DOHMH outlines rat-mitigation work in Greenwich and West Village; residents press for more on-the-ground abatement

Martha Renaza, who leads outreach and education for the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) Pest Control Services, told Manhattan Community Board 2 on a virtual call that the department enforces the New York City Health Code Article 151.02 and focuses on inspections, case management and outreach to reduce rat activity in identified problem areas.

DOHMH officials said they conduct proactive inspections in higher‑burden “rat mitigation zones” and smaller, concentrated “reservoirs,” and that property owners who fail an initial inspection receive a commissioner’s order followed by a compliance inspection. "We promote healthy and safe environment for New Yorkers," Renaza said. If violations persist after a compliance visit, the property owner on record receives a summons to the city’s Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH). Fines at OATH range from $300 to $2,000, officials said.

The DOHMH presentation included local statistics for calendar year…