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Chicago Sun-Times

National

Stefano Esposito

Wilson’s 2nd gas giveaway goes smoother, says 3rd a possibility

Willie Wilson SunTimes Pat Nabong Ashlee Rezin British Petroleum Chicago Mobil Cicero Cook County Ill

Gasoline and goodwill flowed freely Thursday at nearly 50 gas stations in Chicago and the suburbs where businessman and mayoral candidate Willie Wilson arranged to fill the tanks of thousands of motorists — for free to the tune of $1 million out of his own pocket.

It was his second gas giveaway in as many weeks. And he’s considering a third.

“We’re going to take another look at this thing in a month or two, and if gasoline prices go up again, then we’re going to be compelled to do this again,” Wilson said while visiting a Cicero staton where he pumped gas. “It ain’t really about the money, it’s about the human beings. You can replace money, but you can’t replace a human being. Life gets hard, life gets tough and people struggle.”

He said the same governmental approach that was taken to help people get through the COVID-19 pandemic should be taken with skyrocketing gas prices.

“We’re going to go home tonight and figure out how can we do more because we haven’t done enough yet,” he said. “We have to do more. All of us have to do more.”

If it was a publicity stunt, no one getting gas was complaining.

“He’s doing it out of the goodness of his heart,” said Marcus Allen, 39, one of hundreds of motorists who lined up for 18 blocks in the western suburb. “He is a Christian man. I hope he’s not doing it for votes.”

Stanley Rankin showed up Thursday at a gas station in Evanston at 2:30 a.m. for a free tank.

After he topped off, a Wilson staffer recruited him to work a pump for $15 an hour.

“He gave me a T-shirt and put me to work because someone else didn’t show up,” said Rankin, 61, of Rogers Park.

He pointed to a long line of cars and said, “People are hurting.”

Rankin, who’s unemployed, said he planned to use the money he saved at the pump to buy pacifiers and milk for his granddaughter.

“She’s always losing her pacifiers,” he said with a laugh.

Rankin didn’t vote for Wilson last time, but plans to this time.

Police and other traffic authorities, determined to avoid a repeat of the traffic headaches caused by last week’s gas giveaway, were better prepared to handle the crush of cars — though those who idled their engines while waiting in line, or overnight, would have burned anywhere from a quarter-gallon to half a gallon of gas per hour.

At a gas station in Rogers Park, Wilson staffers handed out numbered tickets to the first 400 cars in a designated line that snaked down Touhy Avenue. Police blocked side streets to prevent the sort of jockeying for position that led to congestion last week. There were about 370 cars in line around 7 a.m. when the free gas began to flow.

Wilson, who was accused by critics in a previous failed mayoral bid of using charitable cash handouts to buy votes, said he would be undeterred by naysayers and doubters.

“I’m not afraid to run for anything,” he said, standing beside Cicero Town President Larry Dominick and other officials. “I’m not afraid of anything but Christ. So we’ll get ridiculed for doing good, for doing bad. Let them criticize me for doing good. This situation here is only about helping the people.”

Dozens of drivers wait in line for free gas, donated by businessman and former Chicago mayoral candidate Willie Wilson, at a BP gas station at 5201 W. Cermak Rd. in Cicero, Thursday morning, March 24, 2022. Starting at 7 a.m., each vehicle got up to $50 of free gasoline at dozens of gas stations across the Chicago area, until $1 million was spent. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

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Businessman and former Chicago mayoral candidate Willie Wilson pumps donated gas for a driver at a BP gas station at 5201 W. Cermak Rd. in Cicero, Thursday morning, March 24, 2022. Starting at 7 a.m., each vehicle got up to $50 of free gasoline at dozens of gas stations across the Chicago area, until $1 million was spent. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

