Chicago Daily Observer

The night before Election Day, a Cook County judge was mugged just blocks from Barack Obama’s home in the Kenwood neighborhood.

Judge Eileen Brewer, a highly rated Harvard Law grad like Obama, lives a few streets away from the president-elect. The robbery happened Monday night, hours before voters would elect Obama president and retain Brewer as a judge.

“He really beat me up,” Brewer said of her attacker.

She had just dropped off her son’s tutor and was on her front porch when he struck. The man weighed over 200 pounds, and she had a tough time fighting him off, she said. “No broken bones, just Advil injuries. He punched me in the stomach, on the arms, my back. He dragged me across the porch,” she said.

Here’s the 50 Newest Crimes in Kenwood, home of Democratic Presidential Nominee, Sen. Barack Obama:

1. Theft: Retail theft

Place: Tavern / liquor store. Reported at 4 p.m. on October 14, 2008.
# 4900 block S. Greenwood Ave Theft: $300 and under

Place: Other. Reported at 9:35 a.m. on October 12, 2008.
# 1200 block E. 52nd St Robbery: Armed: handgun

Place: Sidewalk. Reported at 10:40 p.m. on October 10, 2008.
# 1200 block E. 53rd St Deceptive practice: Financial exploit of elderly/disabled

Place: Bank. Reported at 3:30 p.m. on October 9, 2008.
# 1300 block E. 53rd St Other offense: Lost property

Place: Street. Reported at 2 p.m. on October 8, 2008.
# 1300 block E. 53rd St Theft: From building

Place: Restaurant. Reported at 2 p.m. on October 8, 2008.
# 1100 block E. Hyde Park Blvd Simple battery: Domestic battery: ... Read More...

This might be obvious to anyone who owns a home or has an empty adjacent lot next to his dwelling, but the Press is missing a simple economic key to Rita (Mrs. Tony) Rezko’s ownership a neighboring lot to Senator Obama.

Most homeowners like having a large yard or garden. Even more people like having their neighbors mow and landscape that vacant lot. Having a well kept adjoining green space increases the value of your lot, and your home.

So when Rita Rezko owned and cared for the lot adjoining Sen. Obama’s home in Kenwood, the value of Sen Obama’s home increased. If Rita would have filled the lot with garbage (not all that uncommon in the neighborhood), or built an ugly house on that lot (again not all that uncommon on the South Side), Sen. Obama’s house would have decreased in value.

Lot values in urban areas are dramatically ... Read More...