signs of Radek tivity do most people know if you see a rat you can call 3-1-1
know if you see a rat you can call 3-1-1
know if you see a rat you can call 3-1-1 and report it okay and it comes to us
and report it okay and it comes to us
and report it okay and it comes to us and we look at that data but is this
and we look at that data but is this
and we look at that data but is this data showing you any real pattern is it
data showing you any real pattern is it
data showing you any real pattern is it explaining why rats are in the
explaining why rats are in the
explaining why rats are in the neighborhood it’s not but when you add a
neighborhood it’s not but when you add a
neighborhood it’s not but when you add a layer the results of our rat inspections
layer the results of our rat inspections
layer the results of our rat inspections you can start to see patterns so what do
you can start to see patterns so what do
you can start to see patterns so what do you see someone call out to me what
you see someone call out to me what
you see someone call out to me what neighborhood are you most likely to see
neighborhood are you most likely to see
neighborhood are you most likely to see a rat East Village Lower East Side what
a rat East Village Lower East Side what
a rat East Village Lower East Side what neighborhood are we in you can see
neighborhood are we in you can see
neighborhood are we in you can see there’s maybe a few field rat
there’s maybe a few field rat
there’s maybe a few field rat inspections in this neighborhood maybe a
inspections in this neighborhood maybe a
inspections in this neighborhood maybe a few so I knew how to find my way here
few so I knew how to find my way here
few so I knew how to find my way here [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] sorry sorry Broadway
sorry sorry Broadway
sorry sorry Broadway but there’s a there’s a pattern right
but there’s a there’s a pattern right
but there’s a there’s a pattern right we’re learning something about what
we’re learning something about what
we’re learning something about what neighborhoods rats are attracted to
neighborhoods rats are attracted to
neighborhoods rats are attracted to right we we can gain knowledge from
right we we can gain knowledge from
right we we can gain knowledge from looking at these patterns so what’s the
looking at these patterns so what’s the
looking at these patterns so what’s the common denominator well first let me
common denominator well first let me
common denominator well first let me back up this is true throughout the city
back up this is true throughout the city
back up this is true throughout the city of New York we’re not just looking at or
of New York we’re not just looking at or
of New York we’re not just looking at or thinking about lower Manhattan we’re
thinking about lower Manhattan we’re
thinking about lower Manhattan we’re thinking about all of the city
thinking about all of the city
thinking about all of the city neighborhoods and one thing we know from
neighborhoods and one thing we know from
neighborhoods and one thing we know from our tens and tens of thousands of
our tens and tens of thousands of
our tens and tens of thousands of inspections is that some neighborhoods
inspections is that some neighborhoods
inspections is that some neighborhoods bear a disproportionate burden of RAD
bear a disproportionate burden of RAD
bear a disproportionate burden of RAD activity when compared to others New
activity when compared to others New
activity when compared to others New York isn’t like a giant surface that if
York isn’t like a giant surface that if
York isn’t like a giant surface that if you pierced it at any one location rats
you pierced it at any one location rats
you pierced it at any one location rats would come pouring forth from the earth
would come pouring forth from the earth
would come pouring forth from the earth which some people seem to think it is
which some people seem to think it is
which some people seem to think it is it’s a place where rats exist in
it’s a place where rats exist in
it’s a place where rats exist in neighborhoods just like humans do and
neighborhoods just like humans do and
neighborhoods just like humans do and one thing that we’ve actually learned
one thing that we’ve actually learned
one thing that we’ve actually learned from our data is that rats are
from our data is that rats are
from our data is that rats are especially attracted to the
especially attracted to the
especially attracted to the neighborhoods where we are so the more
neighborhoods where we are so the more
neighborhoods where we are so the more dense the more densely populated a
dense the more densely populated a
dense the more densely populated a neighborhood the more humans oftentimes
neighborhood the more humans oftentimes
neighborhood the more humans oftentimes the more rats were finding and what is
the more rats were finding and what is
the more rats were finding and what is that common denominator rats like to
that common denominator rats like to
that common denominator rats like to live near their food and rats have come
live near their food and rats have come
live near their food and rats have come to learn that the humans are their
to learn that the humans are their
to learn that the humans are their 24-hour buffet because we leave a lot of
24-hour buffet because we leave a lot of
24-hour buffet because we leave a lot of garbage behind us rats also like to nest
garbage behind us rats also like to nest
garbage behind us rats also like to nest or exist in cluttered or abandoned
or exist in cluttered or abandoned
or exist in cluttered or abandoned spaces right the places that humans have
spaces right the places that humans have
spaces right the places that humans have left behind so what’s the solution to
left behind so what’s the solution to
left behind so what’s the solution to rats that’s that’s why I’m here to talk
rats that’s that’s why I’m here to talk
rats that’s that’s why I’m here to talk to you about what the solution is do you
to you about what the solution is do you
to you about what the solution is do you think that I’m going to tell you about
