New York City has finally found its rat czar. According to Wednesday’s announcement by New York Mayor Eric Adams, Kathleen Corradi, who formerly led the Department of Education’s efforts to reduce rat populations, would take on the role of director of rodent mitigation.
Adams, a prominent opponent of rodents, declared late last year that the position would pay between $120,000 and $170,000 annually and that he was searching for someone to lead the city’s battle against rats. Corradi’s annual salary will be $155,000.
I think, fighting rats, that’s not enough,” Adams said at a press conference announcing the appointment.
The rat czar will coordinate between municipal organizations, neighborhood associations, and private businesses
However, Corradi’s pay is not extravagant for a city official. The annual salary of the mayor’s director of communications is $211,000.
“When I first saw this job posting, I wasn’t sure it was real,” she said at the press conference littered with references to the Pixar film Ratatouille and the meme-ified Pizza Rat.
Throughout Corradi’s leadership, about 70% of the schools with ongoing rat problems achieved their compliance targets.
Adams said she had discovered her vocation. “This is almost like a job that’s made for her.”
Corradi will coordinate between municipal organizations, neighborhood associations, and private businesses. She committed to finding “the most effective technique” to reduce rats.
This year, there have been 80% more cleaning infractions enforced. To learn how other countries handle their rubbish, representatives from the mayor’s office have been to Argentina, Greece, and Israel.
“The mayor has made it very clear his stance on rats,” Corradi said. “He hates rats, I hate rats, all New Yorkers hate rats.”