[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 63 (Wednesday, April 30, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E804-E805]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       IN HONOR OF THE CITY OF ALHAMBRA'S CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ADAM B. SCHIFF

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 29, 2003

  Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the people of the City 
of Alhambra, California, as the city celebrates its centennial 
anniversary. Located eight miles east of downtown Los Angeles, Alhambra 
is often referred

[[Page E805]]

to as the ``Gateway to the San Gabriel Valley.'' The site on which the 
city now rests was first included in a 1771 land grant that led to the 
establishment of the nearby San Gabriel Mission.
  While Alhambra's history and origins retain a heavy Spanish 
influence, the City's current population of 85,804 consists of a wide 
range of ethnic groups and many businesses in and around Alhambra have 
ties to international commerce. The dramatic population growth in 
Alhambra over the past two decades has been largely attributable to 
well-educated and highly skilled immigrants, who have brought both 
material wealth and cultural resources to the City of Alhambra.
  Alhambra is first and foremost a residential community, characterized 
by its charming, well-manicured residential neighborhoods. It lies 
within the ``Sixty Mile Circle'' that centers on Los Angeles, putting 
it at the heart of a dynamic concentration of population, employment, 
business, industry, and finance; two-thirds of the state's 100 largest 
corporations are headquartered within this circle. High quality 
educational, medical and transportation services abound and Alhambra 
has some of the region's strongest retail centers, drawing sales from 
auto dealerships and shopping districts. Numerous boutiques and 
restaurants line the downtown landscape, providing an attractive 
destination for persons to shop, dine and be entertained locally. 
Numerous recreational and sporting venues are also available.
  In recent years, Alhambra has been an economic powerhouse as well, 
aggressively seeking to bring new business to the city, leading to more 
than 30 new businesses in the downtown area alone. The renaissance of 
Downtown Main Street has been a top priority. According to a national 
survey, Alhambra ranks first among 15 surrounding cities in terms of 
cost of doing business and level of development. Its largest venture, a 
$30 million entertainment complex--the Alhambra Renaissance Cineplex 
opened in November 2002.
  In the last century, the City of Alhambra has come to be one that 
exemplifies everything that we expect our communities to be. It is one 
that we can look to for an example for other communities to follow, and 
one that will continue to enrich the San Gabriel Valley's cultural 
diversity for years to come. I ask all Members of Congress to join me 
in recognizing the City of Alhambra on its centennial.

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