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CHICAGO (WLS) — Chicago is always busy in the summer, but in addition to all the events, festivals and parades, the city also hosts the Democratic National Convention.

The city government is asking the Chicago Pride Parade and other long-standing parades, including Bud Billiken, to limit their events this year.

Overtime for police and other city employees is a major problem. The ABC7 I-Team is investigating the major changes being made to parades to reduce that overtime.

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Since 1970, the Chicago Pride Parade has rolled out the rainbows for all and become a regional, even national, event of acceptance. This year’s parade, however, will be scaled down, with the route shortened by about six blocks.

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“You know, my concern is more about the visuals,” said Kevin Morrison, a Cook County commissioner in the 15th district. “Does it look like Pride is under attack? I would tell them it’s about making sure everyone who attends is safe.”

Morrison and other politicians are being urged to reduce the size of groups along the parade route.

“In the past we have been able to put up a banner and have about 10 supporters walk with us,” Morrison said. “This year, unfortunately, it will be combined, so we elected officials will be asked to bring just one person. So it will be a lot smaller.”

Instead of registering separately, schools will be combined into one large group. Organizers have said the number of participants this year will be limited to 150. In some years, the number has been as high as 200.

“I think we’re all very disappointed with the shortening of the parade, especially because there was no real community engagement from the beginning,” said Mony Ruiz-Velasco, deputy director of Equality Illinois. “We’ve heard several reasons from the city why they want to shorten the parade, including things like police shifts and police resources.”

Ruiz-Velasco also serves on an independent panel that advises the mayor’s office on LGBTQ+ issues.

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Jackie Rosa, Chicago’s deputy mayor for civic engagement, told the I-Team that the city had to reduce overtime for police and other city employees because of the DNC.

“We are reducing the number of our events this summer, parades are one of them,” Rosa said.

The I-Team examined police overtime data from June 1 to August 3 of last year. The city spent $73.2 million on CPD overtime pay.

“The DNC is in August and requires a hands-on approach,” Rosa says. “It’s also about city employees doing their best to ensure a safe route and that they have good working conditions as well.”

“Yes, it’s unfortunate, but we’re still optimistic as we celebrate 95 years of Bud Billiken,” said Myiti Sengstacke-Rice, president and CEO of the Chicago Defender.

Sengstacke-Rice said no parade applications would be denied, but the parade would be streamlined in August.

“Then there is a group of stewards who make sure that the parade moves along a little faster,” said Sengstacke-Rice. “We already had this problem that there were a lot of gaps because people stopped and performed even though they weren’t supposed to.”

Pride Parade organizers declined to speak on camera, but said in a statement: “We want to reiterate that the Chicago Pride Parade is not just an event, but a beacon of hope, resilience and strength for half a century. The changes underscore the importance of adapting to the needs of our city while preserving the spirit and heritage of our parade.”

The FBI and Department of Homeland Security issued a warning that foreign terrorist organizations could target Pride events nationwide, but there is no specific threat to Chicago.

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“We need to be visible to the transgender children who are suffering attacks all around us,” Ruiz-Velasco said. “We need to make sure LGBT children know that it doesn’t take courage to live authentically as you are, and that the parade is a place where people can truly be themselves, often for the first time.”

The 53rd Chicago Pride Parade will start an hour earlier on Sunday, at 11 a.m. This will also help reduce overtime by ensuring that police shift changes can occur in the late afternoon.