Seid, 94, has paid a crew to drop Brazil nuts, walnuts and peanuts around his Lincoln Park residence for more than three years. The city’s Streets and Sanitation Department fined him twice, but the payments keep the workers on the payroll and the nuts on the ground.
The nut piles have become a magnet for pigeons, whose droppings and leftover food create a breeding ground for rats. A resident counted 42 rats in a single visit, and vendors at Green City Market reported finding rodents while setting up stalls.
Alderman Timmy Knudsen, who represents the 43rd Ward, sent Seid a final warning letter on August 25, demanding the feeding stop and the use of rodent‑proof containers. Seid received the letter and has yet to comply, prompting Knudsen to ask the Park District to initiate legal proceedings.
If Seid does not cease the activity by September 9, the city will file a civil suit seeking damages for property repairs and public health costs, with a court hearing slated for early November.