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Sam Zaky, an immigrant from Egypt who has been lining up for gas for over one and a half hours, poses for the camera beside gas station attendant Baskar Chilleac as he fills his tank at the Amoco gas station at 7201 N. Clark St. in the Rogers Park neighborhood, Thursday morning, March 24, 2022. “God bless America, actually no, just the doctor. I don’t even know his name. Willie, Willie something. Willie Wonka,” Zaky said. “[My wife and I] can’t buy a place or, you know what I mean. This is not the American dream. This is an American nightmare.” Drivers lined up for free gas courtesy of businessman and mayoral candidate Dr. Willie Wilson, who is giving away $1 million worth of free gas in 50 gas stations in Cook County. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

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Drivers line up to get their tank filled with free gas courtesy of mayoral candidate and businessman Dr. Willie Wilson at the Mobil gas station at 1950 Green Bay Rd. in Evanston, Ill., Thursday morning, March 24, 2022. Wilson is giving away $1 million worth of free gas in 50 gas stations in Cook County. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

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Businessman and former Chicago mayoral candidate Willie Wilson shakes hands with a driver after pumping donated gas for her at a BP gas station at 5201 W. Cermak Rd. in Cicero, Thursday morning, March 24, 2022. Starting at 7 a.m., each vehicle got up to $50 of free gasoline at dozens of gas stations across the Chicago area, until $1 million was spent. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

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Gas station attendants fill drivers’ tanks with free gas courtesy of mayoral candidate and businessman Dr. Willie Wilson at the Mobil gas station at 1950 Green Bay Rd. in Evanston, Ill., Thursday morning, March 24, 2022. Wilson is giving away $1 million worth of free gas in 50 gas stations in Cook County. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

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Gas station attendant Bill Bailey fills a driver’s tank with free gas courtesy of mayoral candidate and businessman Dr. Willie Wilson at the Mobil gas station at 1950 Green Bay Rd. in Evanston, Ill., Thursday morning, March 24, 2022. Wilson is giving away $1 million worth of free gas in 50 gas stations in Cook County. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

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Volunteer Modesto Candanedo pumps gas donated by businessman and former Chicago mayoral candidate Willie Wilson for a driver at a BP gas station at 5201 W. Cermak Rd. in Cicero, Thursday morning, March 24, 2022. Starting at 7 a.m., each vehicle got up to $50 of free gasoline at dozens of gas stations across the Chicago area, until $1 million was spent. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

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Businessman and former Chicago mayoral candidate Willie Wilson greets a supporter after pumping donated gas for drivers at a BP gas station at 5201 W. Cermak Rd. in Cicero, Thursday morning, March 24, 2022. Starting at 7 a.m., each vehicle got up to $50 of free gasoline at dozens of gas stations across the Chicago area, until $1 million was spent. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

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Gas station attendant Nicole Profit fills a driver’s tank with free gas courtesy of mayoral candidate and businessman Dr. Willie Wilson at the Mobil gas station at 1950 Green Bay Rd. in Evanston, Ill., Thursday morning, March 24, 2022. Wilson is giving away $1 million worth of free gas in 50 gas stations in Cook County. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

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Stanley Rankin, who arrived around 2 a.m. to get free gas and ended up volunteering to work for the gas giveaway, fills a driver’s tank with free gas courtesy of mayoral candidate and businessman Dr. Willie Wilson at the Mobil gas station at 1950 Green Bay Rd. in Evanston, Ill., Thursday morning, March 24, 2022. Wilson is giving away $1 million worth of free gas in 50 gas stations in Cook County. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

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Drivers line up for free gas courtesy of businessman and mayoral candidate Dr. Willie Wilson near the Amoco gas station at 7201 N. Clark St. in the Rogers Park neighborhood, Thursday morning, March 24, 2022. Wilson is giving away $1 million worth of free gas in 50 gas stations in Cook County. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

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Daffaney Walker waits to get her tank filled with free gas courtesy of mayoral candidate and businessman Dr. Willie Wilson at the Mobil gas station at 1950 Green Bay Rd. in Evanston, Ill., Thursday morning, March 24, 2022. Wilson is giving away $1 million worth of free gas in 50 gas stations in Cook County. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

