[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 126 (Thursday, October 7, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1837]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING MIGUEL RODRIGUEZ

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROBERT MENENDEZ

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, October 6, 2004

  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Miguel Rodriguez, 
Chief Community Relations Specialist for the Newark Housing Authority. 
On Thursday, October 7, 2004, friends, co-workers and family members 
will gather at Nanina's in the Park in Belleville, New Jersey to 
celebrate his retirement after 39 years of dedicated public service.
  Mr. Rodriguez, or Don Mike as he is referred to by friends and 
colleagues, began his career in public service in the early 1970s when 
he was appointed Deputy Mayor of the City of Newark, New Jersey by 
former Mayor Kenneth Gibson, a position he held for sixteen years. In 
his current position with the Newark Housing Authority, Mr. Rodriguez 
is responsible for providing information to the community regarding 
low-income housing options.
  An active member of the greater Newark community, Mr. Rodriguez has 
founded various organizations, including the Hispanic American Chamber 
of Commerce of Essex County and the Newark Borinquen Lions Club. 
Additionally, Mr. Rodriguez has served on the Boards of the Newark 
Symphony Hall, the Essex County Board of Economic Development, and The 
Hispanic American Political Forum.
  A strong believer in the power of education, Mr. Rodriguez 
established the Communications Information Marketing Scholarship Award 
(CIMA), a private, nonprofit organization that supports students from 
Hispanic and African American families who are pursuing a career in 
communications, and has provided over $22,000 in scholarships for 
minority journalists.
  A native of Puerto Rico and a resident of Newark for 44 years, Mr. 
Rodriguez earned a Bachelor's Degree from Shaw University in North 
Carolina. He is the proud father to Myra, Michael, Ricardo and Carlos, 
and the doting grandfather to six wonderful grandchildren.
  Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Miguel Rodriguez as 
we celebrate his 39 years of public service to the City of Newark and 
wish him well as he begins a new chapter full of good work and many 
more contributions to our community.

                          ____________________