CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — A Chicago business owner called out Mayor Lori Lightfoot for her decision to go ahead with Lollapalooza this weekend, despite rising COVID-19 infection numbers.
Charna Halpern owned the iconic North Side comedy spot iO Theater, also known as the ImprovOlympics, for nearly 40 years.
Last week, Halpern said she was forced to sell it.
In a letter written this week to the Chicago Sun-Times, Halpern said she couldn't understand why the city would go ahead with such a large music festival when businesses like hers weren't able to open for months. She said it appears that the money the city will make from Lollapalooza is the priority over businesses.
"I think she owes each and every one of us an apology. I've lost over a million dollars. I lost my livelihood, my life and you know she's having a big festival with COVID on the rise," Halperin told WBBM Newsradio.
Halperin fears with tens of thousands people coming to Chicago from other states, the event could become a super spreader.
Lightfoot said this week she doesn't regret her decision to go ahead with the music fest as patrons will be tested and checked for vaccination status.
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