Mayor Johnson Makes Play to Reassert Power in CHA

Mayor Brandon Johnson is maneuvering to install three new board members in the Chicago Housing Authority in the midst of a power struggle with the former interim leader of the agency.

Johnson will nominate John Barlett, former executive director of the Metropolitan Tenants Organization, Paul Roldan, ex-CEO of Hispanic Housing Development and former president of Brook Architecture Ramona Westbrook on Tuesday, according to Crain’s. It’s still unclear which of the three figures the mayor aims to replace former interim CHA head Matthew Brewer, who is running to replace Johnson. Johnson has not yet formally declared that he will run for re-election.

Beyond Brewer, vice chair James Matanky and Luis Gutierrez are the other two CHA execs that Johnson’s office is moving to supplant, according to the outlet.

Mayor Johnson and Brewer have been in the middle of a protracted power struggle for over a year. The bitterness began when Johnson appointed Alderman Walter “Red” Burnett to take over his father’s seat on city council. The CHA delayed a vote to confirm the senior Walter Burnett to wait on a response from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development on whether or not Burnett needed a waiver from conflict of interest rules, which the HUD later denied.

In April, the CHA, with Brewer as its acting operating chair, appointed Keith Pettigrew to lead the agency. Pettigrew is hanging on in the role in spite of a lawsuit seeking to overturn the appointment, which alleges the vote violated the Open Meetings Act. Johnson also moved to demote Brewer. The elder Burnett told the outlet that he’s no longer interested in helming the powerful housing authority.

If Johnson wants to formally remove Pettigrew as CEO, he’s going to need a 75 percent vote. There’s also a status update hearing on Pettigrew’s contract expected later this month, according to the outlet.

— Hunter Cooke