think that I’m going to tell you about
think that I’m going to tell you about the best new rat poison out there
the best new rat poison out there
the best new rat poison out there because there are all kinds of people
because there are all kinds of people
because there are all kinds of people marketing poisons who want you to think
marketing poisons who want you to think
marketing poisons who want you to think that there’s a rat zapper just like we
that there’s a rat zapper just like we
that there’s a rat zapper just like we all wish we had an ab Buster right the
all wish we had an ab Buster right the
all wish we had an ab Buster right the diet pill that will make us you know
diet pill that will make us you know
diet pill that will make us you know suddenly so healthy you know we all have
suddenly so healthy you know we all have
suddenly so healthy you know we all have come to expect or to eat to wish to hope
come to expect or to eat to wish to hope
come to expect or to eat to wish to hope that an exterminator can come and blast
that an exterminator can come and blast
that an exterminator can come and blast the rats out of our neighborhood and in
the rats out of our neighborhood and in
the rats out of our neighborhood and in fact I go to I go to a lot of community
fact I go to I go to a lot of community
fact I go to I go to a lot of community meetings or exterminate exterminate but
meetings or exterminate exterminate but
meetings or exterminate exterminate but that’s not the way it works because rats
that’s not the way it works because rats
that’s not the way it works because rats exist in neighborhoods because of humans
exist in neighborhoods because of humans
exist in neighborhoods because of humans and the garbage that we leave behind so
and the garbage that we leave behind so
and the garbage that we leave behind so in order to get rid of rats we need to
in order to get rid of rats we need to
in order to get rid of rats we need to actually address the underlying
actually address the underlying
actually address the underlying conditions that’s attracting them in the
conditions that’s attracting them in the
conditions that’s attracting them in the first place so what that what is that
first place so what that what is that
first place so what that what is that it’s food waste so but just talking
it’s food waste so but just talking
it’s food waste so but just talking about food waste it can be very boring
about food waste it can be very boring
about food waste it can be very boring right it’s not something that people are
right it’s not something that people are
right it’s not something that people are interested in it’s the human behavior
interested in it’s the human behavior
interested in it’s the human behavior that’s leading to food waste being left
that’s leading to food waste being left
that’s leading to food waste being left out in buffets for rats to feed on now
out in buffets for rats to feed on now
out in buffets for rats to feed on now what we see in the city is that there
what we see in the city is that there
what we see in the city is that there are people who have become activists
are people who have become activists
are people who have become activists around fruit list right and I actually
around fruit list right and I actually
around fruit list right and I actually want to tell you right now I’m more than
want to tell you right now I’m more than
want to tell you right now I’m more than halfway through the title of my talk is
halfway through the title of my talk is
halfway through the title of my talk is how activism
how activism
how activism is pest control because the people who
is pest control because the people who
is pest control because the people who take that food waste and harness it to
take that food waste and harness it to
take that food waste and harness it to use it for other things organics
use it for other things organics
use it for other things organics recycling taking that food wasted
recycling taking that food wasted
recycling taking that food wasted putting it in bins that will then be
putting it in bins that will then be
putting it in bins that will then be carted off by the city to be used for
carted off by the city to be used for
carted off by the city to be used for compost they’re the ones doing real rat
compost they’re the ones doing real rat
compost they’re the ones doing real rat control rat prevention in the city tree
control rat prevention in the city tree
control rat prevention in the city tree stewardship is that pest control not
stewardship is that pest control not
stewardship is that pest control not really and yet I’ve worked with groups
really and yet I’ve worked with groups
really and yet I’ve worked with groups in the city who’ve decided to become
in the city who’ve decided to become
in the city who’ve decided to become neighborhood activists and they’re going
neighborhood activists and they’re going
neighborhood activists and they’re going to adopt the abandoned trees on our
to adopt the abandoned trees on our
to adopt the abandoned trees on our street that rats may be nesting in and
street that rats may be nesting in and
street that rats may be nesting in and they’re going to steward the
they’re going to steward the
they’re going to steward the for their own use and enjoyment they’re
for their own use and enjoyment they’re
for their own use and enjoyment they’re going to take back that abandoned space
going to take back that abandoned space
going to take back that abandoned space and make it their own literally taking
and make it their own literally taking
and make it their own literally taking it back from the rats sometimes you
it back from the rats sometimes you
it back from the rats sometimes you might need a community board right or
might need a community board right or
might need a community board right or other kind of a Neighborhood Association
other kind of a Neighborhood Association
other kind of a Neighborhood Association sometimes it’s a tenants association or
sometimes it’s a tenants association or
sometimes it’s a tenants association or a business improvement disk district
