[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 145 (Tuesday, December 2, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1691]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                    IN RECOGNITION OF NAOMI PATRIDGE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JACKIE SPEIER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 2, 2014

  Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Naomi Patridge who is 
leaving the Half Moon Bay City Council after serving a remarkable 
career of leadership spanning almost two decades.
  Naomi and her husband, Howard, have lived in Half Moon Bay for nearly 
45 years. Naomi is the Energizer Bunny of Half Moon Bay. For example, 
prior to serving on the council, she served for 14 years on the city's 
Parks and Recreation Commission. She has also served on the board of 
the Half Moon Bay Beautification Committee, the organizer of the annual 
Art and Pumpkin Festival. Half Moon Bay is a thriving, seaside 
community that annually hosts tens of thousands of visitors on one 
weekend in October when the pumpkins come to market and the tourists 
from around the country come to this charming town. The festival is a 
major fundraising event for civic improvements. Naomi has been at the 
heart of the festival for many years.
  When the girls of Half Moon Bay think of softball, they think of 
Naomi Patridge. She has spent decades with the Half Moon Bay Girls 
Softball League and was instrumental in creating a permanent field as a 
home for generations of young ball players. Some may mourn the recent 
passing of Candlestick Park in San Francisco, but in Half Moon Bay the 
citizens celebrate the field that Naomi spent decades to secure. Her 
focus is on healthy living, and it is evident in the energy she poured 
into teams that always had good sportsmanship and fun as the center of 
their purposes.
  Naomi has also been instrumental in creating a coastside bike trail 
that bears her name. Half Moon Bay is filled with bicyclists who travel 
for both pleasure and work. Naomi was concerned about the workers who 
had to peddle in the early morning hours and who were not safe. She was 
equally concerned about tourists who might get into trouble riding 
along the coastal highway. While she joined with others to create this 
wonderful amenity, it was her advocacy before local funding agencies 
that helped to secure much of the money for a trail that ultimately 
bore her name.
  Mr. Speaker, as fun as it may be to bicycle along the coast or on 
Main Street in Half Moon Bay, Highway 92 can be a real headache for 
coastside residents. Naomi Patridge pushed relentlessly for a coastal 
road that fit in with local sensibilities about growth and development 
while also helping to relieve the frazzled nerves of residents.
  When one thinks of Naomi, one also thinks of the quiet, dedicated 
employee of the school district. One thinks of the quiet, dedicated 
advocate and volunteer for seniors. One thinks of the vocal advocate 
for Half Moon Bay's library, and of the woman behind the table dishing 
out a heaping plate of hot food at the annual Farm Day luncheon. One 
also thinks of the advocate for housing the elderly and lower income 
farm worker residents of Half Moon Bay.
  However, when thinking of Naomi, one must inevitably also think of 
the cool city councilmember evaluating a tough decision, and then 
casting a tough vote. There were times in the city's history when its 
finances were in order and times, particularly after recessions or a 
court judgment, that the city's finances were in deep distress. Naomi 
took the heat for difficult decisions during all of these budget 
hearings. When improving, fixing or supplementing basic public 
infrastructure was the concern, Naomi was a well-reasoned voice.
  In fact, Naomi has been a voice of moderation and common sense for so 
many decades that one might also call her a civic thermometer. If it 
gets too hot in the debate, Naomi acts to cool things down. If the 
community isn't concerned enough about needed services or improvements, 
Naomi switches on to heat things up a bit, and to stir up questions and 
dialogue. Always moderate, Naomi can be counted on to keep the civic 
area of Half Moon Bay as comfortable as possible despite the inevitable 
challenges that occur in local democratic governance.
  Mr. Speaker, I am honored to call Naomi a dear friend and colleague. 
I dare say there has not been a more constructive leader in Half Moon 
Bay than Naomi Patridge. While we will miss her service to us all, we 
will have her example of thoughtful citizenship to inspire us for years 
to come.

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