Eric Adams fined for rats in his building

New York City Mayor Eric Adams attended a virtual court hearing on Dec. 6 to challenge the fine. The trial was linked to a rat infestation on his property in Brooklyn. New York Times.

Adams went to the city administrative court to challenge the decision of the New York health inspector. He fined Adams $300 for having rats in the mayor's building in Brooklyn, which he rents out. The mayor began by stating that he was “somewhat of an expert in rat control,” giving a brief description of his efforts to control rodents in the city after he was elected mayor of New York.

Adams added that he spent almost $7000 in March fighting rats at his Lafayette Avenue building (he confirmed this by showing the relevant invoices). Finally, the mayor noted that city laws "are designed to punish homeowners for failing to take measures to prevent and control rodents," and he is taking such measures and "intends to continue to do so."

The bailiff said he would review the evidence and issue a verdict within 30 days.

On the subject: Several dogs died due to rat poison on the streets of New York: residents are asked to be careful

Adams vs. agenda rats

During his first year as mayor, Adams made the extermination of rats the centerpiece of his political agenda. Last week, he announced the creation of a new position in the city administration - "rodent control director." Her, according to vacancy announcement, should take a person with "killer instinct".

But it seems that the mayor himself could not cope with what he requires from the residents. On May 10, a health inspector subpoenaed Adams for violating sanitation laws at his building on Lafayette Avenue. Describing the breach, she wrote, "There are signs of rat activity in that fresh rat droppings are near the counters and near the stairs." Fines for such violations range from $300 to $600.

Adams decided to simply ignore the inspector. At first, he did not respond to the summons, and then did not appear at the court session scheduled under this summons. The Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings found Adams violating the subpoena. The mayor did not spend money on a private lawyer and entrusted his defense to Rahul Agarwal, deputy general counsel at the mayor's office. Agarwal filed a motion to dismiss the subpoena and vacate the violation because Adams allegedly “did not become aware of the subpoena until September 1 because he now lives in the Gracie mansion, the mayor’s residence on the Upper East Side,” and not in the building on Lafayette Avenue.

This motion was granted and a new hearing has been scheduled for November 10. But Adams again failed to appear in court. Agarwal said that "problems with the schedule" prevented the mayor from attending the meeting.

The mayor was finally able to get to court on 6 December.

Adams' property on Lafayette Avenue received attention during the 2021 Democratic primary. Adams was often asked about his place of residence, claiming that he does not even live in New York. Then he offered journalists a tour of the apartment in the basement of the building on Lafayette Avenue, saying that this was his main place of residence. Then the rats were not noticed there.