Mayor Brandon Johnson Names Carlos Ramirez-Rosa as New Chicago Park District Superintendent

The appointment of the progressive alderman marks a shift in leadership and opens the door for Johnson's first City Council vacancy appointment.

Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, a three-term Chicago alderman and prominent progressive, will replace Rosa Escareno as superintendent of the Chicago Park District starting April 1.
Escareno's resignation follows Mayor Brandon Johnson's broader effort to reshape his administration with loyal allies halfway through his term.
Ramirez-Rosa's appointment allows Johnson to make his first City Council vacancy selection, a move likely to influence the balance of power within the council's progressive faction.
As Park District superintendent, Ramirez-Rosa plans to address homelessness in parks, expand youth programming, and improve park infrastructure, including deferred maintenance projects.
The appointment highlights Ramirez-Rosa's history of community-focused initiatives, but his past controversies, including allegations of bullying colleagues, remain a point of discussion.