[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 51 (Thursday, March 26, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E444]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING KENNETH J. KNUCKLES

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOSE E. SERRANO

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 26, 2015

  Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise 
during this month, dedicated to the celebration of African-Americans 
who have made great contributions to our nation, to pay tribute to Mr. 
Kenneth J. Knuckles. I stand before you today to honor Mr. Kenneth J. 
Knuckles for his many years of compassionate public service and 
tireless work to improve the lives of our community residents.
  Since January of 2003, Mr. Knuckles has served as the President and 
Chief Executive Officer of the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone 
Development Corporation (UMEZ), which is the largest of the group of 
nine original empowerment zones, when counting designated areas in The 
Bronx. The initial federal investment of $100 million into UMEZ was 
matched by both the New York State and New York City governments, 
creating the largest capitalized empowerment zone in the United States. 
With the mission to reinvigorate distressed communities by utilizing 
tax incentives and public financing to attract private investment, UMEZ 
has done that and more. Since 1996, UMEZ has invested more than $230 
million in the economy of Upper Manhattan, $140 million of which has 
occurred under Mr. Knuckles' leadership, leveraged over $1 billion in 
private capital, and created nearly 9,000 jobs. Kenneth Knuckles has 
led UMEZ through resounding success over the course of the last decade, 
and it is his deep understanding for the critical need for true 
economic empowerment and invigoration that makes him such an 
outstanding leader.
  Mr. Knuckles is a prominent business and civic leader from The Bronx 
who has distinguished himself over the past two decades as an attorney, 
and has pursued an extraordinary career as a public servant. The list 
of his positions is long and distinguished. From 1987 to 1990 Mr. 
Knuckles served as Deputy Borough President of The Bronx, from 1990 to 
1993 he served as Commissioner of the New York City Department of 
General Services, he once served as Assistant Housing Commissioner, and 
today he sits as a member of the New York City Planning Commission.
  Mr. Kenneth Knuckles is a Bronx native who has dedicated himself to 
fostering the economic and civic revitalization of families and 
individuals throughout New York. There are countless government 
agencies, business owners, and families who have benefitted from Mr. 
Knuckles' extensive commitment to ensuring that economic vitality and 
equality are widespread ideals that are transformed into realities. 
Through his countless achievements and truly selfless service, I am 
proud to call Mr. Kenneth Knuckles a fellow public servant, and look 
forward to the great work he will continue to do for the individuals of 
our community.
  Mr. Speaker, I respectfully ask that you and my other distinguished 
colleagues join me in honoring Mr. Knuckles for his consistently 
remarkable dedication to public service and longstanding commitment to 
improving the lives of New York's residents.

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