Cook County Treasurer's Office - 11/6/2019
Chicago Sun-Times
The Cook County Board President has asked for an independent review of the Cook County Land Bank Authority in the wake of a Chicago Sun-Times' investigation into a property sale by the agency and Treasurer Maria Pappas' demand for an audit.
Pappas called for an audit on Nov. 4, 2019, citing the agency's "erratic acquisition" of tax liens at the Scavenger Sale conducted by her office. Board President Toni Preckwinkle requested the audit two days later.
The executive director of the land bank said he welcomed the probe and cited the agency's track record of finding buyers for foreclosed homes.
"We all understand the Land Bank's mission of turning distressed homes into livable ones. But hollowing out the scavenger sale with minimal returns is not the way to do it," Pappas said in a letter.
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