Skip to content
  • Subscribe
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Email
  • Home
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment
  • Features
  • Subscribe FREE to Ray Hanania’s Columns
  • Advertise
Suburban Chicagoland

Suburban Chicagoland

Original News, Features & Opinion

  • About
    • About
    • Advertise
    • Our Writers
      • Ray Hanania
      • Bill Lipinski
      • Aaron Hanania
      • Steve Metsch
      • Steve Neuhaus
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
    • Reach Out
    • Submit a Press Release
  • Sections
    • Events
    • Opinion
    • News
    • Features
    • Seniors
    • Comic Strip
  • Library
    • “MIdnight Flight” Online Book
      • Midnight Flight Book Overview
      • Midnight Flight Introduction
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 1
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 2
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 3
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 4
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 5
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 6
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 7
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 8
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 9
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 10
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 11
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 12
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 13
    • Villages, Cities & Towns
    • Federal Office Holders
    • County Officials
    • Legislators
  • Seniors
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
  • Comment
  • Podcast
    • Two Guys on Politics Podcast: A Centrist View on Politics
    • Two Guys on Politics
    • Ray Hanania on Politics Podcast
    • The Arab street Podcast
  • Hanania on Tiktok
  • Toggle search form
  • Orland First Responders candidates Matthew G. Rafferty and William Bonnar Jr.
    First Responders announce candidacies for Orland Fire District Board seats Cook County
  • D230 students win prestigious art awards Education
  • Alderman Raymond Lopez would have made a great mayor Blogger
  • Cook County Commissioner Frank Aguilar
    Cook County Announces Call for Transportation and Community Grant Program Applications Business
  • Inappropriate Illinois license plates
    New Secretary of State reaffirms rejection of inappropriate license plates Chicago
  • Justice Department Health Care Fraud Unit
    Chicago Man Convicted of Participating in Illegal Kickback Conspiracy Chicago
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas receives the American Arab Chamber of Commerce 2021 Action Award for her support of Arab and Muslim Americans, returning more than $1.3 million to Arab and Muslim taxpayers.
    Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas refunding more than $47 million to homeowners Cook County
  • money $20 dollar bill, dollars, cash
    Buckner unveils plan to help businesses and strengthen job Business
  • Chicago Mayoral candidate Kam Buckner 2023
    Buckner slams Garcia, Johnson and Lightfoot for Crypto hypocrisies, supports probes Chicago
  • Fighting oppressive taxes in Cook County Editors Pick
  • Elizabeth "Liz" Doody Gorman
    Suburbs lose a great leader in Liz Gorman Blogger
  • Elizabeth "Liz" Doody Gorman
    Liz Gorman brings sanity and services back to Cook County Board Blogger
  • Alexi Giannoulias, former Illinois state treasurer and candidate for Illinois Secretary of State
    Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias releases comprehensive Transition Team report Government
  • Assault weapons, courtesy of WIkipedia
    Pritzker’s assault weapons ban not enough to make law abiding citizens safe Blogger
  • Paul Vallas candidate for Chicago Mayor 2023. Photo courtesy of the Paul Vallas website
    Vallas urges probe in Lightfoot’s CPD scandal and accuses of Congressman Garcia of being AWOL from Chicagoland needs Chicago
Dr. Willie Wilson holds a press conference at a gas station in the Town of Cicero detailing his efforts to relieve pressures on motorists with rising gas prices. Pictured with him is Cicero Town President Larry Dominick. Photo courtesy of Gerardo Lopez

Lightfoot uses taxpayer dollars for political stunt

Posted on April 11, 2022April 11, 2022 By Ray Hanania 1 Comment on Lightfoot uses taxpayer dollars for political stunt
SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  

Lightfoot uses taxpayer dollars for political stunt

After Dr. Willie Wilson launched two successful gasoline giveaways to ease the gasoline costs for motorists in the Chicagoland area — not just in Chicago where he is running for Mayor — the failed Mayor of Chicago, Lori Lightfoot, who was responsible for widespread discrimination against Arab Americans, announced her own gasoline giveaway. Except, while Dr. Wilson used his own money, Mayor Lightfoot is using taxpayer money for the gasoline giveaway to boost her her political campaign. So transparent!

By Ray Hanania

Prices have been skyrocketing at every level and on every item in a large part because of the heavy toll the COVID-19 pandemic has had on businesses and workers.

The Russian invasion and accelerated war crimes in Ukraine have aggravated the economic impact on everyday citizens.

That’s what inspired Dr. Willie Wilson last month to decide he would take a part of his wealth and do something to ease the burden on the economically oppressed citizens. So, he announced a gasoline giveaway.

