Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson discusses firing Allison Arwady

Mayor Brandon Johnson quoted slain rapper Tupac Shakur and as the mayor deflected questions about firing Chicago public health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady.

Johnson addressed the firing, which he executed late Friday, at an unrelated news conference where he was asked whether the decision was retaliation due to disputes between the Chicago Teachers Union and Arwady during COVID-19 over school reopenings.

“Every single administration has to be prepared for transition. My administration is no different in that regard. Transition is difficult for everyone,” Johnson said. “But as has been already articulated, I don’t know how many times you’re allowed to quote Tupac in a press conference, but you can’t always go by the things that you hear. Real eyes, right, realize real lies. That’s also Tupac Shakur.”

Johnson did not address whether he had ever met with Arwady one on one but said his decisions are “fully vetted” by staff.

Arwady became a household name during the pandemic, providing regular updates on case numbers and restrictions, rolling out vaccination efforts and explaining how people could best protect themselves from infection. But she was criticized in some circles for being too hasty in loosening pandemic restrictions, especially in reopening public schools, and went against activists’ demands regarding environmental permitting and mental health services.

In addition to her leadership on COVID-19, Arwady pushed to expand mental health services citywide and the “Family Connects” program providing in-home nursing visits for newborns, and was a driving force behind an executive order on environmental justice that Lightfoot issued at the end of her term. Arwady also worked to ensure equitable vaccine access for vulnerable Black and brown residents when the vaccine became available.

Prior to his election, Johnson was a Chicago Teachers Union organizer, and the CTU had serious clashes with Lightfoot and Arwady over the reopening of schools during the pandemic. The union forced several delays in the resumption of in-person classes and twice refused the city’s directives to return to classrooms.

Large pieces of Johnson’s progressive agenda — such as reopening the mental health clinics — will run through the public health department. Selecting a successor who can work with federal officials on funding and the City Council on implementing new programs will be critical to Johnson’s success or failure as a mayor.

Unlike Arwady, her interim successor, Fikirte Wagaw, is not a doctor.