‘This is incredibly stupid’: Lori Lightfoot hit with torrent of backlash for massive gas card giveaway

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Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced a new plan to assist residents who are struggling with skyrocketing gas prices by distributing thousands of free gift cards to help ease the pain at the pump in the first major city to do so.

With Americans now feeling the full effects of President Joe Biden’s disastrous policies, particularly his war on the fossil fuels industry as his administration pushes the Green New Deal and a national transition to electric cars and clean energy, Lightfoot has acted to ease the economic effects of the hidden tax as gas prices in the Windy City are among the highest in the nation.

On Thursday, the embattled Democrat who has done little to deter violent crime in her city rolled out the new program which will hand out 50,000 prepaid $150 gas cards through a lottery system as well as 100,000 public transit cards pre-loaded with $50 to Chicagoans to assist them with transportation costs.

“As we’ve all seen and experienced, there has been a shocking rise in gas prices across our city, and really across the region and the country,” Lightfoot said.

The mayor unveiled the $12.5 million assistance program which goes by the name of “Chicago Moves” at a news conference as well as on Twitter where it received very little support.

“The last two years have been exceedingly difficult for many of our residents, in particular our most vulnerable populations. Through the pandemic, we have collectively faced tragedy, and many among us have faced accompanying economic hardship. Now, as inflation steadily rises and the cost of gas continues to soar, our disadvantaged residents are carrying a significant financial burden,” said Lightfoot in a press release issued by her office.

“Chicago Moves endeavors to provide much needed relief and ease some of this pain. By subsidizing the cost of gas and transit, this program will enable participants to save their resources for other critical expenses. Chicago is a city that moves. People have to be able to get to work, school, places of worship, medical offices, grocery stores. The goal of this program is to help make those moves easier,” the mayor said.

According to the mayor’s office, “Up to 50,000 physical prepaid cards of $150 will be distributed to eligible residents via a lottery system. These cards will be valid for one year after receipt and may only be spent on the cost of fuel at gas stations located within Chicago. Applications are limited to one per household. Beginning in May, cards will be distributed in five successive monthly waves of 10,000 residents,”

In order to be eligible for the giveaway, one is required to be a Chicago resident who is at least 18 years old who has a current and valid city sticker with correct mailing information for their vehicle, and has a household income at or below 140% of the Area Median Income for Chicago.

(Video: YouTube/WGN Chicago)

“In addition to the physical prepaid cards, the city will also distribute or add value to 100,000 cards for use on public transit in the amount of $50 each. These cards will not only help ease the burden of record-high gas prices but will help advance clean transportation by offering weeks of free public transit access to thousands of commuting Chicagoans. Of these 100,000 transit cards, 75,000 will be distributed based on geographic data, prioritizing high CTA-utilizing residents in low-income neighborhoods. An additional 25,000 transit cards will be distributed citywide,” Lightfoot’s office announced.

Lightfoot’s Twitter announcement garnered very few favorable responses, and was met with a torrent of backlash from all angles:

The gas card giveaway comes as Lightfoot is facing yet another scandal, this time over her massive security detail of 71 police officers to augment her own personal bodyguard detail of 20 officers, news that was reported by the Chicago Sun-Times this week. The Democrat mayor has been a proponent of cutting tens of millions of dollars from the police budget.

She predictably blamed former President Donald J. Trump without actually naming him for her need for a large security presence.

“When the president of the United States uses the world’s largest megaphone and platform to target you personally, terrible things happen. And he not only blew a dog whistle, he pointed really evil and dangerous people right at my doorstep,” Lightfoot said, according to the paper.

Lightfoot is up for reelection next year.

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23 thoughts on “‘This is incredibly stupid’: Lori Lightfoot hit with torrent of backlash for massive gas card giveaway

  1. “Free Gas Cards”? Nothing is free. The money came from the taxpayers. A gift to those that don’t pay any taxes. From the Zombie in Chief. After all she does have the biggest Richard.

  2. Who pays for this, Beetleguise? Oh right it’s the taxpayers. Take money out of our left pocket and place it in (some people’s) right pocket and call it a win. Got it.

  3. The Chicago democrats have been counting the election votes for as long as I have been alive….and that’s a long time. How else could a dim wit like this thing get elected to run the city?

  4. This is what happens when you choose a mayor that emulates the population demographic of the city, rather than talent and experience. Liberal cities deserve all the crap they must endure, due to their racist excuses for underperforming.

  5. Will the ELECTRIC VEHICLE OWNERS be EXCLUDED??? Can you buy smokes and beer with the gas cards?? AND if that highly effective woman is re-elected then don’t publish ANY articles on the carnage in Chicago!

  6. First off, can we all agree that BPR’s censorship and “new and improved” log in for each and every comment you want to post is causing most of us to just laugh and shake our heads at their ridiculous request for donations? Good grief BPR, wake up!!!! No censorship and stop the stupid logins that don’t work half the time!!!

    Now to the article. Newsom has already said he will do this in California. Biden said that “there is no evidence that high gas prices affect the low income disproportionately! Who does the moron in chief think it will hurt. Well apparently Newsom and Lighthead have found out that low income minorities are pissed about the high gas prices!

  7. why arent democrats embarrassed to have so many inept politicians represent and lead so many

    1. The dems love their politicians. Everything should be FREE! The dems love FREE!

  8. This person is an unmitigated disaster for Chicago. 12.5 million to spend on this? Utterly wasteful, how about decrease gas tax to help everyone not just a few. And 91 police to cover one person, that is absolutely insane. What does she need with that many? And it sure isn’t trumps fault. Everyday she shows why she’s a failure. Voters need to wise up.

  9. This is all these dimwits know how to do. Elections have consequences. Stop electing morons like Lightfoot and Biden.

  10. That’s right. Give the money to the thugs so they can put gas in their cars to keep up their drive by shootings. This woman is a disaster.

    1. NO, you are wrong. It’s not for drive-bys. It’s to assist the car-jackers.

  11. That and Biden dumping the Strategic Reserve to end up with only at best- 35 cents reduction in the price of gasoline, which won’t last because the “fines” for not using the worthless permits will be passed on to the consumer.

  12. I am curious…How will the City of Chicago guarantee that the cards will be used by the recipients to buy gas? Chicago will probably say that they trust their residents and why would they use it for something else? Even if there was a way to guarantee the recipient could only use it at a gas station, what is there to prevent them from filling up another person’s car and taking cash from that person. This is done by many city and county employees with government credit cards and is completely illegal, but our intrepid investigative news reporters either don’t know this or think it is great that the employees are rebelling against the system.

  13. Lightfoot had better be packing her bags now so not to waste any time getting out of Chicago.

  14. What Mayor Lightweight lacks in intelligence, she makes up for with stupendous stupidity. Recall her now!

  15. nothing more than a reason to pat themselves on the back because they’re “helping”.

  16. Typical incompetent Democrat giving away money they do not have. Free Stuff is what keeps them in power- and has caused our border to be flooded by 18-20,000 illegals every single day 24/7- coming for all that FREE STUFF, not available in their 3rd world cesspools.

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