The first give-away was so popular, he upped it to $1 million and paid for the gasoline for motorists who lined up at several dozen gas stations, not just in Chicago but throughout Cook County for a second wave of gasoline assistance.

Dr. Willie Wilson holds a press conference at a gas station in the Town of Cicero detailing his efforts to relieve pressures on motorists with rising gas prices. Pictured with him is Cicero Town President Larry Dominick. Photo courtesy of Gerardo Lopez
Dr. Willie Wilson holds a press conference at a gas station in the Town of Cicero detailing his efforts to relieve pressures on motorists with rising gas prices. Pictured with him is Cicero Town President Larry Dominick. Photo courtesy of Gerardo Lopez

 

Wilson didn’t just come up with the idea because he is running for Mayor of Chicago. He has been donating money, food and PPE to safeguard and help residents who have been severely impacted by the pandemic.

The money he donated was hard-earned money taken out of his own pocket.

 

 

Contrast that to the unimaginative and controversy-plagued Mayor of Chicago, Lori Lightfoot. After Lightfoot saw how popular Wilson’s gasoline giveaway was, she announced she was going to top his $1 million and giveaway $12.5 million in prepaid gas and public transit cards.

Lightfoot’s giveaway is not for everyone who are suffering because of the economic hardships, like what Wilson did, but just for the people in Chicago.

The difference between what Wilson did and what Lightfoot is doing is so transparent and selfish.

Wilson did it out of the goodness of his heart.

Lightfoot is doing it purely for votes, to bolster her sagging image as a failed mayor. Lightfoot can’t do a thing about the rising crime that has worsened under her leadership. She can’t stop herself from insulting segments of the city’s constituents by pandering to some minority interests while ignoring others — remember when she said she would only grant interviews to non-White journalists? Can yo imagine how that would have gone over if a White Mayor had announced they were only doing interviews with White journalists?

But that’s not the worst part of what Lightfoot is doing. Wilson dug deep into his own personal wealth and used money that was his.

Not Lightfoot who instead is using taxpayer money to ease the economic burden to give her parallel credit to offset Wilson’s popularity. Lightfoot is envious of Wilson. She has a poor record to run on.

What Wilson did was a genuine expression of concern for the challenges facing residents. What Lightfoot is doing is purely political, and, in my opinion, utterly honestly reprehensible.

Instead of doing what’s right, Mayor Lightfoot continues to dig herself into a self-made shameful political hole.

THE POLITICAL GRAPEVINE: I am happy to announce that I am relaunching my live weekly English-language political talk-radio show focused on Arab American issues — it’s the only Arab American radio show in the country partnered with the popular US Arab Radio Network based in Dearborn. The radio show will be broadcast on Wednesday’s through four radio stations: 4 PM on WNZK AM 690 in Detroit, WDMV AM 750 in Washington DC, and WTOR AM 770 In New York including Ontario Canada. And, it will be rebroadcast on WNWI AM 1080 out of Oak Lawn on Thursday at 12 noon. This is Arab American Heritage Month and Arab Americans deserve the same voice and equal status as every ethnic and national group in this country. I hope you listen.

Liz Gorman received the largest single campaign donation of $100,000 from a supporter in any race outside of the statewide race for Governor in her bid to return to the 17th Cook County District. Gorman wants to restore the fight for taxpayer rights that was abandoned by her successor four years ago, the beleaguered Sean Morrison … Property tax bills are going to be 6 months late in Cook County this year, coming out probably sometime in September. Getting the blame is Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi, who is being challenged for re-election by Kari Steele, currently a member of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District. The election is on June 28, and Kaegi doesn’t want taxpayers to see how your property taxes have skyrocketed this year and undermine his fight to stay in office against Steele, a touch challenger.

In the weekly “Two Guys on Politics” podcast, which is available on iTunes, former Congressman Bill Lipinski and I discuss Ukraine’s strength pushing Russia’s war crimes forces back, and problems facing the Republican and the Democratic parties nationally. We also get insight from producer Brian Broeking who explains Bitcoin and crypto currencies.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Ray Hanania
Ray Hanania
Ray Hanania is an award-winning columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.  

Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.

Email Ray Hanania at rghanania@gmail.com.

