Chicago residents’ pockets will finally catch a break from the rise of gas prices due to inflation, courtesy of a proposed program by Mayor Lori Lightfoot.

The ‘Chicago Moves’ program will cost the city $12.5 million, with $7.5 million going toward 50,000 prepaid gas cards worth $150 that could only be used at Chicago gas stations and $5 million for 100,000 transit cards worth $50, according to NPR. Residents will get a chance to grab one of the cards through a lottery system. “Beginning in May, cards will be distributed in five successive monthly waves of 10,000 residents,” Chicago’s Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s office said.

Applications open on April 27, but citizens must note a few requirements before applying. To be eligible, residents must live in Chicago, be at least 18 years old, have a current valid city sticker, and have a household income at or below the city’s medium income. 

For the past few weeks, free gas giveaways have been a focal in Chicago.

Former mayoral candidate and businessman Willie Wilson began the trend when he surprised residents with a $200,000 gas giveaway at select gas stations across the city, resulting in significant traffic jams. “The soaring gas price has caused a hardship for too many of our citizens,” businessman Willie Wilson said in a news release on social media. Each person was given up to $50 worth of gas until $200,000 was exhausted. The positive praise from the giveaway prompted Wilson to do another one worth $1 million a week later.

At that time, the giveaway expanded to gas stations across the city and select southern suburbs. Some people suspected this was a political move from Wilson, which he quickly denied. However, he does believe it’s a political stunt on Lori Lightfoot’s end. “The plan is tone-deaf and does not begin to address the needs of those struggling from historic highs in gas prices and taxes added on by the city, state, and country, ” he said. “Mayor Lightfoot’s actions are reflective of her being out of touch with the citizens of Chicago.” With the upcoming 2023 Mayoral election, Wilson will announce if he’s running for office again this month. 

Whether these giveaways are political stunts from both individuals or not, drivers in the city are all for free gas.

Blavity U Ambassador Lashaunta Moore is a graduate student at Columbia College Chicago, studying entrepreneurship for creatives. Moore has a bachelor’s degree in media communication, and she’s also a freelance journalist and digital content producer.