CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - The Chicago City Council Wednesday afternoon approved, by a razor thin margin, Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s plan to distribute free gasoline and transit cards across the city.
The vote was 26-to-23 after a healthy debate, and the city will now distribute, by lottery, more than $12 million in preloaded gasoline cards and CTA transit cards.
West side alderman Jason Ervin urged a “yes” vote, saying people need help.
“Given the state of everything that’s happening, given the increase in prices, I’m glad to be moved off the tax issue by just only rebating two or three cents a gallon tax that we have and moving to something meaningful that residents can utilize and do what they need to get to work,” Ervin said.
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South side alderwoman Leslie Hariston was a “no” vote, saying she wants to help people too, but in a meaningful way.
“When we’re giving $3 million to the food depository and $12 million to gas cards, something is a little off,” Hariston said.
Some others objected that 75% of the cards will go to less affluent areas.
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