Follow RayHanania on Gettr.com, the uncensored Twitter Ray Hanania on Gettr, the new Twitter
Ray Hanania
Latest posts by Ray Hanania (see all)
  • D230 students win prestigious art awards - January 26, 2023
  • Alderman Raymond Lopez would have made a great mayor - January 26, 2023
  • Hurley Named Chair of Police and Fire Committee - January 25, 2023
  • Tweet

SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  
 
 
 
           
Blogger, Commentary, Government, Opinion, Orland Park, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes, Transportation Tags:$50 gasoline gift cards, cheap politics, Chicago, Chicago Radio, Dr. Willie Wilson, gas stations, gasoline giveaway, Kari Steele, Lightfoot uses taxpayer money, Liz Gorman, Mayor Lori Lightfoot, misuse of funds, rising gas prices, The Political Grpaevine

Post navigation

Previous Post: Chicago Alderman Raymond Lopez announces for Chicago mayor
Next Post:  Sheriff Dart, State Lawmakers Applaud Federal Rule on Ghost Guns 

Related Posts

  • Welcome back News
  • William O. Lipinski former Congressman from Illinois (5th and later 3rd District). Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
    Right from the Middle: Elementary School essay contest on America’s Greatest President now open Bill Lipinski
  • Arianespace's Ariane 5 rocket is seen in this false color infrared exposure as it launches with NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope onboard, Saturday, Dec. 25, 2021, from the ELA-3 Launch Zone of Europe’s Spaceport at the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana. The James Webb Space Telescope (sometimes called JWST or Webb) is a large infrared telescope with a 21.3 foot (6.5 meter) primary mirror. The observatory will study every phase of cosmic history—from within our solar system to the most distant observable galaxies in the early universe. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
    NASA’s Webb Telescope Launches to See First Galaxies, Distant Worlds Federal
  • Illinois Tollway. Courtesy of the Illinois Tollway Authority
    Illinois Tollway prepared for changing winter conditions General Topics
  • Cheap Trick perseveres News
  • One hurt in garage fire News

More Related Articles

State Rep. Chris Welch Welch bill aims to guarantee Need-Based Higher Education grants for four years Education
New ambulance in Summit News
Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Reinhart courtesy of the Lake County States Attorneys Office Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Reinhart Keynotes Legal Seminar Series at Jeffery M. Leving Firm Cook County
Pat O'Brien for Cook County States Attorney O’Brien can’t beat Foxx as a “Republican” Blogger
Technology: Don’t get fooled by Magzter Editors Pick
Former Cook County Commissioner and taxpayer advocate Liz Gorman Liz Gorman named to Regional Transportation Authority Board breaking news

Comment (1) on “Lightfoot uses taxpayer dollars for political stunt”

  1. Pingback: The Driver's Side" – News From The Motorist's Perspective | theexpiredmeter.com

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Login with your Social ID
  • OPINION COLUMNS
  • Alderman Raymond Lopez would have made a great mayor
    January 26, 2023
  • Assault weapons, courtesy of WIkipedia
    Pritzker’s assault weapons ban not enough to make law abiding citizens safe
    January 16, 2023
  • Lori Lightfoot speaking at Police Accountability Task Force hearing in 2016. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
    Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot must go
    January 15, 2023
  • William O. Lipinski former Congressman from Illinois (5th and later 3rd District). Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
    Right from the Middle: Return semi-conductor and chip-making industries to America
    January 15, 2023
  • William O. Lipinski former Congressman from Illinois (5th and later 3rd District). Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
    Right from the Middle: The China threat to Asia’s Democracy
    January 9, 2023
  • Harry and Patricia Michalski courtesy of their facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10105680464226180&set=t.100009314491026&type=3
    Remembering Pat Michalski who dedicated her life to diversity and fairness
    December 30, 2022

Subscribe

  • Ray-Hanania-Newsletter-300-wide-Banner.jpg

Trending

  • Lori Lightfoot speaking at Police Accountability Task Force hearing in 2016. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia Chicago Mayor Lori Lightf... Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot must go Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has faile... posted on January 15, 2023
  • Paul Vallas candidate for Chicago Mayor 2023. Photo courtesy of the Paul Vallas website Vallas urges probe in Lig... Vallas urges probe in Lightfoot's CPD scandal and accuses of Congressman Ga... posted on January 16, 2023
  • Chicago Mayoral candidate Kam Buckner 2023 Black and Latinx Elected... Black and Latinx Elected Officials Unite Against the Chaos Caused by Mayor... posted on January 8, 2023
  • money $20 dollar bill, dollars, cash First Installment Cook Co... First Installment Cook County property taxes due date pushed to April 3 Coo... posted on January 4, 2023
  • Alexi Giannoulias, former Illinois state treasurer and candidate for Illinois Secretary of State Secretary of State Alexi... Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias releases comprehensive Transition Team... posted on January 17, 2023
  • NEWS
  • Orland First Responders candidates Matthew G. Rafferty and William Bonnar Jr.
    First Responders announce candidacies for Orland Fire District Board seats
    January 31, 2023
  • D230 students win prestigious art awards
    January 26, 2023
  • State Rep Fran Hurley 35th district
    Hurley Named Chair of Police and Fire Committee
    January 25, 2023
  • Cook County Commissioner Frank Aguilar
    Cook County Announces Call for Transportation and Community Grant Program Applications
    January 23, 2023
  • Inappropriate Illinois license plates
    New Secretary of State reaffirms rejection of inappropriate license plates
    January 23, 2023
  • Photo by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash
    Arrest and Criminal Charges Announced Against British and Russian Businessmen for Facilitating Sanctions Evasion of Russian Oligarch’s $90 Million Yacht
    January 23, 2023
  • The-Kings-Pawn-Book-300-x-300.png

