Pastor In Hot Water Over Building Without Heat

CHICAGO (WBBM/CBS) -- A South Side pastor who is considered an ally of Mayor Richard M. Daley is in hot water with some residents of an apartment building who say they have been living without hot water and heat for more than a month.

As WBBM Newsradio 780's Mary Frances Bragiel reports, the Rev. Leon Finney runs The Woodlawn Organization, a group that owns a 30-unit courtyard building on the 6100 block of South Kimbark Avenue just south of the University of Chicago campus.

LISTEN: WBBM 780's Mary Frances Bragiel Reports

Mary Smith told CBS 2 earlier this week that the only thing heating her apartment are pots of water, her stove cranked to 550 degrees, and occasionally one of the radiators.

"I have two pots of water that runs constantly, 24 hours a day," said Smith.

The city, according to the Chicago Sun-Times, filed an emergency motion in order to get the hot water and heat working again.

But some residents say nothing has changed, charging the group's lawyers tried to get them to sign an affidavit that the boiler had been fixed when it had not.

Others say Finney gets off easy with the city because of his political connections.

An inspection of the building is scheduled for next week. Reverend Finney did not respond to requests for comment.

In:
• Woodlawn
• Mary Frances Bragiel