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'You hear them in the walls': Huge rats 'as big as cats' terrorise tenants

Tenants of a public housing complex say their apartments are being overrun with rats the size of cats – and they have the footage to prove it.

The housing project in the Bronx, New York, has more than just a small rodent problem.

“I should never have to experience not one but seven rats in my kitchen,” resident Veronica Martinez told CBS New York.

“It’s disgusting. All over the stove, the washing machine, they just invaded my apartment.”

Tenants of a New York housing project have filmed the rat infestation plaguing their building. Source: CBS New York
Tenants of a New York housing project have filmed the rat infestation plaguing their building. Source: CBS New York

Another unhappy tenant said his wife couldn’t sleep because “you hear them in the walls.”

Resident Asia Clemente said her one-year-old son was bitten by a rat, and now she’s calling for Mayor Bill de Blasio to fix the situation.

“If we’re paying you rent, we deserve to live like human beings, not live like savages, because we’re not,” she said.

Tenants have no option but to leave their garbage bags in the courtyard, which only attracts more rats.

“I should never have to experience not one but seven rats in my kitchen,” resident Veronica Martinez said. Source: CBS New York
“I should never have to experience not one but seven rats in my kitchen,” resident Veronica Martinez said. Source: CBS New York

A Bronx Council staff member, Vanessa Gibson, told CBS New York the Mayor needed to see the conditions for himself.

“Come and see how your residents, how our constituents, are living day to day,” she said.

“It’s not acceptable. You wouldn’t live like this.”

The New York City Housing Authority released a statement saying it would address the issue.

Tenants have called on the New York Mayor to come and see the situation for himself. Source: CBS New York
Tenants have called on the New York Mayor to come and see the situation for himself. Source: CBS New York