[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 101 (Friday, July 16, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1582]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO JOANNE BALTIERREZ

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. HOWARD L. BERMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 16, 1999

  Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my good 
friend and colleague, Joanne Baltierrez, who retired earlier this year 
from a seat on the City Council of the City of San Fernando. Joanne had 
a distinguished five-year tenure on the council, including a one-year 
term as Mayor. While in office, she was a courageous, visionary and 
independent-minded public servant, who worked very hard to represent 
her constituents well and to make a real difference in the quality of 
life for the citizens of San Fernando.
  During her time on the City Council, Joanne compiled an impressive 
list of accomplishments for her constituents. She is especially and 
rightfully proud of her successful efforts to keep a Los Angeles county 
health clinic from moving outside of its San Fernando location. She did 
this in a particularly creative manner by arranging a land swap with 
the county that enabled the much-needed facility to remain within her 
city. Joanne also helped assemble a coalition with San Fernando Valley 
Neighborhood Legal Services, the San Fernando Police Department and the 
courts to provide counseling and shelter for victims of domestic 
violence.
  Another of Joanne's innovations was a series of town hall meetings to 
allow members of the Council to better gauge the needs and concerns of 
their constituents.
  Joanne has always given unstintingly of her time and talents to 
public service. Over the past decade, in addition to her work on the 
City Council, she has served as a recruitment coordinator for Los 
Angeles Mission College, Director of Community Services for the 
Volunteer Center of San Fernando Valley, Resource Coordinator for the 
Latin American Civic Association and Community Liaison for the Los 
Angeles County Department of Health Services.
  Now that she has retired from the Counsel, Joanne has entered a new 
phase of her career in politics, serving as the Executive Director of 
the League of Women Voters of Los Angeles. Joanne now puts her 
considerable abilities to work in representing the League throughout 
the community and promoting the growth of this highly respected 
organization through public relations and marketing strategies.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in saluting Joanne Baltierrez, whose 
commitment to her community and strong sense of justice are an 
inspiration to us all. I am proud to be her friend.

                          ____________________