Three Days After Warning of City Hall Housecleaning, Johnson Gets Out the Broom
Johnson Drops Three Department Heads: Aviation Commissioner, COPA Chief, and OEMC Director
Three days after warning of a City Hall housecleaning fueled by disloyalty, Mayor Brandon Johnson dropped three shoes — announcing the retirement of three department heads: Aviation Commissioner Jamie Rhee, Civilian Office of Police Accountability chief Andrea Kersten, and OEMC director Jose Tirado.
A ‘Terrible Mistake’ to Lose Rhee
Aviation Committee Chair Matt O’Shea (19th) called Rhee’s departure a “terrible mistake.”
“This is a crucial time. This is not the time with the many things we have going wrong in this city that this administration can afford to lose the strong leadership and expertise that Jamie Rhee has given to our city for the past 32 years,” O’Shea said.
Calling Rhee, “one of the most respected leaders in the airline industry across the country,” O’Shea said, “This will be a terrible loss to our two international airports and to our city.”
COPA Chief Had Been Under Fire
Kersten’s exit was not unexpected.
She has been under fire for months amid allegations of presiding over investigations with an anti-police bias.
Sixteen current or former employees of Chicago’s independent police disciplinary agency have called on a civilian-led panel to consider taking the first step toward removing the agency’s chief — just days after two purported whistleblowers were fired amid a brewing controversy centered on allegations of anti-police bias.
Johnson’s Warning
The changing of the guard at O’Hare and Midway comes just three days after Johnson’s ominous warning about high-level changes he planned as part of, what amounts to a mid-term course correction.
During an appearance Monday night at New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church, 754 E. 77th St. It was the first in a series of appearances Johnson is calling his “Faith in Government” initiative.
“If there was something I could change or do differently or just reset, I would have cleaned house faster,” Johnson said.
After a long pause, Johnson harkened back to his religious background as a preacher’s son.
“I was raised a certain way. … And I was trying to show Godly presentation that we can work with people who come from other administrations. … They don’t have to agree with me 100% to work within my administration,” the mayor said.
“Yeah, I wouldn’t have done that. If you ain’t with us, you just gotta go. So now I’m in a position now where I’ll be making some decisions in the days to come because playing nice with other people who ain’t about us — it’s just a waste of exercise,” he said.
The church audience seemed stunned. Some could be heard saying, “Oooh” and “Wow.”
“So there’s a whole bunch of people saying, ‘Oh, shoot. Who’s about to get fired?’ Well, you about to find out. Stay tuned.”
Conclusion
In a surprise move, Mayor Brandon Johnson has announced the retirement of three department heads, citing disloyalty and a need for change. The decision has sparked controversy, with some calling it a “terrible mistake.” The future of the aviation industry and the city’s police department hangs in the balance as Johnson’s administration undergoes a significant overhaul.
FAQs
* Who is leaving their position?
+ Aviation Commissioner Jamie Rhee
+ Civilian Office of Police Accountability chief Andrea Kersten
+ OEMC director Jose Tirado
* What is the reason for their departure?
+ Disloyalty and a need for change
* What is the reaction to their departure?
+ Some are calling it a “terrible mistake” and a loss for the city
* What is the next step for the city’s aviation industry and police department?
+ The future hangs in the balance as the administration undergoes a significant overhaul