a business improvement disk district
a business improvement disk district groups of people organizing around the
groups of people organizing around the
groups of people organizing around the things that we’ve come to almost we’ve
things that we’ve come to almost we’ve
things that we’ve come to almost we’ve we’ve come to expect to see in New York
we’ve come to expect to see in New York
we’ve come to expect to see in New York which is litter broken infrastructure
which is litter broken infrastructure
which is litter broken infrastructure when you have humans actually organizing
when you have humans actually organizing
when you have humans actually organizing around fixing those things that’s rap
around fixing those things that’s rap
around fixing those things that’s rap prevention and we’ve seen it work over
prevention and we’ve seen it work over
prevention and we’ve seen it work over and over and over again in the city and
and over and over again in the city and
and over and over again in the city and yet for some reason the the call to
yet for some reason the the call to
yet for some reason the the call to exterminate keeps coming back so what my
exterminate keeps coming back so what my
exterminate keeps coming back so what my job is is to try to go out to groups of
job is is to try to go out to groups of
job is is to try to go out to groups of people and bring them together and it’s
people and bring them together and it’s
people and bring them together and it’s often groups of people just like this
often groups of people just like this
often groups of people just like this group from totally disparate backgrounds
group from totally disparate backgrounds
group from totally disparate backgrounds the most diverse audiences you can think
the most diverse audiences you can think
the most diverse audiences you can think of property owners tenants businesses
of property owners tenants businesses
of property owners tenants businesses come together and figure out what is our
come together and figure out what is our
come together and figure out what is our role in pest control what is our role in
role in pest control what is our role in
role in pest control what is our role in rat prevention and how do we come
rat prevention and how do we come
rat prevention and how do we come together to actually Stewart or care for
together to actually Stewart or care for
together to actually Stewart or care for our neighborhood so that rats can’t
our neighborhood so that rats can’t
our neighborhood so that rats can’t thrive there what I want to do is show
thrive there what I want to do is show
thrive there what I want to do is show you an example of how the power of
you an example of how the power of
you an example of how the power of humans coming together in the community
humans coming together in the community
humans coming together in the community in their neighborhood can actually move
in their neighborhood can actually move
in their neighborhood can actually move the rats out so here’s a map showing
the rats out so here’s a map showing
the rats out so here’s a map showing orange red dark red forget about what
orange red dark red forget about what
orange red dark red forget about what the data mean just know that that means
the data mean just know that that means
the data mean just know that that means rats or the garbage that feeds them and
rats or the garbage that feeds them and
rats or the garbage that feeds them and here’s what it looks like one year later
here’s what it looks like one year later
here’s what it looks like one year later after that organizing has occurred okay
after that organizing has occurred okay
after that organizing has occurred okay all we did was assign one case manager
all we did was assign one case manager
all we did was assign one case manager to those neighborhoods to bring the
to those neighborhoods to bring the
to those neighborhoods to bring the community together to organize around
community together to organize around
community together to organize around rat prevention
rat prevention
rat prevention they didn’t necessarily even know they
they didn’t necessarily even know they
they didn’t necessarily even know they were organizing around rap prevention
were organizing around rap prevention
were organizing around rap prevention they knew that they were organizing
they knew that they were organizing
they knew that they were organizing around cleaning up their streets so I’m
around cleaning up their streets so I’m
around cleaning up their streets so I’m going to end with saying everyone has a
going to end with saying everyone has a
going to end with saying everyone has a role in rat control and I hope that you
role in rat control and I hope that you
role in rat control and I hope that you all will join me in sharing this message
all will join me in sharing this message
all will join me in sharing this message as you go back out take the subway home
as you go back out take the subway home
as you go back out take the subway home this evening walk back to your homes
this evening walk back to your homes
this evening walk back to your homes your apartments your businesses when you
your apartments your businesses when you
your apartments your businesses when you see that rat remind yourself remind your
see that rat remind yourself remind your
see that rat remind yourself remind your neighbor there’s something that we each
neighbor there’s something that we each
neighbor there’s something that we each can do to take back our neighborhood to
can do to take back our neighborhood to
can do to take back our neighborhood to contribute in the sustainability of our
contribute in the sustainability of our
contribute in the sustainability of our neighborhoods the health of our
neighborhoods the health of our
neighborhoods the health of our neighborhoods and of our communities and
neighborhoods and of our communities and
neighborhoods and of our communities and thank you all for listening
thank you all for listening
thank you all for listening [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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