FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | October 17, 2026
CLIFTON, NJ — Tafari K. Anderson, candidate for Clifton City Council, is calling for a coordinated neighborhood sanitation and rodent-prevention strategy to address residents’ concerns about rat infestations and protect public health and quality of life.
“Residents should not have to accept rodent activity around their homes, businesses, and neighborhood streets as a normal part of city life,” Anderson stated. “Clifton needs a practical prevention strategy that addresses the conditions attracting rats and gives residents clear ways to report problems.”
Anderson is proposing five complementary measures: consistent enforcement of sanitation and waste-storage requirements; encouragement of durable, tightly sealed, rodent-resistant trash containers; guidance for property owners on closing holes and gaps that allow rodents to enter buildings; neighborhood education on food waste, clutter, and other attractants; and integrated pest management that combines appropriate trapping with environmental improvements.
“A lasting solution is not simply setting more traps,” Anderson said. “It means removing food sources, eliminating hiding places, sealing entry points, and responding promptly when residents report recurring trouble spots.”
Anderson recommends that municipal health, code enforcement, public works, and property owners coordinate their efforts within their respective responsibilities. The City should identify repeated complaint locations, follow up on sanitation violations, and communicate prevention steps to residents and businesses.
He also calls for clear public reporting channels and measurable response standards so complaints do not disappear between departments. Where public property or infrastructure contributes to rodent harborage, the City should evaluate corrective maintenance and responsible funding options.
“Clean neighborhoods are a basic municipal responsibility,” Anderson concluded. “We can protect public health and property values through sensible enforcement, practical education, and accountability without creating unnecessary bureaucracy or costs.”
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About Tafari K. Anderson: Tafari K. Anderson is a candidate for Clifton City Council committed to fiscal responsibility, public safety, transparent government, responsible infrastructure investment, and improving the quality of life for Clifton residents.
Website: www.AndersonforClifton.com
Paid for by Friends for Tafari Anderson.