The Great Rat War Loses Its General—NYC’s First-Ever Rat Czar Officially Resigns

NYC and rats are like annoying little siblings—no matter how hard you try to get rid of them, they’re always lurking somewhere and skulking in the corners. From rat birth control to interactive maps, somehow the war against the rats continues. And now, perhaps the most pivotal player in the city’s ongoing rat wars is stepping away. After serving as the city’s first-ever rat czar since 2023, Kathleen Corradi has officially resigned from her rodent wrangling responsibilities , City Hall confirmed on Wednesday. Mayor Eric Adams appointed Corradi to lead his citywide crusade against New York’s rat population—a role famously advertised with the call: “Do you have what it takes to do the impossible? A virulent vehemence for vermin? A background in urban planning, project management, or government? And most importantly, the drive, determination and killer instinct needed to fight the real enemy – New York City’s relentless rat population? If so, your dream job awaits.” The listing saw over 900 applicants, with the gig paying upwards of $170,000 . “When I appointed Kathy Corradi to this historic, unique job, I knew she’d have the drive and knowledge to send the rats packing from our city,” Mayor Adams shared in a statement. “It’s a daunting, complex task, but she’s handled it with confidence and creativity.” In her role, Corradi was tasked with reducing the rat population in NYC through coordination among citywide government agencies, community organizations, and the private sector . So did Corradi successfully show the rats that we run this city, not them? Apparently so! According to Mayor Adams, rat sightings are down more than 15 percent year-over-year and have decreased for eight straight months. Corradi’s resignation as rat czar doesn’t mark the end of her work for New York City; she will continue to serve the city in a different role. As for a successor, City Hall vaguely stated the next steps regarding the position are still to be determined; however, the fight against the rats will continue in “some capacity.” And at least for now, NYC still isn’t the rattiest city in the U.S. Source: https://secretnyc.co/nyc-first-ever-rat-czar-resigns/