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Scientists allege their work is being reduced under President Trump, while Wisconsin Catholic Charities believes they should be exempt from their state’s unemployment system.
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New York City prepares to roll out rat birth control
New York City’s seemingly eternal war on rats took an unexpected and welcome turn on Thursday night when City Council members voted in favour of pilot programs using contraceptive bait to reduce rodent populations.
Proponents of the program claim it is designed to be both humane and effective. Beginning next month, ContraPest bait pellets containing an anticoagulant that destroys female rats’ ovarian follicles while impeding male sperm production will be distributed throughout rat reservoir zones in San Francisco. City health officials will monitor them to ensure accurate use. The bait contains an ingredient which dissolves their ovarian follicles while inhibiting males’ sperm production – two key goals of control in San Francisco’s anticoagulant campaign against rats.
Mayor Eric Adams has made eliminating vermin a priority of his administration, hiring a “rat czar” and mandating that businesses switch from stinky garbage bags to European-style containers. Last year, a Rat Academy was launched to educate residents in this fight; but even after years of poison, traps, and dry ice treatments, SenesTech, a pest control firm estimates there are now three million rats living within city limits.
Contraception could provide the city a breakthrough in its battle against rodents, according to Sanitation Committee Chair Albert Abreu. Abreu has been working with Loretta Mayer who developed contraceptive bait. Mayer tested it on her own mice and cats and has proven its efficacy.
Auto tariffs kick in
This week’s 25% auto tariffs are expected to bring car prices tumbling. According to Ivan Drury of Edmunds research firm, they will increase all costs related to owning and driving a vehicle — from its initial purchase cost through maintenance costs and repairs as well as insurance premiums as companies pass along their increased expenses to consumers.
Some automakers will be able to mitigate the costs of new tariffs by moving their supply chains back into the United States, although that won’t always work. According to government data, a high proportion of parts that go into American cars come from other countries; this will hit GM, Ford and Toyota particularly hard due to their large amounts of imported components compared with companies such as Tesla who produce their own vehicles.
Michigan business groups have strongly urged President Trump to reverse his plans for tariffs on autos and parts, saying the measure will lead to price spikes and supply-chain disruptions that could negatively impact Michigan. “The impact in our state, where one in five jobs are tied to automotive production would be significant,” wrote Detroit Regional Chamber and MichAuto in their letter addressed directly to him. This pain would not only be felt among hardworking Michigan families but across the entire nation.
New York City’s 2025 mayoral race
The 2025 mayor’s race is taking shape. So far, City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams is making serious headway in her bid for office; she represents an alternative approach that could shake up both Mr. Adams and Mr. Cuomo in terms of progressive politics and primary support.
The city is in financial difficulty. Homeless numbers are increasing while living costs skyrocket – this may make balancing its budget increasingly challenging without significant federal assistance. Any candidate winning this race must provide a plan for dealing with these obstacles.
Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo is among those running for mayor, and has already attracted endorsements from city unions as a tough-on-crime Democrat who can restore law and order. Other candidates who may not be as widely recognized but still have strong labor ties include City Comptroller Scott Stringer who leads fund-raising for labor candidates while Zellnor Myrie of Brooklyn State Senate represents labor interests as does Jessica Ramos of Colombian origin whose community organizations she was involved with while actively campaigning against Iraq War and LGBTQ rights campaigns.
