(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The margin was a razor-thin three votes, but the Chicago City Council gave approval Wednesday to Mayor Lightfoot's plan to distribute free gas and transit cards across the city.
During a lengthy debate, 37th Ward Ald. Emma Mitts argued some council members may not appreciate poor people have trouble paying for transportation. They “need to have some type of help,” she said.
But Ald. Anthony Beale (9th) argued that there are better uses for the cost of Lightfoot’s program, which is $12.5 million.
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The city will distribute the pre-loaded gas and transit cards by lottery.
Lightfoot’s transportation plan comes as one of her presumed mayoral opponents, Chicago businessman Willie Wilson, has given away more than $2 million in free gasoline. He has called the incumbent’s plan a political stunt.
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