rat

Along with fighting crime, Sliwa’s campaign promises include a novel concept for tackling the city’s ballooning rat problem.

The bathroom, she says, is a tent in the street with rats and insects.

That means eradicating invasive species such as possums, rats and mustelids—a group that includes weasels, ferrets and stoats.

During the BBC's daytime visit, one resident was seen carrying his two pet rats and screaming insults at ICE agents posted outside the federal building.

“My friends don’t rat, they do not rat and you can tell by the amount of stories about me that are out there that are absolutely not true,” she said.