Aldermen Line Up To Get 1 Million Masks From Willie Wilson By The Truckload

The donation comes after Wilson sought to sell masks to the city and state, but Mayor Lightfoot and Gov. Pritzker balked at the deals.

Colin Boyle and Joe Ward

2:29 PM CDT on Apr 28, 2020

Businessman Willie Wilson passes out boxes of masks he donated to be distributed to Chicago wards on April 28.

Credibility:

DOWNTOWN — Dozens of aldermen gathered outside the Thompson Center Tuesday morning as local businessman and ex-mayoral candidate Willie Wilson dolled out 20,000 masks for all of Chicago’s 50 wards.

A wall of boxes containing the 1 million masks lined Randolph Street and aldermen showed up to pick up the boxes by the truckload. Wilson owns a medical supply company.

Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson (11th) carries boxes of masks that Dr. Willie Wilson donated to be distributed to Chicago wards on April 28.

Ald. Ed Burke (14th) presented Wilson with a with a Chicago City Council Special Aide badge — and thanked him with a fist bump.

Ald. Ed Burke (14th) at a Willie Wilson’s mask giveaway Tuesday.

Ald. Jim Gardiner (45th) praised Wilson, saying he looks forward to having a working relationship with the former mayoral candidate. Aldermen are expected to distribute the masks throughout their wards, Winslow said.

The event garnered fervent support and camaraderie from the aldermen in attendance, although social distancing was not strictly enforced nor practiced.

Ald. Jim Gardiner (45th) poses with boxes 1 million masks across all 50 wards of Chicago outside the Thompson Center on Tuesday, April 28, 2020.

Large automobiles and trucks from the wards queued up along Clark and Randolph during the commotion as aldermen and officials loaded in the boxes. Chicago Police were on hand facilitate the flow of traffic.

The donation comes after Wilson sought to sell protective masks and other medical equipment to the city and state, but Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Pritzker balked at the deals.

Boxes of masks Dr. Willie Wilson donated to be distributed to Chicago wards on April 28.

The masks earmarked for sale to the city are not necessarily the same ones being donated, Wilson spokesman Scott Winslow said. Wilson has sold 400-500 million masks across the world since the coronavirus pandemic began, he said.

Stopped by the Thompson Center to pick up 20,000 masks donated by Dr. Willie Wilson. Even there we have to think of everyone’s health first. Many thanks to the good Dr. for it and this also shows why we need more fully funded governments and to tax the rich! #Dontgettooclosefam pic.twitter.com/gvraXoyl6X
— @ward40 (@40thforward) April 28, 2020

“Senior citizens, residents living in underserved communities, the needy all need masks to protect themselves from COVID-19 and to comply with Governor Pritzker’s order,” Wilson said in a press release for the event.

Wilson has already donated 1 million masks to Chicago hospitals, Cook County Jail, senior homes, the Chicago Transit Authority and other agencies, Winslow said.

Willie Wilson dolled out 1 million masks to aldermen Tuesday.

Ald. Daniel La Spata (1st) picks up masks Tuesday.

Ald. Walter Burnett. Jr. (27th) speaks to the press outside the Thompson Center before Dr. Willie Wilson distributed 1 million masks across all 50 wards of Chicago on April 28.

Ald. Roderick Sawyer (6th) at Willie Wilson’s mask giveaway on Tuesday.

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Colin Boyle

Joe Ward

Rogers Park, Edgewater, Uptown Reporter

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