SHE’S AN ICON. SHE’S A LEGEND, AND SHE IS THE MOMENT. 

GOOD NEWS

“A Goat is Tied to the Stairwell in My Building” –  Did you know? 311 turned 20 years old this year! The city’s complaint hotline celebrated over 525 million reports since its launch in 2003. Tap the link to read some of the funniest complaints the city has seen.

NYPD Arrests Robbery Suspects in Hell’s Kitchen – Last summer, robberies, and drug deaths rocked the gay community in and around nightclubs in Hell’s Kitchen. The suspects were caught after they drugged the victims and Cashapped thousands of dollars to themselves.

BAD NEWS

Rent Is On The Rise-  If you’re looking for an apartment…you should start saving now. The average rent in Manhattan is up 10% compared to last year. Exp: a studio apartment costs $3,268 compared to $2,896 last year. A 1 bedroom is $4,269 compared to $3,885. Roommates are still cool, right?

GIVE US THE SCOOP

2.  WHO IS THE RAT CZAR OF NEW YORK CITY?

All ye rats, bow down to the rat Czar!!
 
FAMOUS RATS IN NEW YORK CITY CULTURE
First, there was Splinter, the mutant rat and martial arts sensei of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Then came the infamous Pizza Rat in 2015, a real-life rat dragging a full-size slice of pizza down the stairs at the West 4th station. But today? In 2023? We are here to talk about this generation’s newest icon…The Rat Czar. 
 
WHO IS THE RAT CZAR?
While rats have always been synonymous with NYC (sadly), the number of rat sitings has skyrocketed since the Pandemic. In 2020, the city saw about 16 K complaints; in 2022, the city saw 26 K! 
 
Last November, Mayor Eric Adams announced a viral job posting for NYC’s first-ever Rat Czar. The role would be tasked with working with city agencies to reduce the number of rats. You may have seen other initiatives like rat-proof bins and trash pick-ups no earlier than 8 pm.
 
The Rat Czar is Kathleen Corradi, a sustainability expert who beat out 900 applicants for the role. As a former director at the NYC Department of Education, she developed the city’s Zero Waste Schools initiative to reduce waste…and rodents!
 
ARE RATS A SIGN OF THE TIMES?
While the concept of a rat czar is funny…the reality isn’t. 
 
According to NY’s Chief of Staff, Camille Joseph Varlack, “Rats are more than just a quality-of-life issue – they are a symbol of systemic issues that for too long have plagued New Yorkers, particularly low-income and communities of color.”
 
Rats indicate that the city struggles with essential social services – from sanitation to education to housing, parks, and even schools. The first initiative will occur in Harlem, dispersing over $3.5 million across six city agencies to mitigate rodents.

OH HEY, HELLO, ciaooo! 

3.  DISCOVER YOUR FAVORITE NEW ARTIST AT THE CLIO ART FAIR

Want to discover the next big artist? Dubbed the “Anti Fair for Independent Artists,” the Clio Art Fair showcases independent artists without exclusive gallery representation in NYC.
 
It is held biannually in May and September. The fair is known for its democratic approach to art and emphasis on showcasing artists from various backgrounds and styles. The fair is named after Clio, the Greek Muse of History and Poetry, and is intended to give artists a platform to create a legacy through their work.
 
Location:
Clio Art Fair 
Free – $20
May 18-21, 2023
550 West 29th st.
New York, NY 10001

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ciaooo! is an NYC based editorial site, newsletter, and events company. We're the local's guide to conquering NYC. Follow us on Instagram @ciaooomag for the latest. Nice to see you here!

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