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Subway Ratdemic: Ban Food, Blame The Straphanger
By
Jen Carlson
Published Nov 26, 2010
Modified Nov 26, 2010
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By
Jen Carlson
Published Nov 26, 2010
Modified Nov 26, 2010
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Don't want to see rats in the subway system? Stop feeding them! Senator Bill Perkins reminds: "Rats don't grow the food that they eat on the subway, and they don't buy it, either. We as customers, unfortunately, are the ones that are feeding, and thereby breeding the rodent infestation problem we have." Perkins has been rallying for a ban on food in the subway system, and now NY1 visits his fears that MTA budget cuts, and no food ban, could lead to a real ratdemic.
The MTA has cut down on cleaning crews in the subway system, and now there are fewer than 1500, a 4% cut from last year... and with these cuts they expect things to get dirtier. So now it's up to us (and these people)—a new ad campaign is rolling out and it's aimed at the everyday straphanger, though NYC Transit president Thomas Prendergast notes that "customers don't like to hear that they're, quote-unquote, the cause of the problem."
Prendergast added that "There's a lot of difficult jobs in New York City Transit, and the cleaner's job is one of the most difficult ones." And as a Union rep pointed out to NY1: "I want the riders to understand, that sometimes you see a cleaner trying to catch his breath or taking a break, it's because he or she is truly overworked." Indeed... but do you think they snack down there during their breaks?
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bill perkins
food
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ratdemic
rats
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Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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