Niagara Falls, N.Y. (WBEN) - Residents in the LaSalle neighborhood of Niagara Falls are speaking out about a persistent rat infestation that is beginning to overrun their neighborhood.
Niagara Falls Mayor Rob Restaino, Niagara County Legislators Chris McKimmie and Chris Voccio organized a public forum Wednesday night to give the public a chance to further express their concerns.
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Public Health Director for Niagara County Daniel Stapleton says there are residents who create habitable conditions for the rats by not taking care of their property.
"I think the biggest thing, that I hope people take, is the mitigation effort keeping the rats from ever getting into your neighborhood. That means when you do a major project, digging up sewers, demolishing a house, whatever it might be, you got to make sure that you're doing a rat mitigation," Stapleton stated.
Jessica, a resident who was at the forum, explained she has lived in the Falls for most of her life and has never once heard of a rat problem until recently. She says she should be spending her money on things like her family, not pest control.
"My one side, I have a neighbor who has a home, but then on my other side, I have a parking lot that has a dumpster. Sometimes they don't like to cut their grass on that side, so that's what brought me in," said Jessica. "I don't want to have them in my house. They don't pay bills."
Many residents were quick to point the blame at Reworld, formerly known as Covanta, and claimed they're a major contributing factor to the rat population. However, Mayor Restaino says Reworld has daily inspections, and there's no evidence to suggest they're responsible.
"I haven't inspected Reworld. None of the other folks that are up here have inspected Reworld, and when I brought to the attention of the Department of Environmental Conservation, they're the people who I would expect to have a determination on whether or not there was something that that company was doing. I can only rely on what they tell me," Restaino stated. "I can look them in the face and say, 'You're full of wind.' It still doesn't change the fact that their position is it isn't that space."
Reworld released a statement that says, "While we are not responsible for the problem, we are fully committed to being a part of the solution."
Stephanie Signorelli, a resident who has been at the forefront of the rat fight in LaSalle, says it's difficult for her to believe them.
"The fact that that same company is constantly saying that they're a pillar in the community, but yet they burned firefighter foam in our community at their plant off of 56th Street. That firefighter foam is so dangerous that it can cause cancer, infertility, thyroid issues," Signorelli stated. "So forgive me when someone says to me that they're wanting to be community partners, I don't believe that."