The Chicago Housing Authority board has approved Keith Pettigrew, the executive director of the DC Housing Authority in Washington, D.C., as its new CEO. This is a significant loss for Mayor Brandon Johnson who had been trying for months to appoint a close ally to the post. Pettigrow, who has led DCHA since 2023, follows Tracey Scott's departure from the top spot at the CHA in 2024. His appointment follows a long-running search process that saw Johnson's preference for ex-Ald. Walter Burnett, who had previously served in the City Council with the expectation of being appointed to lead the ChA but faced resistance from the Board of Commissioners. Despite this, the appointment requires a pending waiver from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development due to Burnett's potential conflicts of interest.