We believe strongly that the insect should not be allowed to crawl over children while they are sleeping. We took the position two years ago that (bedbugs) are a public health crisis.
-Chris Eddy, Environmental Health Director, Hamilton County, Ohio
The Cincinnati Post, September 6, 2007
Cincinnati established a Bedbug Remediation Commission in September 2007. A combined city of Cincinnati/Hamilton County bed bug task force is reviewing a draft report this month. There are a number of measures already taken and more ambitious initiatives forthcoming.
In November 2007, Toronto City Councillor Paula Fletcher asked the Board of Health to “direct the Medical Officer of Health and Public Health staff to investigate measures to deal with the spread of bed bugs.” Toronto established an Action Committee in February.
These cities are working hard and tapping smart and talented people to come up with sensible solutions and strategies.
New York City is not without smarts and talent and caring! City Council member Gale Brewer proposed bed bug legislation as early as 2005.
But we haven’t supported Ms. Brewer’s and other council members’ efforts in sufficient numbers. We haven’t asked for help. Not enough of us.
When we have bed bugs, we are exhausted and barely functioning. If we are lucky enough to get rid of them, we are anxious to return to our lives and move on.
We understand that. We’ve lived it and we know exactly what it’s like.
But we have no committee, no task force, no commission.
And the bed bugs are winning. If you doubt it, you haven’t been following the news.
Our RSS feed. If you're in NYC, check out our bed bug task force campaign. And, hey, we hope you don't have them (anymore, ever).
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Hi, do you really think that City Goverment cares about us? I don’t think so, take a look what is our NYC looks like? A big junk yard-not a capital of the world, maybe junk yard of the world. So bed bugs have found a paradise here. One of the solution - just don’t vote for them anymore (I mean City Goverment). But establish a task force is a good idea, why not-we have to do some thing, otherwice we all be eaten by them (by both of them, literally). Clean our city and make it again beautifull NYC.
Hi Alex,
I guess the short answer would be no, I don’t think they care.
However, when it comes to politicians, (I’m told) they care about what their constituents tell them to care about, most of the time. Based on this premise, we think that if New Yorkers, in sufficient numbers, demand that action be taken on the issue of bedbugs, they will have no choice but to take action, no matter how much they wish they didn’t have to, because the issues are so complex and a reasonable policy can’t possibly be advanced without money.
That said, I would lie if I didn’t say that I’m not so sure anymore that this will happen. I’m losing confidence that there will be sufficient outcry to force their hand.
Still. We’re not giving up on this perhaps quixotic effort. We’re hoping to get lucky. And doing something feels better than doing nothing.
Thanks for your comment. Please, ahem, write to your council person.
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