Welcome back to our weekly update that highlights some of the cases appearing on 311 in the North End/Waterfront neighborhoods. All 311 cases are public information and can be found at 311.boston.gov.
“The traffic signal on Endicott st. Is ridiculous. You have to sit through 3 light cycles just to get off my road because it allows maximum 2 cars through at a time. There weren’t any problems before the city added this light. Now traffic on Endicott and North Washington is awful at all times.”
The original 311 post can be found here. This case was submitted and opened on November 4th, 2017. It was then closed on December 8th, 2017 with the following message: “Closed with status: Case Resolved. Timings have been adjusted.”
Rats Living in Front of the North End Library
“New rats have moved into the front garden beds at the North End Library on both the far front left and front right of the building. One ran up the side of the brick building.”
The original 311 post can be found here. This case was submitted and opened on December 7th, 2017. As of December 15th, 2017 the case is still open.
222 North Street Lamp Post Needs A New Bulb
“Lamp bulb is out.”
The original 311 post can be found here. This case was submitted and opened on December 10th, 2017. As of December 15th, 2017, the case is still unresolved.
Remember, to report a claim with 311, you can call 311, go to the 311 website, tweet at 311, or download the app. What do you think about these 311 cases? Follow our “What’s The 311?” tag to see past week’s postings!
Rats are not just living in front of the Library. These rats are all over the entire No. End. The more restaurants the
more rats. Think about it, if you were a Rat, why would you ever leave the No. End with over 100 restaurants in
an extremely small area. You won’t have to travel that far to eat. The City is definitely not doing all it could
do to try to get rid of these rats. Rat traps should be everywhere there is a restaurant. We wouldn’t want to
scare the customers, but all traps can be put in their basements & in the back yards of every restaurant. When
the weather gets cold, they go in cars. They actually get the food bring it under the hoods of cars & eat it
there, the car becomes a winter condo for them. The rats actually nibble on car wires & the wires have to be
replaced because your car won’t start, very costly. Our streets are filthy, dog crap everywhere, which rats also
eat & why would anyone wonder why we have such a rat problem. NO ENFORCEMENT. People are paying
outrageous rents to live in a rat infested area. The fines are a joke & that is why we have had the same
ongoing problems for many, many years. It is every residents’ duty to report trash when it is NOT put out
during the City’s schedule hours, which has been a constant problem for years. (Absentee Landlords) People only get away with what you allow them to get away with. The rats can carry many diseases & the City’s
Lack of Enforcement, and their Joke Fines play a big part in this ongoing problem. Where there is a Will there is
always a Way.
Joan…I’m hoping you don’t vote for any of the incumbents if that is your opinion of the neighborhood. It’s a failing under our current representation so I’m hoping when you go to the polls, you/we vote out every current legislator and councilor.
They keep coming back, rats thirsting for a good read. Which night does the book club meet?
WE owners pay taxes
time for city officials to step up and enforce the laws of the North End
Gracie, You have that right. T. Mobile, don’t know where you are coming from, if it is sarcasm, we don’t
need it. We have major issues & the City lacks Enforcement.. These are the facts like them or not..
Actually, years ago I went to a NEWRA meeting where a guy from Beacon Hill did a presentation on how they solved their rat problem. Our fellow residents were incensed at the suggestion that there was a rat problem in the North End. His presentation was shut down and he never finished. An arrogant attitude comes at a cost and now it is time to pay.
As far as the guy got was to say that they solved the problem themselves. So personally I choose poisin. Place it where they live. It has done a good job as far as I can see. Whatdaya want, the mayor to come chase rats around the neighborhood? Maybe if people complain enough, they will commit suicide.
The city does what they can about rats. What more do you want them to do? There are rats in every big city and Boston is no exception. The North End is one of the safest neighborhoods in Boston. I think the city has taken care of us pretty well. Walk around downtown crossing at night and look at the rats down there if you think this is bad.
Truth be told, the NE has had a rodent problem since the ” big dig”
Big Jay, We are not talking about Safety, we are talking about ongoing trash problems & the City has not
done enough to prevent violators to stop them in their tracks. The fines are not high enough, they are a joke.
These problems don’t exist in all cities, there are other cities that go after violators & the fines are big enough to leave a
dent in these violators’ pockets & minds. Michael D We had problems before the Big Dig, no question about it,
but the Rats are running around in groups, not just one or two at a time. Most of the Landords made significant
improvements on their properties & have cleaned up quite a bit, but for those that live with restaurants in their
buildings, it might be an ongoing problem unless the restaurant is exterminating on a daily or weekly basis.
I have never seen so many rats in my life, like I am seeing now & I think there will be plenty of residents
that can attest to this. Ask those who live near sewers, the rats come up into their toilet bowls and I never
heard that when I was a kid. During the Fifties & Sixities Landlords did not take pride in the looks of their
buildings, some buildings looked condemned & rats were always present, but not like today. Why would
any rat leave the area, too much to chose from. These are my feelings & thoughts & nobody can convince me
otherwise. I had my car wires distroyed thanks to rats chewing on them. Where there is a Will, there is
always a Way, not enough Will. Rats are feasting off of Dog Crap, as well as Trash being put out improperly. Are we ever going to get rid of Rats for good, Never, but can there be significant improvements, you bet your
life there can.
T Mobile, Great Idea. Did the City do it, NO.
When I grew up at least the rats would scatter when a human would approach. These rats are bold + fearless ,you can even see them during daylight hours.I agree that the City could and should do more.The City promotes the NE as a must place to visit, the least they can do is keep the area clean and free of rats. Landlords and restaurants owners should do their share as well.Lets face it some residents who leave trash out also contribute to the problem.
Michael D, You have that right. I ll say it until the day I die, Absentee Landlords are the biggest problem down
here. Absentee Landlords think of their buildings as Cash Cows, nothing more, this is where the City is
suppose step up to the plate & very nicely informed them, if you want to own property in the City of Boston you
have to abide by the rules & if they don’t one hell of a stiff fine has to be given. People park illegally down
here & take resident spaces because it is the same cost to Park a Car. The Absentee Landlord pays the fines
& chalks it up, because they are not being shocked by the amount. This is so cut & dry, it’s not funny.
Why isn’t the City raising the cost of the fines? When you find out, please post it on this site. I can’t wait to
hear this poor excuse. People only get away with what you allow them to get away with, and that’s it in a
nut shell.
Channel 5 featured the NE rat problem on tonight’s news.