[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 34 (Tuesday, March 4, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E353]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                IN RECOGNITION OF GENIE RICE AND CIVITAS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 4, 2003

  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to CIVITAS, Citizens 
Committed to Improved Neighborhood Life in the Upper East Side and East 
Harlem on the occasion of their annual benefit. As founding President 
of CIVITAS, Genie Rice will be honored for her many years of tireless 
service to CIVITAS and commitment to the community.
  Founded in 1981, the first chair, August Heckscher, looked to the 
Roman Republic for a name that embodies the spirit of citizen 
involvement that founders envisioned as the guiding principle of the 
new community organization. In ancient Rome, CIVITAS referred to that 
quality of a citizen that caused that person to be deeply involved in 
the life and fate of the city. The members of CIVITAS have dedicated 
themselves to protecting and enhancing the quality of life in the Upper 
East Side and East Harlem.
  CIVITAS has steadfastly fostered, mobilized and coordinated civic 
activism in Manhattan's Upper East Side and East Harlem by focusing on 
promoting, preserving and protecting residential neighborhoods. 
Currents projects include cosponsoring a remapping of East Harlem with 
Community Board 11 and tree planting on East 86th Street. Among the 
issues that CIVITAS has identified as being crucial to ensuring that 
the community remains lively and livable are: (i) urban planning, 
including limits on residential towers, coherent zoning, attractive 
public and private spaces and a reasoned approach to the siting, size 
and permit use of community facilities; (ii) infrastructure, including 
good public transit; (iii) the environment, and (iv) landmark 
preservation.
  An effective and dedicated community advocate, Genie Rice has served 
as CIVITAS President since 1982 and has played a key role in many 
important projects, including initiation of the remapping of East and 
Central Harlem. Devoted to the improvement of the community, Ms. Rice 
organized focus groups with East Harlem property owners to encourage 
rehabilitation of dilapidated buildings. In 1992, Ms. Rice served as 
Committee Chair at the New School's Environmental Simulation Center to 
model and discuss zoning options for East Side Avenues. Ms. Rice worked 
tenaciously for 8 years in a successful advocacy effort to pass these 
zoning modifications for Upper East Side avenues and other high-density 
Manhattan avenues.
  When a developer arrogantly added 12 stories to his building, in 
violation of the zoning law, at 108 E. 96th Street, Genie Rice, CIVITAS 
and I were at the forefront of the effort to bring it down. We won a 
historic decision forcing the developer to remove the 12 stories, the 
first of its kind in the city. Ms. Rice is an active member of many 
other community organizations including Friends of the Upper East Side 
Historic Districts, the 7th Regiment Armory Conservancy and the New 
York League of Conservation Education Fund.
  The many members and friends of CIVITAS have made it an extraordinary 
and invaluable community organization. I am proud of my involvement as 
a member of CIVITAS. CIVITAS's contributions over the years have truly 
preserved the quality of life of Upper East Side and East Harlem 
residents.
  In recognition of these outstanding contributions, I ask my 
colleagues to join me in honoring CIVITAS and Ms. Genie Rice on the 
occasion of their annual benefit reception.

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