Local officials gathered in Washington Heights, Manhattan on Tuesday to demand that the city do more to combat rat infestations in poorer neighborhoods. NY1's Grant Greenberg filed the following report.

Washington Heights resident Stephanie Araujo told city officials Tuesday that rats are overtaking her neighborhood.

"They run rampant from back of building to the front as if they too pay rent," she said. "I just noticed in the last two, three years, the rats have expanded from the train tracks to the sidewalks."

Rats have even gone into the subway cars, as a YouTube video captured at the beginning of this year shows a subway passenger shooing away a rat that is crawling on his body.

Last year, the city received 21,000 rat complaints, and that number is up 9 percent so far this year.

Pest control workers think the problem will only get worse.

"Shame on New York, to think they are the jewel, that they have Times Square and all these fancy things and the rats are taking over," said DC37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts.

Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer said the city does not have the manpower to take back the streets, especially with looming budget cuts.

Stringer said there are only 63 pest control officers for all five boroughs, which is down by half from a year ago.

"The mayor and the city council have the opportunity to fully restore the cut of $1.5 million," said Stringer.

The borough president said the restored cut would bring those workers back, and the workers said the investment will pay off, as they help bring in $6 million worth of fines and fees to the city.

"The commissioner and mayor are selfish, because we have the lowest paid workers doing the hardest work," said Local 768 President Fritz Reid.

Nevertheless, Araujo stressed the hard work is necessary.

"I'm sure this would be a priority for people in power, if they had these kinds of neighbors," she said.

In response, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said New Yorkers reported only 5 percent more rat complaints, and that the total number of complaints only increased by 1.5 percent.

He also urged New Yorkers to call 311 to have pest control workers take care of the problem.