[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 9 (Tuesday, January 31, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E12]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO ALI SAHABI

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KEN CALVERT

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 31, 2006

  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Ali 
Sahabi for his dedication and commitment to improving the community of 
Corona, California. The Corona Chamber of Commerce honored Ali by 
presenting him with its 2005 ``Citizen of the Year'' award on January 
14, 2006.
  Ali is currently the President of SE Corporation, a privately held, 
California-based land planning, entitlement, and development firm. For 
nearly 18 years, Ali Sahabi has been an active member of our community, 
devoting a tremendous amount of time and effort to causes greater than 
his own.
  After spending much of his youth in a middle class family in the 
country of Iran, Ali was sent to Michigan to live with an uncle and 
aunt at the age of thirteen. After graduating high school, Ali and his 
brother drove to California, where they lived in a small apartment with 
their grandmother and another uncle.
  In California, the two brothers worked at a variety of odd jobs and 
Ali, always the entrepreneur, began trying his hand at different kinds 
of small business opportunities including sales. He became a print 
broker and opened his own printing business in downtown Los Angeles. 
Ali finished his bachelor's degree in business management at Pepperdine 
University, which he had been working on in the evening, and sold the 
print shop. Later, Ali obtained his Master of Real Estate Development 
degree from the School of Urban Planning and Development at the 
University of Southern California.
  Throughout his career, Ali has undertaken a number of development 
projects across Southern California including industrial, multi-family 
residential and commercial retail projects. He has been instrumental in 
implementing innovative planning solutions and environmentally 
sensitive development plans for the Dos Lagos mixed use development in 
southwest Riverside County, making it a true model for sustainable 
development.
  Ali is an active and leading proponent of local and regional 
collaboration and the stewardship of natural resources, establishing 
and endowing the Blakeley Center for Suburban Sustainable Development 
at UC Riverside. Through his vision and tireless efforts the Center has 
contributed to forming alliances across jurisdictional lines bringing 
individuals, local governments and communities together to address 
major issues that represent significant challenges for entire regions 
and communities.
  Locally, Ali somehow finds time to play a significant role in a 
number of non-profit and community-based organizations. He serves 
notably on the Board of Directors of the Children's Spine Foundation 
and the Corona Regional Medical Center Foundation, Governor's Mentoring 
Program, and is active with the American Cancer Society, YMCA, At Risk 
Children's Angels, Boy Scouts, and ICUC among others.
  I want to express my appreciation for Ali's tireless efforts on 
behalf of our entire community and congratulate him on receiving this 
award.

                          ____________________