With bed bug sightings on the rise in seemingly every big city in America, it is no wonder that new measures have been adopted to help eradicate the creepy blood suckers.  Many large cities have already taken the bull by the horns and have implemented serious new laws regarding the treatment of bed bugs, disposal of infested property and guidelines for controlling infestations.   Failure to comply with the guidelines in some cities will result in property owners spending time in jail or incurring a large hit to the wallet.

In New York City, landlords are responsible for paying for the extermination services of bed bugs.  It does not appear that officials in New York City are taking responsibility for what is being done to get rid of the pests.   The end result is that more and more reports of bed bugs are being called into the government offices.
 
City Council member, Gail Brewer is trying to put a stop to local bureaucratic foolery in New York City.  Even though bed bugs are considered vermin, the Health Department does not handle complaints about them because bed bugs do not transmit disease.   Bed bugs might not make you physically sick, but what about the mental anguish that people must endure once an infestation occurs?   Imagine knowing that your blood will be sucked every night after you or your children fall asleep.    Now that would make for some very tumultuous sleep.  Currently, complaints are handled by the Department of Housing Preservation and Development.  Many people believe that there is a lack of regulation because of disagreements over which city agency should handle the bed bug problem.

It is clear that New Yorker’s deserve to have better laws on the books in regards to bed bugs.  It is up to the local government to make it happen.  If other cities can do it, so can NYC.  It would be nice if our government moved as fast as bed bugs do in making changes to the legislation.  But then again, their next meal does not depend on speed and tenacity.