Parcels that belonged to Suzie B. Wilson and her sister accumulated $15 million in city fines for rat-related violations. Hundreds are still sitting empty without any promise of redevelopment.
Mina Bloom, Block Club Chicago
Mina Bloom is a reporter for Block Club Chicago covering the Logan Square, Humboldt Park and Avondale neighborhoods.
Posted inFollow-Up
Hundreds of South, West Side Properties For Sale Amid Legal Fight Against City’s ‘Worst Landowner’
Property owner Suzie B. Wilson owed more than $15 million in fines for rat-related code violations — and, along with her sister, now faces legal trouble after a joint investigation by Illinois Answers Project and Block Club.
Posted inGovernment Finance & Accountability
Why Chicago is Losing the War on Rats
New York has a Rat Czar. Other cities are trying new trapping methods. But the “rattiest city in America” can’t keep up with skyrocketing rodent complaints, data shows.
Posted inInvestigating Responses
East Coast Cities Are Zapping Rats With High-Tech Traps
SMART Boxes shock rats with electricity, collect their carcasses, then share data wirelessly with local officials.
Posted inInvestigating Responses
City Plan To Ticket Drivers Who Block Bike Lanes Downtown Draws Mixed Reaction From Cycling Advocates
Even though it only applies to the Downtown area, some cycling advocates say the pilot program is a step in the right direction. Others say it’s light on details and doesn’t address pressing safety concerns.
Posted inInvestigations
Life and Death in Chicago’s Most Dangerous Bike Lane
In Chicago’s busiest bike lane along Milwaukee Avenue, there have been 50 reported crashes and three deaths since 2020 as cyclists navigate the city’s patchwork approach to safety.
