Ald. David Moore (17th) threw his support behind the city’s chief operating officer John Roberson to run the Chicago Transit Authority during a contentious public comment at the agency’s board meeting on Wednesday.
Moore accused the board of “moving the goal post” on the search process and outlined why Roberson, who once served as the alderman’s chief of staff, is the man for the job.
“Do not assume power that you do not have. Work with the mayor that put you here,” Moore said to board members. “Don’t be a backbiting snake.”
Mayor Brandon Johnson has allegedly been working to shore up support for Roberson to lead the CTA, which Crain’s Chicago Business first reported last week. The mayor nominates a candidate for president and the seven-member board makes the final approval.
In response, a group of transit advocates called on the board to conduct a nationwide search that prioritizes candidates with extensive transit experience and urged Johnson to hold off on a nomination until after the spring session of the General Assembly wraps up later this month. Lawmakers are negotiating how to find more than $700 million in funding for the CTA, Metra, Pace and Regional Transportation Authority before pandemic-era federal grants run out.
The board held a special meeting last Thursday and spent most of the meeting in a closed session after a public comment period and adjourned without discussing anything in public. In a statement after the meeting, the board said “it takes very seriously its responsibility in appointing” the next CTA leader and “will fairly and consistently assess any candidate.”
On Wednesday, Moore didn’t sign up to talk during the public comment period, but a board member spotted him in the audience and CTA board chair Lester Barclay invited him to speak.
“If you want a search and all of that, put it in your policies next time,” Moore said. “Do the work and get 26 members of the City Council to pass a resolution that says, going forward, there’s gotta be a search every time.”
Moore did not respond immediately to a request for comment.
Some board members were upset with Moore’s unplanned remarks.
“Was that okay?” Board member Rosa Ortiz asked.
“I’m not saying that was okay,” Barclay said. “I didn’t know the alderman was coming, he was not on the agenda.”
At the end of the meeting, board members discussed the incident further. Rev. L. Bernard Jakes said board members are often praised and criticized during their meetings, a reality of the job.
“We have to take it,” Jakes said. “I’m not pleased with what the alderman did … He has a right to say what he said, just like any other member of the public. But I especially did not appreciate the references, even though no names were called, to snakes.”
He also acknowledged that the CTA is in the midst of a “very testy time.”
“I am an advocate to make sure we have a national search so that we can find the best and the brightest,” said Ortiz, who was also taken aback by Moore’s comment. “I know there are very talented, caring individuals that do want to take this role, are committed to this work and have experience and leadership in making sure the CTA provides the best service for the city and this region.”