Arthure Brumfield Denied Lien Waiver

By Ralph Zahorik
STAFF WRITER
WAUKEGAN — A request from Arthur Brumfield to waive a lien the city placed on his lot at 634 Kinnard St. on the South Side was rejected unanimously.
The city demolished Brumfield's run-down house on the site last August after several years of negotiations with Brumfield, an unemployed man, failed to produce an agreement.
"If we're giving a waiver on one property, we'll have to do it for everybody," said Figueroa, Judiciary Committee chairman. "We can't play favorites," agreed 8th Ward Ald. Richard Larsen.

Liens are placed on property when owners fail to comply with city laws on weed cutting, debris removal, board-ups and other requirements and the city itself does the work, he said.

Chris Blanks, a friend of Brumfield's, told aldermen the community should have been given an opportunity to help Brumfield before his home was torn down.
"It's an injustice and abuse of government power," he said. Brumfield asked $3 million for his property because "that's its value to him," he said.

The Red Alert Collective completely stands behind Brumsfield, a frequent guest at Waukegan Food Not Bombs and friendly member of the community. We are also opposed to the lack of strong help given to Brumsfield before his house was demolished.