Mayor Johnson replaces Chicago Housing Authority Board Chair after appointment of new CHA CEO

The mayor is now appointing Jawanza Malone as CHA Board Chair after removing Matt Brewer.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 9:27pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has replaced the chair of the Chicago Housing Authority Board of Commissioners, Matt Brewer, weeks after the board named Keith Pettigrew as the new CEO of the CHA. The mayor claims Brewer unilaterally decided to appoint Pettigrew, calling it a violation of the Open Meetings Act, while Brewer says the board followed the law and process.

Why it matters

The leadership of the Chicago Housing Authority has been a point of contention for months, with Mayor Johnson backing a different candidate for the CEO role than the one ultimately selected by the CHA board. This move by the mayor to replace the board chair signals an ongoing power struggle over the direction of the city's public housing authority.

The details

Mayor Brandon Johnson has removed Chicago Housing Authority Board Chair Matt Brewer and is appointing Jawanza Malone as the new CHA Board Chair. This comes after the CHA board named Keith Pettigrew as the new CEO of the housing authority, a decision the mayor claims Brewer made unilaterally in violation of the Open Meetings Act. Brewer disputes this, saying the board followed the proper legal process and that seven of the 10 commissioners approved Pettigrew's appointment.

  • Mayor Johnson removed Matt Brewer as CHA Board Chair in April 2026.
  • The CHA board appointed Keith Pettigrew as the new CHA CEO several weeks prior to the mayor's action.

The players

Brandon Johnson

The mayor of Chicago who removed Matt Brewer as chair of the Chicago Housing Authority board and appointed Jawanza Malone as the new chair.

Matt Brewer

The former chair of the Chicago Housing Authority board, who was removed from his position by Mayor Brandon Johnson.

Jawanza Malone

The new chair of the Chicago Housing Authority board, appointed by Mayor Brandon Johnson after he removed Matt Brewer from the position.

Keith Pettigrew

The new CEO of the Chicago Housing Authority, appointed by the CHA board prior to Mayor Johnson's removal of the board chair.

Walter Burnett Jr.

A former alderman who Mayor Johnson had backed for the CHA CEO role, but the CHA committee felt did not have the proper experience.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Mayor Johnson claims Brewer unilaterally decided to appoint Pettigrew, calling it a violation of the Open Meetings Act.”

— Brandon Johnson, Mayor of Chicago

“Brewer says the board followed the law and process, with seven of 10 commissioners approving the appointment of Pettigrew.”

— Matt Brewer, Former CHA Board Chair

What’s next

The leadership changes at the Chicago Housing Authority are likely to continue being a point of contention, with the mayor and the CHA board at odds over the selection of the new CEO. The situation will likely require further negotiations and potentially legal action to resolve the dispute.

The takeaway

This power struggle over the leadership of the Chicago Housing Authority highlights the ongoing tensions between the mayor's office and the city's public housing agency. The removal of the board chair signals the mayor's desire to exert more control over the CHA's direction, even if it means overriding the decisions made by the board.