A Brazilian favela, Vila Nova Esperança, facing eviction, turned to environmental sustainability by creating a community garden, which fostered local involvement, improved living conditions, and gained recognition, helping residents resist displacement and promote urban greening.
New York City has appointed Kathleen Corradi as its first-ever "rat czar" to lead the city's rodent mitigation efforts. Corradi, a former elementary school teacher and land use expert, was chosen out of 900 applicants. The city also announced $3.5 million for rat mitigation in Harlem. Corradi promised to immediately take on litter, garbage, and food waste where rats thrive and will decide what new products the city should use to get rid of rats. The city's sanitation department previously announced an anti-rat measure to limit the amount of time trash bags sit on curbs.