[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 13 (Thursday, January 22, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E130]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING MAYOR ALAN AUTRY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GEORGE RADANOVICH

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 22, 2009

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate and 
express my appreciation for the service of Alan Autry as mayor of 
Fresno, California. Alan's first term began in January 2001, and he 
served for 8 years as Fresno's mayor. During this time, Alan's 
leadership and passion for the community of Fresno led to an 
unprecedented turnaround in the city, which is evident from its 
infrastructure and aesthetic value to its safety and fiscal 
responsibility.
  Alan had much success in his two terms, including bridging the gap 
between North and South Fresno, or ``The Tale of Two Cities'' according 
to Alan. He successfully brought insight and urban renewal and 
development to Fresno's poorest neighborhoods, by increasing 
infrastructure, sidewalks, gutters, and streetlights in many areas of 
the city previously neglected with regard to modern essentials.
  Under Alan's service, downtown Fresno was visually transformed. He 
championed a movement to aesthetically improve many areas of Fresno, 
the largest project of which was modernizing the convention center.
  The safety and security of Fresno's residents was vastly improved by 
Alan's city policies, which included bringing up-to-date police and 
fire stations, and improving, cleaning, and expanding public spaces 
like city parks, which provide places for families and students to 
engage in healthful and constructive activity.
  Alan is also a true fiscal conservative and a vigilant guardian of 
taxpayer money. When he took office in January 2001, Fresno's ledger 
showed that the city was $500,000 in debt. By January 2009, Fresno had 
a significant turnaround with a surplus of $17.5 million.
  Education was also an important element in Alan's ``Tale of Two 
Cities'' platform. He fought hard against multiple levels of government 
to seek to influence and improve Fresno's notoriously under-performing 
schools, because he believes that good, effective schools are 
foundational in a healthy community.
  Alan possesses a concern and care for his community that 
characterized his terms as mayor and underlines his leadership style. 
He was often out within the community talking to and caring for people. 
This helped to make him a very popular and well-respected member of the 
community and an esteemed leader. I congratulate Alan on the job he did 
in his 8 years as Fresno's mayor; I am proud to call him my friend, and 
continue to look forward to sharing many ideas and projects with him in 
the future.

                          ____________________