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Joey Merlino Will Be Thrilled to Know That Philadelphia Has Appointed a “Rat Abatement Manager”
Published:
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — The city of Philadelphia is trying to tackle its rat problem.
Officials announced on Wednesday that long-time Health Department employee Adrian Jordan will now serve as Philadelphia’s first-ever Rat Abatement Manager.
Jordan will be tasked with ensuring emerging and existing issues with rats are prioritized and addressed promptly, officials say.
Part of this effort will include door-to-door surveys in parts of the lower Northeast, including Oxford Circle and Castor Gardens to hear community concerns.
Officials say the surveys will help them identify rat problems, even when no complaint has been filed. They say this will also allow them to promptly act to address the issue and provide practical guidance for residents on steps they can take to help reduce rats in their neighborhood.
“I’ve worked to fight rats in Philadelphia for more than twenty years, and I am looking forward to being able to work directly with colleagues from departments across the City to ensure that we are properly prioritizing this,” Jordan said.
This is great! We’ve long needed an official rat catcher in Philadelphia. We need fewer tax abatements, and more rat abatements! Am I right or am I right? <rimshot>
But for real, these rats are everywhere and they come in all shapes and sizes. Some can be found in the kitchens of Philadelphia restaurants, or lurking in our sewers. Others walk around wearing Dallas Cowboys jerseys. There are also rats who go and speak to the cops. The cooperator and informant types.
That was actually my first thought when I heard this story. I thought, “you know who hates rats more than anybody in Philadelphia? Joey Merlino!” He’s gotta be thrilled with this news, because “if you cooperate, you’re a rat and that’s final” –
They wrote:
Earlier this month, Terminix, a pest control company with 300 branches nationwide, released a list of the top 50 cities with the most rats and mice, based on the company’s data on where homeowners needed rodent services most often in 2025. Philadelphia ranked third place, behind Los Angeles and New York.
Other cities that made the top 10 include San Francisco, Houston, Chicago, Washington, Boston, Dallas and Detroit.
According to the company, these cities have ideal conditions that attract these rodents, including large populations, plenty of food and many places to hide.
Kevin has been writing about Philadelphia sports since 2009. He spent seven years in the CBS 3 sports department and started with the Union during the team's 2010 inaugural season. He went to the academic powerhouses of Boyertown High School and West Virginia University. email - k.kinkead@sportradar.com