Lake County Gazette

In the wake of Highland Park's controversial decision to cancel a "poverty simulation" event due to a social media backlash, radio host Dan Proft challenged the community's response.

"I challenge you to find people more hypnotized by their own navels and more paralysed by "viral meanness" than the sentimental barbarians of Highland Park," Proft said in a tweet. 

At a Sept. 11 Highland Park City Council meeting resident Suzanne Wahl also criticized the event, highlighting the disconnect between the simulation and the real struggles faced by residents in 2023. She called for the council to be accountable with taxpayer funds, criticized the event's cancellation due to social media backlash, and urged practical initiatives to address economic challenges instead of virtue signaling.

“I was horrified to learn we are now a global laughing stock because of your most recent taxpayer-funded debacle, the poverty simulation event planned for last Saturday," Wahl said. After thousands of negative comments on Facebook and being mocked in the global news cycle. I guess we lowly taxpaying residents were fortunate that you pulled the plug.” 

She underscored the importance of the council demonstrating responsible financial management and urged them to issue a public apology to the residents, along with proposing practical measures to tackle Highland Park's economic challenges, notably the downturn in small business revenue. 

The Alliance for Human Services decided to call off the event in response to an overwhelming public outcry on social media.  

Proft criticized the cancellation of the event stating that the decision was influenced by negative public misinformation. 

“‘negative public misinformation’ = truth,” Proft said on X. 

Linking to another tweet, the Chicago Morning Answer host accused those involved of cowardice. 

“Cowards. Sunlight burns bloodsuckers,” Proft said on X.