CHICAGO — A gas giveaway by entrepreneur and former mayoral candidate Willie Wilson caused a headache for some Chicagoans Thursday morning, and not from fuel fumes: Cars reportedly lined up overnight in anticipation of the 7 a.m. start time, causing backups near the preselected gas stations around the city.
Wilson pledged to give away $200,000 of gasoline via $50 gifts to motorists filling up Thursday, on a first-come, first-serve basis — and hit that limit before the morning was over. But social media posts and interviews with people who went out for free gas described chaotic, Black Friday-like scenes.
“I literally sat in the line for about an hour til I got almost to the front,” said Chantine Adams, a Humboldt Park resident who tried to get gas at a location at Pulaski Road and Grand Avenue.
Adams said she nearly reached the front of the line, when a police officer rerouted her and funneled her toward an exit. She ended up paying for gas in a different location.
“It really upset me … I was already on an empty tank of gas,” Adams said. “I was literally driving the last of my gas to get there. It’s already hard with everything going on here in Chicago, the economy, the gas prices, rent still have to be paid.”
Wilson, a businessman and perennial political candidate who frequently sponsors similar giveaways, said he was moved by community members who told him they can’t afford enough gas to get to work.
“I was pumping some gas in my car last week and if I take notice of high prices ... what about people not in the income bracket I’m in?” Wilson told the Chicago Tribune.
One person responded to Wilson’s initial Facebook post saying there were too “many people at the gas station on 28th (Street) and Kedzie (Avenue),” adding that “the line is all the way down to 26th and Kedzie wrapped around all the way (past) Homan and 26th.” They said they left the house at 3:45 a.m. but still “missed out on this one.” Another user wrote: “I’m burning gas trying to get gas.”
When asked about the traffic jams and crowds of people, Wilson said the lines of people underscore the high level of need. He plans to do it again on March 31 and pledged to contribute even more next time.
“These are people here that need to get to work, need to have food,” Wilson said. “There are traffic jams when (people) go to a Chicago Bulls game. ... Why don’t they complain about the Chicago Bulls?”
And some who sought out the free gas, like Robbie McGlory of Berwyn, described Wilson as generous.
“It went really smooth for me,” McGlory said. “I know there were like a few people cutting in line and they had issues with that, but they tried their best to keep it organized.”
The average price of regular was $4.84 per gallon in Chicago Thursday, up from $3.28 a year ago, according to AAA.
The 10 selected gas stations are in neighborhoods from Rogers Park and Calumet Heights to Albany Park. The full list is available on Wilson’s social media.
Wilson unsuccessfully ran for mayor in 2015 and 2019. He also ran as an independent for U.S. Senate in 2020.
Wilson previously donated some 30 million face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic to the city of Chicago, Cook County Jail, the Fraternal Order of Police and numerous area hospitals, among others. He’s also donated millions to individuals who lost their job during the pandemic and more than 1,000 churches.
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