New York City’s first “rat czar” has stepped down from her post, more than two years after Mayor Eric Adams recruited her to tackle the city’s rodent problems.
Kathleen Corradi quietly left the position last week, The City first reported, after spearheading a measurable decline in rat sightings across the five boroughs.
Adams confirmed her departure in a statement Wednesday, praising her for handling the “daunting, complex task” with “confidence and creativity.”
The city has seen eight straight months of declines in rodent sightings, as well as a year-to-date drop of more than 15%, he said.
Corradi will “still be working to serve the city in a different capacity,” the mayor noted, without providing details.
“Our communities are cleaner than ever, and cities from across the globe are interested in her one-of-a-kind role and our city’s success,” he said.
Appointed in April 2023 as the city’s official “director of rodent mitigation,” Corradi came to the role with a background in biology and urban sustainability — and was tasked with leading one of the city’s most high-profile quality-of-life battles.
Her appointment was the first of its kind in the country, drawing both headlines and curiosity from residents long frustrated by overflowing trash and scurrying rodents. Her team focused on stricter trash rules, improved street cleaning and a data-driven approach to rodent control.
Adams said the city’s “war on rats” will press ahead “at full steam,” with the Department of Sanitation and other agencies leading the charge to make New York cleaner and healthier.