Lincoln Park Billionaire Barre Seid Accused of Fueling Rat Infestation Near Green City Market
Ald. Timmy Knudsen says the city is weighing legal action against Lincoln Park billionaire Barre Seid over claims that his nut-spreading operation is causing a rat infestation around Green City Market.
According to Knudsen, the infestation is causing property damage that could leave taxpayers responsible for repairs. The alderman says Seid’s nut-spreading activities have expanded in recent months while the city has increased citations against him.
Seid, who owned Chicago’s Tripp Lite electronics company, has paid all the fines and tickets without contesting the violations, Knudsen says.
A 43rd Ward document states that for more than three years, Seid has hired individuals to place nuts, seeds and other foods around his home and later expanded the operation to Lincoln Park. The document says workers place the food around and in trees and throughout the park.
After years of citations, Knudsen issued a final warning letter to Seid last August stating that the feeding had created a public health hazard. The letter said the feeding attracted flocks of pigeons, and their droppings attracted a significant rat infestation.
The letter demanded that Seid stop the feeding, secure all garbage in rodent-safe containers and take corrective measures against the harborage to rats within 15 days. Knudsen says the billionaire has not responded.
Knudsen says the ward has exhausted typical enforcement through Streets and Sanitation and wants the Chicago Park District to file a lawsuit over damage to the park.
He says rat burrows have grown larger where the nuts are being laid out, and vendors at the Green City Market are seeing rats during setup.
Neighbors and park staff have taken notice of the dispute. They say they have tried to understand why the food is being spread. Neighbor Caroline Novak says Seid’s workers have responded to questions with hostile language but have offered no explanation.
Seid made national headlines in 2022 for donating $1.6 billion to a conservative political action group run by Leonard Leo. The donation is considered the largest political advocacy donation in history.
When contacted by phone Tuesday, Seid did not answer his doorbell. A woman who recently answered the door to a WGN crew closed it without comment.
Knudsen says the city will consider legal action if the feeding continues.
