Mayor Brandon Johnson is putting new faces in high places, appointing Lissette Castañeda as the new Department of Housing (DOH) commissioner and Jose Tirado as the executive director of the Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC). Castañeda steps into her role with a hefty 20 years of experience in affordable housing under her belt, and Mayor Johnson has charged her with the mission to streamline affordable housing developments and expand homeownership, notably in areas that have gotten the short end of the stick when it comes to investment.
"I firmly believe that housing is a human right," Mayor Johnson stated, according to an announcement from the Mayor's Office. He's pinning high hopes on Castañeda, declaring, "Lissette has the expertise and the experience to make that right a reality for all Chicagoans." The Mayor looks forward to collaborating with her to make affordable housing and homeownership more than just pipe dreams for the city’s residents.
Castañeda isn't green to the scene. She served as the big boss at LUCHA, where she managed an affordable real estate portfolio and had a hand in strategic planning. "Stable, affordable housing is a cornerstone of community safety, economic development and mental health," Castañeda told the Mayor's Office. She’s ready to lead the charge in the new housing developments and help residents stay rooted in their homes.
And then there's Jose Tirado – a man with decades of experience under his belt at OEMC and CPD, stepping up as a permanent fixture after an interim stint that saw him tackling challenges from historic floods to planning the city’s first Chicago NASCAR street race. Mayor Johnson sung Tirado's praises, saying, "In his role, director Tirado will utilize his decades of experience with OEMC and CPD to continue modernizing our community safety strategy, advocate for diversity and inclusion within our departments", as stated in the official press release.
Tirado's docket is full, from managing the ongoing asylum seeker crisis to preparing for the Democratic National Convention in 2024. "Being able to give back to the city I was raised in is a true honor," Tirado enthused, promising to serve the Chicagoans faithfully and focus on safety for everyone in the Windy City.
