On Tuesday, Mayor Eric Adams found himself in a virtual court hearing, contesting a very ironic summons that he received as a result of the infestation of rats at a property he owns in Brooklyn. The summons is ironic because Mayor Adams has waged a war on rats in New York City, going so far as to sign legislation to fight the scourge that is disgusting city residents and visitors.
Mr. Adams dialed into a city administrative court to contest the decision by a city health inspector to fine him $300 for allowing rodents to overrun a property he owns in Brooklyn.
He began by telling the hearing officer — technically an employee of the city and thus, of Mayor Adams — that he was something of an expert about fighting rats, giving a brief description of his efforts as mayor to fight the rat horde.
And as a landlord, he asserted that he spent nearly $7,000 in March battling rats at the property, on Lafayette Avenue in Bedford-Stuyvesant, promising to email an invoice to prove it. He said that he had even deployed the infamous “Rat Trap” he once showcased as Brooklyn borough president, a grisly demonstration that involved ladling drowned rats out of a vat.
Finally, as a citizen, he noted how city laws were “designed to penalize homeowners for failing to take steps to prevent and control rodents.” But as he asserted, “I took those steps, and will continue to do so.”
The hearing officer said he would consider the evidence and render a verdict within 30 days.
