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NYC's new rat-killing weapon is wildly successful – for now

businessinsider.com

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Re: NYC's new rat-killing weapon is wildly successful – for now

#71

Post by woodruffw »

sschueller wrote: post #30
otoburb wrote: post #5

>> [...] a lot of people don't want to give up street parking spots for garbage containers. This is an understatement. A New Yorker with a car that doesn't/can't pay the monthly indoor garage fees will fight tooth and nail for street parking.

Solutions exist[1] that provide a very large trash storage with little above ground space. [1] https://www.villiger.com/en/products#underground-systems

This doesn't necessarily preclude them, but a thing to note about underground utilization in NYC: the city has absolutely no idea what's beneath its surface, in part due to centuries of development with nonexistent or inaccurate recordkeeping.

Burying trash receptacles rather than reusing parking spaces may be cheaper, but it isn't guaranteed. It may also vary by borough (Queens in particular has less underground infrastructure).

Re: NYC's new rat-killing weapon is wildly successful – for now

#72

Post by logicalmonster »

Ericson2314 wrote: post #47
otoburb wrote: post #5

>> [...] a lot of people don't want to give up street parking spots for garbage containers. This is an understatement. A New Yorker with a car that doesn't/can't pay the monthly indoor garage fees will fight tooth and nail for street parking.

Fuck cars. Everyone street parking in NYC is a "rat breeder", simple as. It's on their hands.

Good for you if you never need a car, but other people need cars for work and family needs. What do you propose that they do?

Re: NYC's new rat-killing weapon is wildly successful – for now

#73

Post by stavros »

djtango wrote: post #39
lalaland1125 wrote: post #2

The real solution is quite simple: trash cans The reason why NYC has such a rat epidemic is because they literally throw their trash bags on the street. Which leads to some getting ripped open and leaving food for pests.

I walked past a giant trash bin in Singapore one night and there were literally 10+ rats shuffling around inside it and I could hear it shaking and banging. Singapore has no litter problem (but the heat and humidity probably makes the trash more delicious smelling) but the rats can find their way into anything...

This is very "if it's not perfect, it's not worth doing".

Re: NYC's new rat-killing weapon is wildly successful – for now

#75

Post by kibwen »

FFP999 wrote: post #68
kibwen wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And yet Boston's MBTA is still one of the top 5 best transit systems in the country, which is saying something. (Fun fact: Boston's red/orange/blue lines are also the most cost-efficient transit system in the US, as measured by farebox recovery ratio.)

The T's FRR is the highest in the country: all of 30% or so. So it doesn't come close to giving acceptable service _or_ paying for itself. The basic problem with the T is that it's a state agency. By which I mean, it depends on the support of the entire Massachusetts legislature, and if you are a legislator representing a district in western Mass, funding the T is a hard sell. Your constituents are going to be worrie…

> The T's FRR is the highest in the country: all of 30% or so.

According to the Federal Transit Administration, the Boston subway has a FRR of 74%. This is not the entire MBTA, which would also include things like the bus service (it should not be a surprise to anyone that trains are more efficient than buses).

I'm not disagreeing with you on the premise that the state has mismanaged the T and that it should be turned over to a municipal agency, only that the situation is not quite as dire as it seems. Most other cities in the US would be over the moon if they had Boston-level transit (which, again, is saying something about how poorly the US has managed its transit infrastructure).

Re: NYC's new rat-killing weapon is wildly successful – for now

#76

Post by cpfohl »

peter422 wrote: post #40
cpfohl wrote: post #28

I'm confused what dry ice has to do with carbon monoxide...they lost me there...

Dry ice sublimates into CO2 which also suffocates the rats as CO2 is heavier than air and will fill up a burrow, taking away all the oxygen.

Sure, although the article talks about monoxide…thus my confusion. It’s also a much less pleasant way to go: this is an “as I understand it” to be clear; carbon monoxide binds to your hemoglobin better than oxygen, but your bloodstream doesn’t build up carbon dioxide (which is what causes that panicky “I need a breath” feeling). Adding CO2 accelerates that feeling…

Re: NYC's new rat-killing weapon is wildly successful – for now

#77

Post by FFP999 »

kibwen wrote: post #75
FFP999 wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The T's FRR is the highest in the country: all of 30% or so. So it doesn't come close to giving acceptable service _or_ paying for itself. The basic problem with the T is that it's a state agency. By which I mean, it depends on the support of the entire Massachusetts legislature, and if you are a legislator representing a district in western Mass, funding the T is a hard sell. Your constituents are going to be worrie…

> The T's FRR is the highest in the country: all of 30% or so. According to the Federal Transit Administration, the Boston subway has a FRR of 74%. This is not the entire MBTA, which would also include things like the bus service (it should not be a surprise to anyone that trains are more efficient than buses). I'm not disagreeing with you on the premise that the state has mismanaged the T and that it should be turne…

That one's on me for not reading more carefully. But my basic point is, public transit is a lousy way to make money, and if that's something you emphasize, it's neither going to make money nor give good service.

I'm reminded of some Terry Pratchett book about the Ankh-Morpork opera, in which the new owner of the opera house asks how they make money, and the manager says they don't--you make money other ways so that you can have things like the opera.

Re: NYC's new rat-killing weapon is wildly successful – for now

#78

Post by jareklupinski »

otoburb wrote: post #5

>> [...] a lot of people don't want to give up street parking spots for garbage containers. This is an understatement. A New Yorker with a car that doesn't/can't pay the monthly indoor garage fees will fight tooth and nail for street parking.

> A New Yorker with a car

this is an oxymoron

we just borrow other peoples' cars / use taxis

Re: NYC's new rat-killing weapon is wildly successful – for now

#79

Post by cantSpellSober »

otoburb wrote: post #67
cantSpellSober wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The Daily Mail?! Surely we can do a little better https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-63837306 https://www.npr.org/2023/04/14/1170120247/nyc-rat-czar-kathl...

As much as it pained me, the only news (sic) outlet that I could find displaying a full copy of the actual text of the job posting in its full glory was The Daily Mail.

hah fair enough :)

Re: NYC's new rat-killing weapon is wildly successful – for now

#80

Post by Hikikomori »

notjustanymike wrote: post #8
lalaland1125 wrote: post #2

The real solution is quite simple: trash cans The reason why NYC has such a rat epidemic is because they literally throw their trash bags on the street. Which leads to some getting ripped open and leaving food for pests.

Trash cans aren't viable because of shortcomings in our infrastructure; we don't have alleyways. Large apartment buildings use dumpsters or basement trash rooms, but you can't exactly cart those out on to the sidewalk. Street side pickup is the only option barring rebuilding the city, and a garbage man isn't picking up an entire trash can. Having a truck pick up the garbage can would also encounter issues with space…

Can also put them underground, they're getting popular here. Truck has a crane and just lifts them up.
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