Burnett's City Council era set to end, but his legacy still unfolding
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Ald. Walter Burnettt (27th) talks to reporters after his last City Council meeting. Photo: Monica Eng/Axios
Ald. Walter Burnett (27th) wore sunglasses and clutched a box of tissues Wednesday as his colleagues in the City Council bid him farewell after 30 years in office.
The big picture: Burnett, the longest-serving alder currently on the council, is stepping down this month with his eyes set on taking over as CEO of the Chicago Housing Authority.
What he said: "I hope I made you proud," Burnett, holding back tears, said in his farewell speech.
Zoom in: The 61-year-old also serves as vice mayor and chairman of the Committee on Zoning, Landmarks, and Building Standards.
- Burnett grew up in the Cabrini-Green housing development, which he believes makes him a natural to lead the CHA.
Reality check: Burnett's story may make him a suitable candidate to run public housing in Chicago, but his record with housing issues is more complicated.
Flashback: Earlier in his career, Burnett, who has always been a staunch supporter of whoever is mayor, served as a cheerleader for Mayor Richard M. Daley and the CHA's Plan for Transformation.
- This plan was to demolish public housing high-rises like Cabrini-Green and the Robert Taylor Homes and rebuild new mixed-income housing.
- While Burnett helped usher in building new complexes like Westhaven Park on the West Side (replacing Henry Horner Homes), tens of thousands of residents who were displaced never returned. The plan was supposed to be finished within a decade, but most of its initiatives have still not been completed.
- Burnett's 27th ward includes the West Loop, which has had intense private development leading to affordability issues over the past decade. Some neighborhood advocates have accused Burnett of cozying up to developers, although Burnett countered by telling developers they had to hire minority workers if they wanted projects in his ward.
State of play: Mayor Brandon Johnson will appoint Burnett's successor in the 27th ward, and Burnett's pushing his son to replace him.
- It's unclear if Johnson will select a successor for Burnett as vice mayor, but he will appoint a replacement for the chair of the Zoning Committee, and it hasn't been easy for him to get council confirmation in the past.
The intrigue: Burnett's exit will make Ald. Anthony Beale (9th) the longest-serving lawmaker in the City Council. Beale began in 1999.
The bottom line: Burnett will be remembered for his role in several City Councils over his 30-year career, but his legacy on how he has impacted the city is far from finished.
What's next: The mayor will appoint a new CHA head in the coming weeks.