Dec 12, 2024, 7:19 PM
Dec 12, 2024, 7:19 PM

Pittsburgh woman blames condemned house for her rodent infestation

Highlights
  • Debbie Joyce, a Pittsburgh resident, is facing a severe rodent infestation linked to a neighboring condemned home.
  • Despite her efforts to reach out to the local health department and city officials, her complaints have largely gone unanswered.
  • City Councilwoman Theresa Kail-Smith plans to advocate for the condemned property to be added to the land bank for quicker resolution.
Story

In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a woman named Debbie Joyce has been facing significant rodent issues linked to a neighboring house that has been condemned. Joyce has lived in her residence on Glasgow Street for over 30 years without any pest problems until the degradation of the adjacent home. This home, located on Sacramento Avenue, has rapidly deteriorated, featuring a large hole on its side, which Joyce believes is attracting rats and mice to her property. As the rodent situation escalated, Joyce reported the infestation to local authorities, including the City of Pittsburgh and the Allegheny County Health Department. However, her hopes for a prompt resolution have been overshadowed by lack of effective action from the authorities, who have deemed the vacant home to be without immediate issues despite Joyce's complaints. Joyce has undertaken measures to manage the rodent problems on her own, hiring a local exterminator and spending nearly $1,000 on pest control services, which included bait traps. She is particularly concerned about the potential dangers posed by the rodents, especially the risk of fires if they chew through electrical wires. Despite her extensive efforts to alert city officials about the dire state of the neighboring property, responses have been inadequate. The health department's inspection reported no visible rodents around the vacant house but did issue a letter to the deceased owners requesting that they cut the grass. Debbie Joyce feels frustrated and let down by the system, asserting that she should be prioritized due to the immediate risks and financial burden she has incurred. She mentioned that the vacant property is owned by deceased individuals, making it complicated to address the blight effectively. Furthermore, with numerous other properties in her Sheraden neighborhood marked as condemned, she is left feeling overwhelmed and disheartened. The City Councilwoman Theresa Kail-Smith has expressed her sympathy for Joyce's situation, labeling it

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