[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 85 (Wednesday, June 29, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 29, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                       TRIBUTE TO ROBERT K. DAVIS

                                 ______


                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 28, 1994

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to call attention to the special 
achievements and outstanding hard work of Mr. Robert K. Davis. Mr. 
Davis has devoted the past 25 years to serving the people of New York 
in several public service positions in the Lindsay, Beame, Koch, 
Dinkins, and Giuliani administrations. His retirement this year is a 
great loss for the community, and he will be sorely missed.
  Mr. Davis, in all his posts, has always put the needs of New York 
families first, especially the children. His numerous achievements 
include the revamping of the outdated public children's institutions 
into more efficient local organizations which could better handle the 
sensitive needs of the community. This was accomplished while Mr. Davis 
handled the needs of approximately 15,000 dependent, neglected, and 
abused children in his capacity as the director of institutions and 
facilities in the department of Social Services, special services for 
children.
  Mr. Davis also played a key role in reforming child development 
programs as the assistant commissioner for development in the city's 
agency for child development. He was responsible for establishing 
standards for the physical facilities of day-care centers and helped in 
increasing the number of day-care centers from 80 to over 400.
  Housing was another area improved under Mr. Davis' authority. 
Advocating the needs of the elderly and minorities, he facilitated the 
allocation of rent subsidies for the elderly and promoted the 
rehabilitation of economically distressed minority neighborhoods.
  Mr. Davis has been an advocate for promoting the overall security of 
residents. He is directly responsible for ensuring the safety of homes 
by leading the push to remove lead paint in housing units with high 
lead levels. He also enforced the mandatory installation of window 
guards where landlords were delinquent and in noncompliance of housing 
code requirements. He also led a crusade against corruption. In his 
current position as the housing preservation and development deputy 
commissioner, Office of Rent and Housing and Maintenance, he revamped 
inspection procedures to minimize the chance of corruption.
  After graduating from Morehouse College, Mr. Davis received a masters 
in social work from Columbia University. He has put his skills to good 
use for the betterment of the New York community. Mr. Speaker, I urge 
my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in recognizing 
the many achievements of Mr. Robert K. Davis.

                          ____________________