In preparation for the $1M gas giveaway on March 24, former Chicago mayoral candidate Willie Wilson is coordinating with city officials in Chicago to mitigate traffic conditions.
To find locations for the Willie Wilson’s gas giveaway, visit The Scene by The TRiiBE to find a participating gas station near you.
Former Chicago mayoral candidate Willie Wilson is giving away an additional $1 million in gas at stations in Chicago and its surrounding Cook County suburbs.
Wilson’s second gas giveaway will begin at 7:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 24. It will go on until the full $1 million is gone. According to Wilson’s team, each car will receive $50 in gas.
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“The need among the community is so great. Soaring gas prices have caused a hardship for too many of our citizens,” Wilson wrote in a March 23 press release. “The average price of regular gas has gone well over $4 a gallon for the first time in nearly 14 years and is now up nearly 50 percent from last year. The war in Ukraine, a ban on Russian oil, and high taxes are contributing to rising fuel prices.”
According to Wilson’s team, 48 participating gas station owners have agreed to lower prices at their pumps so Wilson’s donation will reach more families.
The TRiiBE has mapped out each of the participating gas stations here. Click the link to find a participating gas station near you. Nineteen of the gas stations are located in Chicago.
The March 24 gas giveaway will be the second one hosted by Wilson. He donated $200,000 in free gas during a giveaway last week.
“This is our second gas giveaway in one week. The need is great, and I want to help,” Wilson wrote in the press release.
I won’t question Dr. Wilson’s purposes in giving away free gas, but a not-so-good implementation can sometimes lead to long-lasting problems.
Many Chicago alderpeople and residents took to social media to complain about the traffic that Wilson’s giveaway caused. This time around, Wilson is working with the city’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) and Chicago Police Department (CPD) to mitigate traffic conditions and ensure public safety along the gas giveaway routes.
Officials are urging drivers to take alternate routes to avoid traffic. Here is a list of event procedures provided by OEMC:
There will be one entry and exit point at each station with volunteers from Dr. Wilson’s staff along with a site leader providing direction.
Vehicles will be allowed to line-up at 7 a.m. Each vehicle will receive a sticker indicating position in line. Note: vehicles will not be allowed to line-up in advance, and all must have a sticker in order to receive the free gas.
Each station will be allotted $50 per car and can expect up to 400 cars per location. Estimated time is 4-5 hours. Note: this could differ per station.
Traffic Control Aides (TCAs) will be on hand at each location to assist with flow and impacts from heavy traffic.
CPD will also assist TCAs at each location within the district it’s located to ensure public safety and the free flow of traffic.