Critics SLAM Lightfoot For Allowing Massive Crowd At Music Festival

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot is being criticized for hosting a music festival, Lollapalooza, after announcing plans to resume pandemic restrictions.

Chicago Tribune reporter Gregor Pratt said, “At the same time she’s threatening possible restrictions if cases rise above 200 per day, Mayor Lori Lightfoot is moving forward with plans to bring 100,000 a day to Grant Park for Lollapalooza.

Lightfoot is reported as saying “Well, look, if we get back into an area where we feel like we’re in a red zone, which we are working very hard to make sure that our daily case rate is below 200, if we start to see consistently going over that, we’re not only going to look at a mask mandate, but we’re going to look back at other tools that we’ve been compelled to use. I hope we don’t get there. What we’re going to keep focusing on is pushing the vaccine. But my number one priority is to keep people safe.”

Even after harsh criticisms, Lightfoot made an appearance herself at Lollapalooza speaking to the massive crowd saying, “Thank you for masking up and vaxing up.”

She further defended her decision to host the festival saying, “It’s outdoors. We’ve been having large-scale events all over the city since June without major problems or issues. The Lolla team has been phenomenal. They’ve hired their own public health experts who’ve been working hand in glove with us since we started these discussions.”

Lollapalooza was canceled in 2020 amid pandemic concerns that reportedly cost over $35 million in sales and almost $9 million in lost earnings. However, amid concerns about the Delta variant along with COVID-19 restrictions, holding the event is being seen by many as a “super-spreader” event.

Journalist Laurie Garrett tweeted, “Will@chicagosmayor Lightfoot be blamed for approving a #COVID19 super-spreader event this weekend–@lollapalooza, three days of music euphoria with a huge, mask-less crowd?”

Retired Department of Defense operative Tony Shaffer also tweeted, “Wow-COVID is the most intelligent virus ever in history – it will wait for @LoriLightfoot to get the city of Chicago all sorts of tax revenue before it becomes super dangerous and transmissible!”

In what may seem to be conflicting advice, Lightfoot urged those visiting Lallapaloosa not to get on public transportation without a mask saying, “It’s not wise, you’re putting yourself at risk and you’re putting everyone else at risk.”