Mayor Brandon Johnson appointed Larry Snelling as superintendent of the Chicago Police Department on Sunday. But the news is tempered by the mayor also firing Chicago Public Health Director Allison Arwady on Friday. New beginnings: In a statement, Johnson said Snelling’s appointment marks “a new chapter in our journey to create a better, stronger and safer Chicago.” Important pick: Snelling, who heads the department’s counterterrorism unit, was selected from three finalists. He still must be approved by the City Council. It’s likely the mayor’s most important hire and shows he wants someone from within CPD to help build officer morale. “Larry Snelling is a strong choice,” said Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul in a statement. “He has decades of experience with the department and is well-versed in training officers.” Echoing that: “He has to have the respect of the rank-and-file and trust of the community," Roseanna Ander, head of the University of Chicago Crime Lab, told Playbook, pointing to Snelling’s work as commander of the Englewood District during the post-George Floyd unrest. The mayor will introduce Snelling at a press event later today. An ugly ending: Johnson sent his chief of staff, Rich Guidice, to fire Arwady, who became a household name in Chicago while guiding the city through the pandemic. Not a complete surprise: Johnson had said during the mayoral campaign that he would not keep Arwady on board. What caused double-takes was news that the mayor never even had a one-on-one with Arwady, and he didn’t let her say farewell to her staff before she was booted out the door. It didn’t sound very compassionate or collaborative — two words the mayor likes to use to describe his administration. Playbook tried to get a comment from Johnson during Saturday’s Bud Billiken Parade festivities, but he ignored our requests. He did make time, however, to talk to a documentary reporter and ABC 7 about the parade. His cabinet is his choice. That’s what Johnson’s top lieutenants say. “The mayor felt there was a need for a change,” Guidice told Playbook. Asked why he did the firing instead of the mayor, Guidice said, “It’s part of my job.” That Arwady didn’t get to say goodbye to her team, Guidice said, “That’s the way the process works.” Ald. Walter Burnett Jr., also the vice mayor, praised Arwady for “bringing us through Covid. I know she wanted to stay, and I know other people wanted her to stay. But it doesn’t work like that.” And Ald. Pat Dowell, the council’s powerful finance chair, reminded that “[Johnson] said during the campaign what he thought. And I would have heard that. … She did a terrific job guiding us through the pandemic. She’ll land on her feet.” Arwady’s exit smells of retribution because she pushed to get Chicago Public Schools children back in class during the pandemic — while the Chicago Teachers Union fought the effort. Johnson is a close ally of CTU President Stacy Davis Gates. “I hope people don’t hold grudges because of that,” Burnett said. “I would like to think that the mayor is doing it because he’s got another person that he feels would work better with him.” Why it feels icky: Arwardy was planning to step down in the coming days, according to a person close to her. She had tried to talk to the mayor but was rebuffed. Arwady was told instead not to speak publicly — including when the bad air from the Canadian fires swept across the city. Is there a doctor in the house? Jennifer Seo, the chief medical officer for the city’s Health Department, has resigned, too, according to Crain’s Katherine Davis. And Maurice Cox is out of City Hall, too: The commissioner for Planning and Development has stepped down, by Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman RELATED — Snelling has been the safe choice — and odds-on favorite — once finalists were announced, report Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman and Tom Schuba — Snelling’s ascent through the ranks has been quick, and he’s gained admirers along the way, by Tribune’s Sam Charles and Gregory Royal Pratt
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