Johnson’s Effort to Reassert CHA Power Stymied

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s efforts to install three new members of the Chicago Housing Authority were stymied by a split City Council vote.

Johnson’s play was at least partially aimed at replacing three board members who voted to appoint CHA president Keith Pettigrew despite his preference of former alderman Walter Burnett. Burnett could not be considered for the job due to a lack of federal conflict of interest waivers concerning his history in regards to CHA voucher tenants.

The mayor attempted to directly introduce the appointments of John Bartlett, Paul Roldan and Ramona Westbrook, skating by traditional processes. The move was blocked by a 9-9 vote, and the meeting was adjourned before the Housing Committee got a chance to hear the board members, according to Crain’s. Matthew Brewer, James Matanky and Luis Gutierrez were the three members the appointments were meant to replace, according to previous reporting from the outlet.

In April, the CHA board, which was led by interim head Matthew Brewer, held a vote to appoint Pettigrew as the new leader of the agency. The vote passed with a 7-2 split. Pettigrew has remained in the role despite a lawsuit that was filed by Johnson allies and housing advocates who wanted to overturn the appointment. Those in opposition say that the vote violated Illinois law, specifically the Open Meetings Act. However, Pettigrew has remained in his role, breaking an 18 month streak of the CHA operating without a permanent leader.

The board resolution to appoint Pettigrew stated that he can only be removed for cause, which would require a 75 percent supermajority result from a 10-member board vote. In the wake of Pettigrew’s appointment, Johnson called actions undertaken while Brewer was the agency’s interim head “invalid,” and tried to have him removed from his position.

Brewer is now running for Mayor. Johnson has not yet declared whether or not he will seek re-election.

— Hunter Cooke