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Queens to host city’s bedbug forum

By Ivan Pereira

Officials from the city's Housing Preservation & Development Department and Council members have set up town hall meetings in three boroughs to instruct residents on how to safely protect themselves from bedbugs. The meetings, one of which will take place on Feb. 5 in Astoria, are a response to the rise in complaints that city residents have filed against the insects, according to City Council Peter Vallone Jr. (D-Astoria).”It's a problem that until recently even I wasn't aware of. You expect something like this in a third world country but not in the capital of the world,” he said.In 2005, there were only 62 bedbug complaints, which soared to 366 last year, according to the city. Astoria had the third highest number of complaints, Vallone said. Although bedbugs do not transmit any diseases, they are still pose a health crisis for city residents according to the councilman.”Other cities don't consider bed bugs a crisis but when people aren't sleeping they can develop physical and mental problems,” he said.The councilman announced the campaign with Council members Robert Jackson (D-Manhattan), Miguel Martinez (D-Manhattan), and Gale Brewer (D-Manahattan), who is working on creating a bed bug task force.The first meeting will take place on Jan. 28 in Washington Heights. The second forum was scheduled for Feb. 5 at Ricardo's Restaurant on 2101 24th Ave. in Astoria from 8-9 p.m. The third meeting is slated to take place in Bushwick, Brooklyn on March 12. In addition to providing safety tips in both English and Spanish, the town hall meetings will advise residents how to buy the right type of bedding to prevent bed bugs from infesting their residence.”There is certainly a lack of attention of this which is why I look forward to attending this workshop,” Vallone said.For more information on the Astoria forum contact the Councilman Vallone's office at 718-274-4500Reach reporter Ivan Pereira by e-mail at [email protected] or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 146.