[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 43 (Wednesday, March 11, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E633]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     YIMBY AWARD TO STEVEN GARTRELL

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BARNEY FRANK

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 11, 2009

  Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Madam Speaker, on Sunday, March 8th, I 
had the privilege of addressing one of the most worthwhile 
organizations in the district that I am privileged to represent--CAN-
DO. Led by Josephine McNeil, CAN-DO does extraordinarily important work 
in trying to get affordable housing of various sorts--rental, 
ownership, group homes--placed in the City of Newton, where I live. 
This requires a great deal of work, both in compiling together the 
finances at a time when money was not adequate for these purposes, and 
in dealing with neighborhood resistance which generally turns out to 
have been unjustified, but which was nonetheless strong in some cases.
  In addition to being able at that event to praise the work of 
Josephine McNeil, I had the chance to share the evening's speaking 
program with Steven Gartrell, who is just retiring as Director of the 
Housing and Community Development program in the City of Newton. He won 
the YIMBY Award from the organization: the ``Yes, In My Back Yard!'' 
honor. As the Community Development Director for the City of Newton for 
many years, Steve Gartrell exemplified public service that was 
compassionate and responsible. Under his leadership, serving several 
mayors, the city spent its community development block grant money 
wisely and well. Steve Gartrell did the most good that it was possible 
to do with the funds made available to him from the federal government. 
I am glad to be able to point to the expenditure of community 
development funds under Mr. Gartrell as an example of how government at 
the federal level can best enable good work at the local level, and I 
congratulate Steve Gartrell for this well-deserved award, and Josephine 
McNeil for recognizing him by granting it.

                          ____________________