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August 16, 2011
Atlantic Yards developers hand out rat-proof trash cans to neighbors besieged by rodents
NY Daily News
by Kevin Deutsch
Developers of the rat-plagued Atlantic Yards project began doling out free rodent-proof trash cans yesterday to their vermin-weary neighbors.
Forest City Ratner supplied the heavy-duty, high-necked cans after years of complaints from Prospect Heights residents. Locals claim demolition work at the site unleashed an army of furry pests onto their streets - and the only ones happy are the cats.
"I'm glad they're finally giving us these cans, but my cat's been bringing home rats in his mouth since 2007," said Alan Rotthar, 47, who lives across from the future Nets arena. "The rats have been our neighbors ever since excavation began that year. They're in our cars and homes."
...Joe DePlasco, a spokesman for Forest City Ratner, said the cans are part of a larger effort to expel the vermin. "Anything we can do to help fight the problem, we will try to do," he said, adding that the company will give out hundreds of cans this week.
Apparently, some residents aren't convinced by Forest City's platitudes, as this commenter writes:
Nice puff piece. It took loud persistent complaining for RATner to do anything about this. yet it has been happening for years. It should have read after persistent community complaining FCR has finally taken a baby step on this problem.
Posted by eric at August 16, 2011 10:34 AM