Neighborhood Services Director Angel Rubi Navarijo Appointed to the CCPSA
Mayor Brandon Johnson has announced the appointments of seven highly qualified individuals to serve on the first-ever permanent Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability (CCPSA). Among them is our very own Director of Neighborhood Services and Public Safety Angel Rubi Navarijo! Congratulations and good luck as you share your experience and expertise on community safety with the rest of the city.
Read the full press release announcing the seven CCPSA appointments below.
MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON APPOINTS SEVEN TO PERMANENT COMMUNITY COMMISSION FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
Mayor Brandon Johnson has announced the appointments of seven highly qualified individuals to serve on the first-ever permanent Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability. The announcement comes after a rigorous sixty-day nomination process led by the District Council Nominating Committee (Committee). The Committee is made up of one District Council member from each of the city’s twenty-two police districts councils. By law, the Committee is charged with identifying a pool of candidates to fill vacancies on the Community Commission. The Mayor must then appoint Commissioners from the candidates selected by the Nominating Committee. Then the City Council votes on whether to confirm the appointees.
The Committee is proud to see Mayor Johnson appoint interim President Anthony Driver Jr., interim Vice-President Remel Terry, Aaron Gottlieb, Abierre Minor, Angel Rubi Navarijo, Kelly Presley, and Sandra Wortham to the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability, validating the months of meticulous effort poured into identifying candidates of the highest caliber. “The fact that Mayor Johnson has endorsed our nominees with such enthusiasm speaks volumes about the quality of candidates we’ve put forward,” said Elianne Bahena, 10th District Councilor. “Now, as we transition to the permanent Commission, we are eager to work together to advance our city’s goals in public safety and police accountability.”
In July 2023, the Nominating Committee began developing its first-ever nomination process from scratch to select candidates for the Commission. The Committee held regular meetings to develop a detailed application, design a fair application review process, and craft a community-informed rubric to evaluate candidates. The Committee also facilitated an outreach program that drew a diverse pool of more than 100 applicants.
“Our commitment to transparency and community engagement has been the driving force behind our Committee’s work,” said Anthony Bryant, 3rd District Councilor. “Through twenty-two public meetings, three webinars, and six informational sessions, we ensured that Chicago’s residents had an opportunity to weigh in on the ideal attributes and experiences that members of the next Commission should possess.”
On March 8, 2024, sixty days after publishing the request for applications, the Committee held a public meeting to vote on nominations. The Committee voted to submit fifteen candidates for nomination to the Mayor. As required by ordinance, all fifteen nominees received support from more than two-thirds of the Committee.
“After evaluating more than a hundred applications and interviewing thirty-three candidates, we are confident that these appointees possess a strong reputation for integrity, leadership and sound judgment, and have demonstrated the ability to engage effectively with all who have a stake in policing,” said Sam Schoenburg from the 19th District Council.
The seven appointees encompass a geographic balance from across the city’s North, South, and West Sides. As required by ordinance, the seven nominees encompass a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences. Among them are two seasoned attorneys with more than a decade of legal practice, two youth candidates, and at least one individual with more than a decade of community organizing experience, as required by the ordinance.
By law, the Committee on Police and Fire will review the Mayor’s appointments for consideration. The Mayor’s appointments will then be subject to full City Council approval.
In the spirit of transparency, the Nominating Committee will release an 80-page process report detailing its diligent efforts and adherence to every provision outlined in the CCPSA ordinance. “Our commitment to transparency extends beyond the nomination process,” said Angelica Green, 25th District Councilor. “We invite the public to review our report and gain insight into the efforts undertaken to ensure the selection of candidates who will serve our city with distinction.”
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