Daley appoints five Chicago Housing Authority commissioners

Commissioner Bridget Reidy

Two are more familiar: Hallie Amey and Sandra Young. Young, however, now takes on a regular commissioner postrather than a resident post, as she has moved from public housing and become a homeowner in CHA's Oakwood Shores. Amey has been reappointed to her term.

All five were approved today by the housing committee, but will be formally voted on at next Wednesday's city council meeting. 

Beverly is the queen mother of public housing. Everyone in CHA knows Ms. Beverly. She's been a leader at ABLA homes on the near West side for over 25 years. She raised her own six children at ABLA and rose through the ranks over the years to become the local advisory council president. This past year, when Central Advisory Council President Mary Wiggins passed away, Beverly succeded her as president, heading up the organization of all city public housing leaders for several months.

But in April, she was ousted by Myra King, president of Trumbull/Lowden Homes on the far South Side. King is much younger than Beverly, a different generation of public housing leaders. You never see Myra King without her bluetooth headset. She has a master's degree in organizational leadership from DePaul University and is an advocate for residents being more connected with computers and technology.

Both women are strong advocates for residents, but in very different ways. Take their comments at the May meeting.

King got up and delivered a seven point address on the situation at LeClaire Courts, asking for specific information on the plan going forward.

Beverly got up to acknowledge Chair Martin Nesbitt and CEO Lewis Jordan for their support, as she does at most every meeting.

It's not that Ms. Beverly doesn't get things done. She certainly does. But she does it behind the scenes.

King is upfront, clear and direct. She may be soft-spoken, but she's not afraid to say what she thinks.

Chariman Nesbitt presents Bridget O'Keefe with plaque commemorating her service.

Reidy was a surprise to me - someone I hadn't heard of before. She has lived in Chicago all her life on the South West Side, currently in the Beverly neighborhood. She went to the University of Illinois and also graduated from DePaul University's law school. She's worked as an attorney for the city, as well as in private practice. As one of the original minds on the Plan For Transformation, Reidy says she's excited to be back and to continue her work.

She replaces another Bridget - Bridget O'Keefe, who was at her last board meeting yesterday.

All the new commissioners spoke of their enthusiasm for the job. King says she's known she was meant to be a community leader when CHA CEO Vincent Lane took her and a group of CHA residents to Israel in 1991, where they visited kibbutzim, collective communities based on agriculture. King was inspired by how the community worked together, and it helped her recognize her own calling.

"My purpose is for serving the greater good. I serve not out of fear or arrogance, but out of gratitude," says King. "If you work together, there's nothing you can't do."

Counting up the commissioners, there's still only nine after these five are formally appointed. The Illinois Housing Authority Act says the board should consist of 10 commisisoners. So, will Daley appoint another? Or will the seat sit vacant as it has before?