Mayor Johnson appoints Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa for Chicago Park District superintendent
CHICAGO — Mayor Johnson has appointed 35th Ward Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa as the next Chicago Park District superintendent and CEO.
'Alderman Carlos Ramirez-Rosa is a passionate public servant with a decade of municipal leadership experience and a successful track record of building coalitions and delivering significant community investments,' said Mayor Brandon Johnson. 'My administration is committed to investing in our city's residents and communities. Making our Park District more equitable and accessible, particularly in disinvested communities, is critical to improving the quality of life for all Chicagoans. Carlos is an effective leader and will be a strong Superintendent of the Chicago Park District.
Pending council approval, he will succeed Lightfoot-appointed Rosa Escareno. Escareno announced her resignation Wednesday after a board meeting.
Chicago Park District boss Rosa Escareno announces resignation
Escareno has worked for the City of Chicago for decades, once leading the Business Affairs and Consumer Protection office under Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
Ramirez-Rosa has been elected three times to represent the 35th Ward, which represents portions of Avondale, Hermosa, Irving Park and Logan Square.
'I want to thank Mayor Johnson for this opportunity and CEO Escareño for her leadership. I also want to thank the residents of the 35th Ward who have put their trust in me to advocate on their behalf for the past decade. It has been the honor of my life to serve you all,' said Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa. 'I look forward to carrying on that spirit of service to this new role to ensure that all Chicagoans can enjoy our parks.'
Mayor Johnson said he will outline a process to appoint the next alderman of the 35th Ward.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Miami Herald
an hour ago
- Miami Herald
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The board's confirmation votes — delivered with little debate — confirmed the new normal in Florida higher education: placing Republican insiders and political appointees in top academic leadership roles. Eleven of the 25 public university and state college presidency vacancies over the past five years have been filled by former GOP lawmakers or lobbyists. The Board of Governors rejection of former University of Michigan president Santa Ono for the University of Florida presidency earlier this month confirmed that Florida is no longer interested in academic pedigree. Ono sat for a three-hour grilling about his views on diversity, equity and inclusion and other topics before the vote. By contrast, Wednesday's proceedings moved swiftly, even as Johnson's appointment sparked significant opposition and required special legislation to fund her contract. Wednesday's bulk approvals further DeSantis' effort to cement his legacy of conservative higher-ed reforms as the term-limited governor winds down his second term. Now, five of Florida's 12 public universities are set to be led by DeSantis allies. Past appointments include former House Speaker Richard Corcoran — now president of New College of Florida, where he's steering the liberal-arts school rightward — and former House Majority Leader Adam Hasner, who was tapped earlier this year to lead Florida Atlantic University. Nuñez and Diaz, like others recently appointed, lack terminal degrees — once considered standard for university presidents. Nuñez holds a bachelor's and master's from FIU; Diaz holds a master's and served as COO of Doral College, a small private institution. Johnson has a juris doctor from Georgia State University and no previous experience as a university administrator or HBCU affiliate. 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Miami Herald
3 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Amy Coney Barrett Makes Unexpected Move in Supreme Court
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Chicago Tribune
4 hours ago
- Chicago Tribune
Mayor Brandon Johnson didn't conduct formal national search for CTA head despite claiming otherwise, records show
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