Live from New York – it’s Rat Night!

A frustrated tenant from Brooklyn is taking matters into his own hands as he deals with a rat infestation in his Crown Heights apartment. Adam Schlesser has set up a live stream to showcase the nightly activities of these unwelcome guests, hoping to motivate his landlord to take action.

For the past two weeks, Schlesser has been broadcasting from his kitchen ceiling, capturing images of rodents scurrying across the beams of the six-unit building where he lives, which is part of the Brooklyn Jewish Hospital complex.

“They’re just there,” he remarked to a news outlet. “You can hear them moving around, even making noises.” He noted how strange it is to now have cameras to monitor their behavior—sometimes they’re in a scuffle, while at other times, they sit silently like they’re contemplating something profound.

Back in 2016, his landlord, Almarialti—led by a prominent billionaire—brought in 13 pest control teams to tackle the issue that started escalating in October 2024. Yet Schlesser feels the problem has only worsened.

This week, during a visit by reporters, the sounds of scratching and creaking were evident in his bathroom, prompting him to leave a box of baking soda outside to help with the foul odor. Schlesser claims that the exterminators routinely inject poison into holes in his ceiling and leave without ensuring a thorough fix.

Struggling with insomnia due to constant noise from the rats, Schlesser has creatively turned his frustrations into music. He composed a song titled “I Am A Rat,” which he has mixed with ambient sound, broadcasting during his live feed. He achieved this by inserting a camera into a small ceiling opening and connecting it to Wi-Fi.

“It’s maddening,” he shared. “Sleepless nights, earplugs, noise machines…it’s just overwhelming.” The rat issue isn’t a solitary struggle; he’s heard from other residents who have sent him photos and documents revealing similar experiences.

In January, Schlesser started connecting with other tenants via WhatsApp, and 26 from different units reported they were facing the same dilemma—rats creeping along walls and even invading apartments.

The building is linked underground to a tunnel system; consequently, many residents, including Schlesser, share walls with the nearby Neptune Diner.

“I’m not just looking after myself,” he explained. “I’m fighting for all of us here, and it feels like a second job.”

Almarialti defended their efforts to tackle pest issues, attributing the recent surge in rodent sightings to significant construction work in the area. In a public statement, the company emphasized they started a “multi-tiered plan” in early 2025 focused on daily inspections and sealing potential entry points.

They claimed the complex has consistently met city health standards over the last two decades. The company suggested that the spike in sightings could be linked to construction along the nearby transportation line and new developments across the street. They also noted that just one tenant out of 700 is withholding rent.

However, official inspections have raised some eyebrows. During a recent visit to one apartment, inspectors found violations related to rat activity. This included two additional issues found in the garbage compactor area.

Management companies have faced backlash in recent years for hiring contractors with problematic histories. In 2023, the city filed a lawsuit against Almarialti for the mismanagement of 13 other properties, seeking accountability for unresolved pest issues.

Alana Gaymon, another tenant from a different building in the same complex, has also noticed rodents in her walls for a year. “I’m living a life of sleep deprivation,” she shared, explaining that they’re often running above her bed.

“They just keep closing the holes, administering poison, and then they come back a week later. It’s not working,” she added. At the time of speaking, she had just left Housing Court due to a rat-related complaint.

“I told the judge that rats are nocturnal. They can’t see them during the day.” Gaymon echoed others’ frustrations, insisting that management downplays the severity of the problem.

“When I brought up Adam’s situation, they laughed at me, saying no one else complains,” she reported. “They know, but refuse to acknowledge it.”

On the other hand, Almarialti maintains that their pest control strategies comply with health department guidelines, and they argue that complaints about rats in their building are part of a broader citywide issue.

For Schlesser, his livestream serves as a constant reminder of the unsettling reality of cohabitating with these rodents. Back in February, he decided to withhold his rent, leading to a payment dispute in March, but frustrated tenants feel there’s little they can do.

“This is extreme. It affects everything—relationships, even seeing family,” Schlesser said. “But standing up for what’s right is crucial.”