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Volunteers pump gas donated by businessman and former Chicago mayoral candidate Willie Wilson for drivers at a BP gas station at 5201 W. Cermak Rd. in Cicero, Thursday morning, March 24, 2022. Starting at 7 a.m., each vehicle got up to $50 of free gasoline at dozens of gas stations across the Chicago area, until $1 million was spent. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

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Volunteer Carmen Navarro Gercone pumps gas donated by businessman and former Chicago mayoral candidate Willie Wilson for a driver at a BP gas station at 5201 W. Cermak Rd. in Cicero, Thursday morning, March 24, 2022. Starting at 7 a.m., each vehicle got up to $50 of free gasoline at dozens of gas stations across the Chicago area, until $1 million was spent. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

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Rocio Binion takes videos while waiting for her tank to get filled with free gas courtesy of mayoral candidate and businessman Dr. Willie Wilson at the Mobil gas station at 1950 Green Bay Rd. in Evanston, Ill., Thursday morning, March 24, 2022. Wilson is giving away $1 million worth of free gas in 50 gas stations in Cook County. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

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A gas station attendant pumps gas while drivers line up to get their tank filled with free gas courtesy of mayoral candidate and businessman Dr. Willie Wilson at the Mobil gas station at 1950 Green Bay Rd. in Evanston, Ill., Thursday morning, March 24, 2022. Wilson is giving away $1 million worth of free gas in 50 gas stations in Cook County. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

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Ladajia, who did not want to give her last name, smiles as a gas station attendant fills her tank with free gas courtesy of mayoral candidate and businessman Dr. Willie Wilson at the Mobil gas station at 1950 Green Bay Rd. in Evanston, Ill., Thursday morning, March 24, 2022. Wilson is giving away $1 million worth of free gas in 50 gas stations in Cook County. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

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Jesse Morales, 28, of Cicero, takes a selfie with businessman and former Chicago mayoral candidate Willie Wilson after Morales was the first person to get donated gas pumped by Wilson at a BP gas station at 5201 W. Cermak Rd. in Cicero, Thursday morning, March 24, 2022. Starting at 7 a.m., each vehicle got up to $50 of free gasoline at dozens of gas stations across the Chicago area, until $1 million was spent. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

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A sign that reads, “Only regular gas is free” is posted at the Amoco gas station at 7201 N. Clark St. in the Rogers Park neighborhood, Thursday morning, March 24, 2022. Drivers lined up for free gas courtesy of businessman and mayoral candidate Dr. Willie Wilson, who is giving away $1 million worth of free gas in 50 gas stations in Cook County. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

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Brandon Calhoun gives Jose Ramirez a thumbs up after he showed his free gas ticket courtesy of businessman and mayoral candidate Dr. Willie Wilson at the Amoco gas station at 7201 N. Clark St. in the Rogers Park neighborhood, Thursday morning, March 24, 2022. Wilson is giving away $1 million worth of free gas in 50 gas stations in Cook County. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

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Police direct traffic near the Amoco gas station at 7201 N. Clark St. in the Rogers Park neighborhood, as drivers line up for free gas courtesy of businessman and mayoral candidate Dr. Willie Wilson, Thursday morning, March 24, 2022. Wilson is giving away $1 million worth of free gas in 50 gas stations in Cook County. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

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Chicago police and a worker push a car that ran out of battery during Dr. Willie Wilson’s gas giveaway at the Amoco gas station at 7201 N. Clark St. in the Rogers Park neighborhood, Thursday morning, March 24, 2022. Drivers lined up for free gas courtesy of businessman and mayoral candidate Dr. Willie Wilson, who is giving away $1 million worth of free gas in 50 gas stations in Cook County. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

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Donna Thomas, who has been waiting one and a half hours to get her tank filled with free gas courtesy of mayoral candidate and businessman Dr. Willie Wilson, sits in her car about half a block away from the Mobil gas station at 1950 Green Bay Rd. in Evanston, Ill., Thursday morning, March 24, 2022. Wilson is giving away $1 million worth of free gas in 50 gas stations in Cook County. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

