That’s Mr. Howard Marder, public information officer for the New York City Housing Authority.
What I can tell you is that the revised year-end number for 2007 of all bed bug complaints was 1,720 and that our Chief Exterminator says that in his experience about 70% of cases reported there is actual infestation.
Well.
Let’s play bed bug math, shall we?
That’s an estimate of at least 1,204 bed bug infestations in New York City public housing in fiscal year 2007 alone.
Public housing tenants vs. private residential tenants, complaints vs. violations, 311 vs. a centralized maintenance call center, HPD vs. NYCHA stats… it’s all squishy to WashPo.
We need a “New York City Bed Bugs 101” course for journalists!
I wanted to write about other things for you tonight but now I have to go write a letter to the Post. Wish us luck!
PS: Yes, we noticed the Chief Exterminator part. We’ll have to revisit that in a future post.
These pages may be of related interest:
Yes, I noticed the Chief Exterminator part too. I’ve also wondered if the NYC Dept. of Health and Mental Hygiene employs an entomologist and an exterminator. I’ve nosed around on DOH website and came up with nothing.
Pingback: The Case of the Incredibly Squishy Bed Bug Stats « New York vs Bed Bugs
Pingback: Make it right, WashPo! « New York vs Bed Bugs
NYCHA is a liar. We complained in 2007 about RATS and mice and we had to get rid of them ourselves. If any urine or feces had got into our bloodstream or through a cut in our hands, we would be sick for life – liver damage,etc.
NYCHA also won’t provide heat and hot water for all tenants and play a gaslighting game. NYCHA is corrupt to the highest degree.