Rat Hysteria Takes Another
Health inspectors have [shut down Johns Pizzeria] on Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village, a move some blame on their KFC-Taco Bell neighbor, which several news outlets revealed to be infested with rats on Feb. 23a day after it had passed inspection. A sign in the window listed several improvements the restaurant will have to make before reopening, like installing sinks closer to the pizza-making area and placing proper lids on garbage cans in the restrooms. The only mandatory upgrade that seems to be targeting rats is the need to seal cracks in the basement floor. Click [here](http://www.johnsofbleeckerstreet.com/) to see what youre missing during the interim when Johns is closed.
Also in response to KFC-Taco Bellgate, several rogue pioneers in the restaurant industry are pushing the city to consider [allowing garbage disposals] to be installed in restaurant kitchens. Nearly 10 years ago, Mayor Rudy Giuliani lifted a ban on the hand-hacking devices in homes, but no such luck for restaurateurs. The New York Sun explains, "The New York Department of Environmental Protection has opposed the idea, saying it would increase the amount of nitrogen in the sewer system and become an environmental hazard." But some point out that garbage disposals provide a quick way to get rid of food scraps before rats can sniff them out.
Photo courtesy of [wallyg on Flickr ]