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Chicago billionaire Barre Seid faces scrutiny over allegations that workers distributed nuts and other food around Lincoln Park. (Img: X)
Chicago: Chicago industrialist and billionaire Barre Seid is facing mounting criticism from local officials after allegedly financing an unusual wildlife-feeding operation that involves paying workers to scatter large quantities of nuts, seeds and other food around his residence and the city’s Lincoln Park, reportedly contributing to a growing rat infestation.
The 94-year-old former owner of electronics company Tripp Lite has come under scrutiny after the activity, which has allegedly continued for more than three years, attracted large numbers of pigeons and rodents to the area. Officials have warned that the resulting damage to park property could eventually impose additional costs on taxpayers.
According to a report by Axios, individuals allegedly hired by Seid have been distributing bags of food around his property and across parts of Lincoln Park, including placing it in trees and other public spaces.
Timmy Knudsen, the alderman representing Chicago’s 43rd Ward, has raised concerns that the operation has continued and expanded despite repeated enforcement measures. Seid has reportedly paid the fines issued over the activity without contesting the violations.
In August, Knudsen sent the billionaire a warning demanding that the feeding stop, that waste be stored in rodent-resistant containers and that corrective measures be taken to eliminate places where rats could nest. The letter reportedly gave Seid 15 days to comply, but officials said they had received no response.
With the existing enforcement measures failing to halt the activity, local authorities are exploring further options, including possible legal action through the Chicago Park District over the damage to public property.
Residents have described the operation as unusual not only because of its scale but also because of the quality of the food being distributed. The nuts reportedly include varieties such as Brazil nuts and walnuts rather than the ordinary scraps commonly associated with feeding birds.
Lincoln Park resident Caroline Novak, who said she was among the first to notice the activity, described the food as a “luxury mélange of really nice nuts” in comments to WGN-TV.
Residents have also reported seeing large numbers of rats digging burrows near the food piles. According to local officials, the accumulation of uneaten food and pigeon droppings has contributed to conditions favourable to rodents, particularly around the Green City Market, where vendors have reportedly encountered rats while setting up their stalls.
The infestation has raised concerns about public hygiene, the condition of the park and the potential costs of repairing damage caused by rodents.
Knudsen has said that the problem has become increasingly difficult to address through conventional municipal enforcement. He told Axios that officials were considering whether the Park District could pursue legal remedies over the damage to the park.
The situation has also frustrated residents and park personnel, who have reportedly encountered workers distributing the food and received uncooperative responses when questioning the activity. Park District officials have said they are assessing the options available to address the continuing problem.
The dispute has drawn attention to the difficulties cities can face when persistent activities on private property spill over into public spaces, creating potential health, environmental and maintenance concerns. Despite fines and official warnings, the feeding operation remains a source of concern for Chicago authorities and Lincoln Park residents.
