CHA Board Chair speaks out against attempted firing: 'I remain operating chair'

Chicago mayor looks to oust CHA Board Chair

Mayor Brandon Johnson is looking to move another city leader, but this time, that official won't budge. Chicago Housing Authority Chair Matthew Brewer told Paris Schutz why he's staying put.

CHICAGO - Mayor Brandon Johnson says Matthew Brewer is no longer the operating chairman of the $1.4 billion Chicago Housing Authority. Instead, the mayor says he has installed an ally, Commissioner Jawanza Malone.

But Brewer spoke out Thursday, saying, "not so fast."

"I remain the Operating Chair of the board with the authority to lead this organization day to day," Brewer said in a sit-down interview with FOX Chicago. 

What we know:

Brewer said he and the CHA board followed all rules and regulations when voting 7-2 to appoint Keith Pettigrew as the agency’s new CEO.

Johnson disagrees, and says the vote is invalid. Pettigrew is the current housing chairman in Washington D.C.; Brewer calls him a rock star.

But Johnson wanted former 27th Ward Alderman Walter Burnett to take the job and he resigned from the Chicago City Council. 

Johnson then appointed his son, Walter Redmond Burnett, in his place and openly advocated for the position.

"I think he's just disappointed because he didn't get the candidate that he wanted. And you can disagree with the result, but you can't ignore the process," Brewer said.

Johnson says the vote to approve Pettigrew violated the state’s Open Meetings Act. Brewer says the vote was done in public, on the record, and there’s a transcript. He says the mayor didn’t get involved until the very end, when Pettigrew was already a finalist.

"He came through this process that was agreed upon and everything was working the way it's supposed to work," Brewer said. "And at the very last minute, the mayor jumps in and says, ‘Actually, forget the process. I want my guy.’"

The CHA has been without a CEO since 2024. Brewer said the board conducted a nationwide search with more than 100 community meetings. 

Burnett has a conflict of interest – he’s a property owner and receives some income from federal housing vouchers. Brewer says Burnett was not part of the search process. He says the mayor should get behind Pettigrew’s appointment.

"It's a big deal, especially in this environment, to bring in a rock star from out of state to come in and lead this organization. There's a million reasons people don't want to come to Chicago right now to lead. And we were able to overcome that and find Mr. Pettigrew. That's a big win for the city of Chicago for the organization," Brewer said.

We reached out to Mayor Johnson's office today to speak with the mayor or Commissioner Malone, and a spokesperson said the mayor's office is reviewing all of its options. He did issue a lengthy statement on Wednesday, saying, in part:

"I stand with the coalition of community members and stakeholders who have raised serious concerns about the legality and integrity of this process. CHA residents deserve leadership decisions that are transparent, lawful, and grounded in their lived experiences, not a process that prioritizes expediency over accountability."

What's next:

Brewer says he expects the mayor's office to attempt other ways to reverse the appointment, but says that he is going forward preparing Pettigrew to take the job.