5 Comments

1. 

   Mike Striar on January 11, 2014 at 10:20 am

   Nothing will kill Newton Centre’s booming restaurant business faster than rats. It’s not just a problem at the T stop, [or just in Newton Centre]. The Health Department needs to do a much better job of monitoring commercial dumpsters and barrels. Restaurants and other vendors are overfilling dumpsters. When the covers are not sealed tight, it’s easy access for rats.

   Another problem is the material used for the flip up covers on residential trash barrels can actually be eaten through by both squirrels and rats. I’ve seen numerous instances of tell-tale [tail?] holes in barrel covers. The City needs to insist that the vendor replace these covers immediately.

   While we’re on this topic, I would very much like to see the Health Department issuing letter grades to restaurants that indicate their level of compliance with food handling and disposal regulations. As in other places around the country, a restaurants grade is posted right at the door. Why are we not already doing this?

2. 

   Terry Malloy on January 11, 2014 at 11:12 am

   A couple of weeks ago I saw a very large, DEAD Rat by the trash barrel on the sidewalk by the T. If Paul Levy has also noticed them, it sounds like an issue.
   As Mike Striar points out, fears of a rat infestation will kill the burgeoning restaurant business in Newton Centre. The health department needs to stay ahead of it.
   A Chamber of Commerce nightmare, eh Greg?

3. 

   Hoss on January 11, 2014 at 1:50 pm

   In re. grading, if that’s too problematic, we should just post the inspections on-line like Boston does. In addition to restaurants, I’d like to see them for all markets as well.

4. 

   Jerry Reilly on January 11, 2014 at 3:11 pm

   On a (sort of) related topic …. my daughter and I passed a startling sight on Christina St. There was a dead deer lying on the curb midway down the street.

5. 

   Adam on January 13, 2014 at 9:47 am

   Really puts the damper on the Indigo line idea for Newton!