Comments on: Washington, D.C. to have bed bug public education campaign (before NYC does) http://newyorkvsbedbugs.org/2009/01/29/washington-dc-to-have-bed-bug-public-education-campaign-before-nyc-does/ A bed bug policy advocacy group Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:38:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Renee Corea http://newyorkvsbedbugs.org/2009/01/29/washington-dc-to-have-bed-bug-public-education-campaign-before-nyc-does/comment-page-1/#comment-3911 Renee Corea Sun, 01 Feb 2009 05:45:11 +0000 http://newyorkvsbedbugs.org/?p=1648#comment-3911 This "understanding of shared responsibility" is something we very much want to see. And people, and agencies, assuming leadership. This “understanding of shared responsibility” is something we very much want to see. And people, and agencies, assuming leadership.

]]> By: sam bryks http://newyorkvsbedbugs.org/2009/01/29/washington-dc-to-have-bed-bug-public-education-campaign-before-nyc-does/comment-page-1/#comment-3901 sam bryks Sat, 31 Jan 2009 19:36:04 +0000 http://newyorkvsbedbugs.org/?p=1648#comment-3901 This is a great discussion about the difficulties of the accountability aspect of control of bed bugs in a multi-dwelling setting but it really applies to any pest that has capability of spreading in a building. For sompe pests, such as mice or rats, the point of entry is into the building directly from ground level .. such as mice and rats, therefore the landlord takes primary responsibilty to ensure that reasonable preventive measures are in place. This is very often overlooked but in the case of rodents, prevention is a lot cheaper than control when the infestation has spread to an entire building. In the case of bed bugs the entry is far more complex, but hte landlord can do a lot to help.. especially through education and reasonable precautionary measures such as appropriate disposal of infested items such as mattresses when that has happened (not always necessary to get rid of mattresses or other furniture). The difficulty of who is responsible and accuntable can create polarization and anger so easily. I think responsible landlords donot want to be labelled as "slum landlords" who do nothing, but they also don't want to be on the hook for the problem either. Responsibility for pest problems is shared, but ther is a need to educate landlords to understand, as most do I am sure, that an uresolved infestation hurts reputation and creates a lot of ill feeling, so investment in a good pest management program makes a whole lot of sense. This is a tough problem that involves municipal agencies both in terms of enforcement of by-laws, of support for citizens who need help such as seniors, or disadvantaged individuals or those who have physical or mental limitations, and the landlord needs to understand that it is not an issue of us against them, and tenants needs to understand this as well so if they work together and share responsibility, then the problem can be solved.. not easily.. but that is what it takes.. a joint effort, an understanding of shared responsibility, working with public agencies and hiring qualified competent pest control firms who understand IPM and what it is all about.. We call this IPM Chain of Accountability Program, and in my opionion, call it what you like, but this is what is needed to make things work, and the best success stories are based on this concept, even if sometimes the work is not given the label but happens from common sense of all.. of course the ostrich head in the sand is not going to solve the problem. The bed bugs interest is very narrow and focused and they will do what they do so long as they can.. and the cycle will continue until people work together using sensible approaches. Keep in mind, the reaction to treat an entire building from top to bottom is only a temporary stay from the problem.. it takes a sustained approach. This is a great discussion about the difficulties of the accountability aspect of control of bed bugs in a multi-dwelling setting but it really applies to any pest that has capability of spreading in a building. For sompe pests, such as mice or rats, the point of entry is into the building directly from ground level .. such as mice and rats, therefore the landlord takes primary responsibilty to ensure that reasonable preventive measures are in place. This is very often overlooked but in the case of rodents, prevention is a lot cheaper than control when the infestation has spread to an entire building. In the case of bed bugs the entry is far more complex, but hte landlord can do a lot to help.. especially through education and reasonable precautionary measures such as appropriate disposal of infested items such as mattresses when that has happened (not always necessary to get rid of mattresses or other furniture). The difficulty of who is responsible and accuntable can create polarization and anger so easily. I think responsible landlords donot want to be labelled as “slum landlords” who do nothing, but they also don’t want to be on the hook for the problem either. Responsibility for pest problems is shared, but ther is a need to educate landlords to understand, as most do I am sure, that an uresolved infestation hurts reputation and creates a lot of ill feeling, so investment in a good pest management program makes a whole lot of sense. This is a tough problem that involves municipal agencies both in terms of enforcement of by-laws, of support for citizens who need help such as seniors, or disadvantaged individuals or those who have physical or mental limitations, and the landlord needs to understand that it is not an issue of us against them, and tenants needs to understand this as well so if they work together and share responsibility, then the problem can be solved..
not easily.. but that is what it takes.. a joint effort, an understanding of shared responsibility, working with public agencies and hiring qualified competent pest control firms who understand IPM and what it is all about.. We call this IPM Chain of Accountability Program, and in my opionion, call it what you like, but this is what is needed to make things work, and the best success stories are based on this concept, even if sometimes the work is not given the label but happens from common sense of all..
of course the ostrich head in the sand is not going to solve the problem. The bed bugs interest is very narrow and focused and they will do what they do so long as they can.. and the cycle will continue until people work together using sensible approaches. Keep in mind, the reaction to treat an entire building from top to bottom is only a temporary stay from the problem.. it takes a sustained approach.

]]> By: nobugs http://newyorkvsbedbugs.org/2009/01/29/washington-dc-to-have-bed-bug-public-education-campaign-before-nyc-does/comment-page-1/#comment-3872 nobugs Thu, 29 Jan 2009 18:46:24 +0000 http://newyorkvsbedbugs.org/?p=1648#comment-3872 Thanks, Renee! The apparent inter-agency + non-governmental organization cooperation here is impressive, as is the enthusiasm for bed bugs by someone whose job wasn't already apparently defined as such (Gerard Brown). Thanks, Renee!

The apparent inter-agency + non-governmental organization cooperation here is impressive, as is the enthusiasm for bed bugs by someone whose job wasn’t already apparently defined as such (Gerard Brown).

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