The Political Pundit

Political Pundit Aug. 24, 2021. Taliban thanks president for boxes of MAGA hats
  • WORD PRESS REVIEWS
  • MyCloud by Western Digital, a hard drive that doesn't last. Don't purchase Western Digital.
    Western Digital tubes its loyal customers for profit
    October 17, 2021
  • Macho Themes website front page. Don't buy their themes. They don't work
    Difficulties with Macho Themes for WordPress
    August 21, 2021
  • TECHNOLOGY REVIEWS
  • William O. Lipinski former Congressman from Illinois (5th and later 3rd District). Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
    Right from the Middle: Return semi-conductor and chip-making industries to America
    January 15, 2023
  • William O. Lipinski former Congressman from Illinois (5th and later 3rd District). Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
    Right from the Middle: The China threat to Asia’s Democracy
    January 9, 2023
  • Sam Bankman-Fried in an interview during the Bitcoin 2021 conference. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
    Demands continue for Lightfoot and Garcia to detail ties to FTX scandal
    December 15, 2022

Follow Ray Hanania at
Gab.com, MeWe.com
IDobbinate.com,
Twitter, Facebook

Creative Commons License
All works on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Do not edit original work. Give credit to the original source.

What We’re Reading

Arab News Newspaper Leading English Language Publication in the GulfArab News Newspaper

Ray Hanania on Politics
SW News Newspaper Group

  • SPORTS
  • Chicago Wolves 2022-2023 season
    Chicago Wolves top Stars for second win in a row
    October 25, 2022
  • Stagg Marching Band Pit Crew as efficient as a NASCAR pit stop! The team that does a lot of the work to help the Stagg High school band perform works behind the scenes like a NASCAR pit stop. The students are profiled in this feature
    Stagg Marching Band Pit Crew as efficient as a NASCAR pit stop!
    August 31, 2022
  • Soccer. Photo by Md Mahdi on Unsplash
    International soccer returns to SeatGeek Stadium
    August 7, 2022
  • Stefan Noesen, Chicago Wolves
    Chicago Wolves Noesen wins President’s Award
    July 22, 2022
  • NEWS RELEASES
  • Orland First Responders candidates Matthew G. Rafferty and William Bonnar Jr.
    First Responders announce candidacies for Orland Fire District Board seats
    January 31, 2023
  • Paul Vallas candidate for Chicago Mayor 2023. Photo courtesy of the Paul Vallas website
    Paul Vallas demands Lightfoot explain email scandal, and use of government resources for political campaign
    January 12, 2023
  • David Crowley, Milwaukee County Executive. Photo courtesy of Milwaukee County
    Milwaukee County sells 90 lots for single family homes
    January 11, 2023
  • Paul Vallas candidate for Chicago Mayor 2023. Photo courtesy of the Paul Vallas website
    Chicago’s Police Officers Endorse Paul Vallas for Mayor
    January 9, 2023
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas. Photo courtesy of the Cook County government
    Pappas: Cook County property taxes due by December 30
    December 28, 2022
John Kass Columns

Order the book PoweR PR; Ethnic Activists Guide to Strategic Communications

  • BUSINESS NEWS
  • Cook County Commissioner Frank Aguilar
    Cook County Announces Call for Transportation and Community Grant Program Applications
    January 23, 2023
  • money $20 dollar bill, dollars, cash
    Buckner unveils plan to help businesses and strengthen job
    January 19, 2023
  • United Airlines Flight at O'Hare Airport
    United offers endless airline travel problems for travelers
    December 25, 2022
  • Sam Bankman-Fried in an interview during the Bitcoin 2021 conference. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
    Demands continue for Lightfoot and Garcia to detail ties to FTX scandal
    December 15, 2022

YOUTUBE VIDEOS

Click this link to watch or use the widget below:

Click here to view the video on YouTube or use the widget below.
Email Ray Hanania for more information about performing at your event at rghanania@gmail.com.

Copyright © 2022 Suburban Chicagoland & Urban Strategies Group

Powered by PressBook Premium theme