On July 7, 1999, Mayor Richard Daley appointed Earnest Gates as a CHA Commissioner. His term expires on July 7, 2007. Mr. Gates has made many significant contributions to the CHA, serving as chairman of the Operations & Facilities Committee.

A lifelong resident and community activist of the West Side, Commissioner Gates is one of the principal persons responsible for the transformation of the newly named Westhaven community. In 1995, due to Commissioner Gates’ relentless drive, Westhaven was selected as the site for Chicago’s first Strategic Neighborhood Action Program, a redevelopment initiative that used $2.5 million in public funds to demolish abandoned homes, build new ones and improve streets and sidewalks.

Commissioner Gates’ background in community development and strategic planning has led to the building of new town homes, a library, parks, and the recent opening of a Walgreen’s store in the Near West Side community. A trucking entrepreneur from 1978 through 2001, Commissioner Gates was responsible for providing more than 35 jobs in his community. He is the director of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, president of the Central West Community Organization and a member of the advisory board of Malcolm X College.

In 2001, Commissioner Gates was awarded the Community Builder Award by the City of Chicago. His other awards include Champion of the Public Interest from BPI, a fellowship from the Petra Foundation and community hero Award from the Coalition for West Side Development.