CHICAGO (AP) – The Chicago River was dyed a bright green on Saturday after Mayor Lori Lightfoot reversed a previous decision not to paint the watercourse for the second year because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Crews on boats started pouring green dye onto the riverbank around 7 am, after Lightfoot authorized dyeing before St. Patrick’s Day, enchanting pedestrians with the vivid scene.
Chicago residents Lori Jones and Mike Smith surveyed the green waters, saying they were happy with the 1962 tradition that has been resumed this year.
“We are happy that Mayor Lightfoot decided to continue with this tradition because we really missed it last year, like many other things in 2020,” said Jones, 59. the Chicago Tribune.
Last year, Lightfoot abruptly canceled the city’s parades in 2020 and the dyeing of the river a few days before they occurred in the early days of the pandemic. She canceled the parades again this year due to the persistent pandemic and said the river would not be dyed again.
But a Lightfoot spokesman said in a statement that the city had chosen “to honor the long tradition” and authorized its partners, the Chicago Plumbers Union Local 130, to dye the river.
The event was not publicized in advance “to minimize crowds and avoid congregations,” said the spokesman. “In addition, the Riverwalk will be closed on Saturday and Chicagoans looking to see the river during the day are encouraged to ‘keep it moving’ and celebrate safely and responsibly.”