[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 33 (Wednesday, February 25, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E435]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             REMEMBERING THE LIFE OF JORDI REYES-MONTBLANC

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 25, 2009

  Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise with great sadness as I pay tribute 
to my dear friend Jordi Reyes-Montblanc who recently passed away. As I 
speak with profound sorrow, I ascend to celebrate a life well lived and 
to remember with fondness the accomplishments of a remarkable man who, 
over his many years as an outstanding advocate for the West Harlem 
community, fought strongly and passionately for his ideals regardless 
of how popular the issue.
  Jordi was a larger-than-life figure in the West Harlem community. For 
decades he was one of the area's most energetic activists, fighting for 
safe streets and cleaner parks, and especially championing the cause of 
affordable housing and homeownership for New Yorkers of modest means. 
Jordi delighted in his many contradictions. He was staunchly proud of 
his Cuban heritage. He was a fierce opponent of Communism who 
nonetheless fought for not-so-Capitalistic affordable housing policies.
  Jordi's story was the stuff of novels. He fled his native Cuba as a 
young adult in 1958, escaping the winds of communism that eventually 
swept the island. He joined the U.S. Marines, where he engaged in 
covert operations in Southeast Asia. Though, he never spoke much about 
his past to those outside of his closest circle of friends. He was an 
avid hunter who often demonstrating his trademark frankness.
  Jordi was a pioneer in the movement to allow low- and middle-income 
families to purchase their own apartments through the city's Housing 
Development Fund Corporation program, and in 1993 he lead the 
conversion of his own building to a limited-equity co-op.
  This activism on housing issues secured his appointment to Community 
Board 9 in the mid-1990s. It was during that period when he developed a 
close bond to Councilman Stan Michels, another significant local leader 
who passed away late last year. As Chair of Community Board 9, Jordi 
was fearless in speaking his mind on local issues, regardless of who he 
might offend. That quality could have earned him nothing but detractors 
on the Board, but instead the reverse happened: he was almost 
universally respected for his even-handedness and devotion to the 
community.
  Columbia University's plan to expand to a new campus in 
Manhattanville defined Jordi's tenure as Chair of the local community 
board. While maintaining that he wasn't opposed to the expansion per 
se, he became a vocal critic of the displacement of local residents and 
businesses which would result from the specific plan Columbia was 
advancing. Jordi thrusted his community board into the center of the 
fight on this issue, and he become a fixture in the city's media as an 
outspoken critic of the expansion.
  In his blog you can still find his thoughts on what he felt he was 
about. He states, ``I don't lead, I don't follow and I do the things my 
heart and conscience tells me are right for me to do, any one is 
welcome to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with me freely.''
  Jordi Reyes-Montblanc will be long remembered for his extraordinary 
commitment, energy, wisdom, discipline, principle, and clear purpose 
which won the admiration of all who were privileged to come to know and 
work with him. I consider myself fortunate to have had the opportunity 
to observe and experience his example as a personal inspiration.
  Madam Speaker, rather than mourn his passing, I hope that my 
colleagues will join me in celebrating the life of Jordi by remembering 
that he exemplified greatness in every way.

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