City’s First Mouse Steps Down Amid Rat War

The general of Hisoner has seemingly surrendered in his ongoing battle against the Ratt by waving a white flag.

In a surprising move, Kathleen Colady, the city’s first mouse, decided to resign from her position, which had a hefty annual salary of $176,000.

Mayor Eric Adams’ office announced that Colady will continue her role but will “serve the city in a different capacity.”

“When I appointed Kathy Coradi to this historic and unique position, I believed she possessed the will and expertise to manage our city’s challenges,” Adams said. “It’s a tough job, but she approached it with confidence and creativity.”

City Hall officials are assessing the next steps regarding potential changes in positions. However, a spokesperson assured that the role will be sustained with “some level of competence,” thanks to Colady’s initiatives.

As Mayor Adams approaches the end of his first term and runs as an independent candidate, his chances for reelection look slim. He trails Democratic candidate Zoran Mamdani and others in the crowded race.

If Mamdani wins, it remains uncertain if he would appoint a new Rat Emperor.

Reports indicate that Colady had been instrumental in rolling out new initiatives to tackle the city’s estimated 3 million rats, such as birth control schemes and a “rat walk” across the five boroughs, focusing on designated “rat mitigation zones.”

The city is also re-evaluating its waste management policies, known to attract the four-legged invaders. Earlier this year, a fine was introduced, emphasizing stricter measures for larger buildings by 2026 and requiring garbage containerization for certain properties with up to nine residential units.

As part of a pilot program, the unique “Empire Bins” have begun appearing in Harlem, causing frustration among locals due to the reduction of available parking spaces.

During her time in office, rat sightings reportedly decreased by 4.13% overall from 2022 to 2024, but in the designated rat mitigation areas, reports showed a more consistent decline, with residents in Crown Heights citing 145 sightings.

However, some other zones, like Bronx CB-4, indicated a rise in rat sightings this year, reporting an alarming 311 cases, significantly higher than 2022’s total of 546 and the previous high of 482 from 2024.

Former Governor Andrew Cuomo, now running as an independent for mayor, mentioned through a spokesperson that the campaign hasn’t finalized its stance on rat policies.

A spokesperson noted that Cuomo supports initiatives like garbage containerization.

Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa also commented, suggesting he had offered solutions for the city’s rat problem, stating, “Eric Adams has let the rats take over the city.”

“Now, his rat emperor is leaving a crisis at City Hall, while New Yorkers navigate through trash and pests. If I were in charge, I would invest in actual rat-fighting efforts rather than flashy titles.”

The Mamdani campaign has yet to respond to requests for comments.