A tenant is fed up with what she describes as a growing rat infestation in her Bridgeport community.

 

Stacy Camacho says life has been unbearable at the Estoril Apartments on Palisade Avenue for the past three months because rats are gnawing at her belongings.

 

She has young children and has started storing food, clothing and other items in plastic bins with lids.

 

"They were crawling around in the baby's bed," Camacho said. "He was so scared he got up, he ran to my room {and said}, 'Mommy there's something in my bed, Mommy there's rats, there's rats, I hear the rats!'"

 

She says the rats even destroyed a pair of her shoes.

 

Democratic Town Committee member Charlie Coviello said when the old GE facility was torn down several years ago, rats that lived in its empty buildings were displaced and have moved into people's homes.

 

Coviello said he will push city officials to help coordinate emergency exterminations.

 

"There is no reason why a young baby should have to sleep with the mother because of the fact that there are rats in his apartment," Coviello said.