[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 47 (Wednesday, April 26, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E621]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   A TRIBUTE TO MAYOR ROBERTA COOPER

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 26, 2006

  Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mayor Roberta 
Cooper for her 26 years of dedicated service to the City of Hayward, 
California. On June 15, 2006, the City of Hayward will host a farewell 
dinner to honor her as she retires from office at the end of her term 
on June 6, 2006.
  The Mayor has been instrumental in the initiation and development of 
many projects in Hayward including a new City Hall, B Street 
Marketplace and Parking Structure, Albertson's Shopping Center, 
Atherton Place Condominiums, City Walk Condominiums, Fire Station 1 at 
C and Main, and the Theater Complex at Foothill & B coming in 2007. All 
of the mentioned projects were related to Hayward's downtown 
redevelopment.
  Other areas of Hayward have also benefited from her exemplary 
leadership including the development of Fire Station 9, Oliver Sports 
Park of Hayward, Eden Shores Development, Harder Road Railroad Under-
crossing, the Twin Bridges neighborhood and the accompanying Mission 
Foothills of Hayward Golf Course and the Route 238 Corridor Improvement 
Project.
  Mayor Cooper is a longtime resident of Hayward. Prior to assuming the 
helm of the city's leadership as Mayor, she was an educator. She taught 
in the Hayward Unified School District from 1968 until her retirement 
in 1994.
  She was elected to the Hayward City Council in 1988 and re-elected to 
the Council in 1992. She was elected Mayor in April 1994, re-elected in 
1998 and reelected again in March 2002.
  Mayor Cooper serves on many public agencies focused on economic 
development, capital improvement, transportation, the environment and 
city governance. She involves herself in community service with equal 
interest and dedication. A host of non-profit organizations have 
benefited from her leadership, such as The Kids Breakfast Club, 
Literacy Plus Project, Hayward's Human Services Commission and the Eden 
Youth Center.
  She lists among her personal pet projects the Hayward New Start, a 
Tattoo Removal Program, the Hayward Honor Band, and cHime-In.
  I join Mayor Cooper's constituents, friends and admirers in 
congratulating her on a job well done. She plans to use her time to 
garden, read, learn to use her home computer and travel. I hope she 
accomplishes all this and much more as she embarks on a well-deserved 
retirement.
  Thank you to my friend, Bertie Cooper, for all you have done to make 
a difference in our community.

                          ____________________