NYC's rat czar, Kathleen Corradi, resigns Oct. 10, 2025, ending efforts to reduce the city's 3 million rats amid mixed results and uncertainty over her replacement.

New York City’s rat czar, Kathleen Corradi, has resigned effective October 10, 2025, ending a high-profile role created in 2023 to combat the city’s estimated 3 million rats. Appointed by Mayor Eric Adams, Corradi led initiatives including public awareness campaigns, improved 311 response times, and experimental strategies like rat birth control. While city officials report a decline in rat sightings—over 15% year-to-date and a 24% drop in 311 calls in January—experts and residents remain skeptical. Her departure, without a public replacement, raises questions about the future of the city’s rodent control efforts, despite ongoing programs like containerization and continued political emphasis on the issue.