After years of complaining, residents in Southeast Queens finally get relief from mosquitoes.
Last week the New York City Department of Health sprayed for the pests in Howard Beach and Hamilton Beach. Residents had complained that their neighborhoods had been inundated with mosquitoes, but despite that, their requests for spraying were consistently denied. The health department said not enough mosquitoes tested positive for the West Nile Virus. Queens State Senator Joseph Addabbo who wrote numerous letters to the agency, welcomes the spraying but believes the department needs to rethink it's process.
"I would hope the city looks again and reconsiders its criteria for spraying certain areas. I still have areas of my district that need spraying and I'll continue to impress upon the New York City Department of Health to spray these areas," said Senator Addabbo.
Health officials say they constantly monitor mosquitoes that carry the West Nite Virus and apply pesticides to breeding grounds when appropriate throughout the Summer.