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Volunteer Santiago Hernandez pumps gas donated by businessman and former Chicago mayoral candidate Willie Wilson for a driver at a BP gas station at 5201 W. Cermak Rd. in Cicero, Thursday morning, March 24, 2022. Starting at 7 a.m., each vehicle got up to $50 of free gasoline at dozens of gas stations across the Chicago area, until $1 million was spent. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

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Businessman and former Chicago mayoral candidate Willie Wilson greets Cicero Town President Larry Dominick after pumping donated gas for drivers at a BP gas station at 5201 W. Cermak Rd. in Cicero, Thursday morning, March 24, 2022. Starting at 7 a.m., each vehicle got up to $50 of free gasoline at dozens of gas stations across the Chicago area, until $1 million was spent. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

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Stephen Adams, who started lining up at 5:45 a.m., smiles as a gas station attendant fills his tank with free gas courtesy of mayoral candidate and businessman Dr. Willie Wilson at the Mobil gas station at 1950 Green Bay Rd. in Evanston, Ill., Thursday morning, March 24, 2022. Wilson is giving away $1 million worth of free gas in 50 gas stations in Cook County. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

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Businessman and former Chicago mayoral candidate Willie Wilson speaks during a news conference after pumping donated gas for drivers at a BP gas station at 5201 W. Cermak Rd. in Cicero, Thursday morning, March 24, 2022. Starting at 7 a.m., each vehicle got up to $50 of free gasoline at dozens of gas stations across the Chicago area, until $1 million was spent. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

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Cicero police officers direct traffic as dozens of drivers wait in line for free gas, donated by businessman and former Chicago mayoral candidate Willie Wilson, at a BP gas station at 5201 W. Cermak Rd. in Cicero, Thursday morning, March 24, 2022. Starting at 7 a.m., each vehicle got up to $50 of free gasoline at dozens of gas stations across the Chicago area, until $1 million was spent. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

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The Chicago City Council won’t be offering free gas, but it still may offer some help on Monday, when its Finance Committee meets to consider Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s plan to roll back all or part of Chicago’s gasoline tax — at least temporarily.

That tax stands at 8 cents a gallon. It had been a nickel, but Lightfoot increased it to help her balance her first city budget.

Lightfoot wouldn’t say Thursday precisely how much of a break or how long of a gas tax holiday she intends to offer, saying only that “we’ve got to do our part at the city to provide some relief for the people that are struggling. Not everybody can take the CTA.”

She added: “I’ve talked to residents who are saying, `I can’t afford to fill up my tank. I’m riding on a quarter of a tank. And then, maybe I’ll put a couple more dollars in. That’s not the way people should have to live.”

One woman in line in Cicero can relate to that. She had been waiting since 1 a.m. to get free gas, watching the needle inch closer and closer to empty.

When she finally reached the station at Laramie and Cermak at 8 a.m., a half-dozen burly men had to push her Mercury Mountaineer to the pump.

“Oh my God, it’s Willie Wilson!” she shrieked when her gas giveaway hero began pumping fuel.

Juno Franco, a bus driver who grew up in Haiti and lives in Rogers Park, filled up in Evanston.

“It’s a wonderful thing that he’s doing at this time. Times are hard. We all need this type of help,” said Franco, 43.

“I can go to a supermarket and buy some food for my four kids now.”

Next in line for the pump was Salman Shaheen, 28, an Amazon delivery driver from Morton Grove.

“This is a pretty awesome thing,” he said. “I use my own car and this is going to help me so much today.”

Khaled Albarsery, 27, a software developer who filled up in the city, said he appreciated the free gas but was unsure if it would sway his vote. “Wilson is definitely going to be a name I recognize now, but I’ll have to research it a bit more,” he said.

Dennis Finn tried to time it so he arrived at a gas station in Rogers Park on fumes.

“I made it. This is amazing,” he said.

He plans to spend the cash he saved on gas on toiletries and food.

Asked if he planned to support Wilson’s candidacy, Finn was flummoxed. “What’s he running for?” he asked.

Contributing: Fran Spielman