By Luis Alvarado
Growing up in South Central Los Angeles, pest infestations weren’t just something you heard about—they were a reality. If your neighbors had cockroaches, you had cockroaches. Apartment walls were no barrier to these pests; no matter how clean your home was, you were at their mercy. It is an unspoken truth in many Latino and urban communities that these pests are a serious public health threat.
As an analyst for CNN and Univision, I see the bigger picture. This isn’t just a neighborhood problem—it’s a statewide crisis. Recently, Los Angeles was ranked the second “rattiest” city in the nation, with San Francisco at 4, San Diego at 18, and Sacramento at 20.
In Los Angeles, health inspectors are shutting down restaurants at alarming rates due to infestations. The stakes are high, yet some activists are pushing for policies that could restrict the very tools pest control professionals use to keep our homes, businesses, and communities safe.
Rodents, cockroaches, bed bugs, termites, and mosquitoes aren’t just unsightly—they spread disease and compromise our health. Rodents are notorious carriers of hantavirus, leptospirosis, and salmonella, contaminating food and surfaces. Mosquitoes, which thrive in California’s warm climate, carry the risk of West Nile virus. Bed bugs infest public spaces like schools, hotels, and transit systems, making eradication an expensive challenge.
For Latino and urban communities, where families often live in close quarters, the consequences are even more severe. When infestations take hold in apartment buildings, they spread quickly, affecting entire neighborhoods. Without strong pest control measures, our most vulnerable communities are left exposed.
Beyond public health, pests cause billions in property damage each year. Termites destroy homes, businesses, and schools. Termite damage costs U.S. property owners over $5 billion annually, and to make matters worse, insurance policies don’t cover it.
Termites
Pest control is not guesswork—it’s a science. Pest control professionals undergo extensive training, testing, and certification programs to ensure they apply the safest, most effective solutions. Whether protecting a school from rodents, a restaurant from cockroaches, or a home from termites, they are on the front lines of keeping Californians safe.
Pests don’t care about politics. But their impact—on public health, property, and local economies—is real. California’s lawmakers and regulators must recognize that pest control is an essential service, not a luxury.
Luis Alvarado is a legislative, political, and community analyst for CNN and Univision. A native of South Central Los Angeles, Luis provides expert commentary on issues affecting working families, public policy, and governance. He currently resides in Pico Rivera with his wife, Lupe.
