(DNAINFO)  Rosa Goldensohn — Neighborhood residents will arm themselves with a new weapon against rodents Monday night: knowledge.

City Councilman Corey Johnson has organized a “Rat Academy” in response to a rise in complaints about rats in the neighborhood.

“We were getting more and more calls, particularly from Chelsea residents, that this was a growing problem,” Johnson said in a statement.

“We’ve been responsive and were constantly reaching out to the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to investigate various cases,” he said. “But when it comes down to it, it’s more effective and more efficient to give the community the tools it needs to prevent rats from showing up in the first place.”

Source: ‘Rat Academy’ Seeks To Counter Growing Rodent Problem in Chelsea – Chelsea – DNAinfo.com New York