[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 194 (Monday, December 10, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1623]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    IN RECOGNITION OF BOB GRASSILLI

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JACKIE SPEIER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, December 10, 2018

  Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a great friend and 
leader, Bob Grassilli, who is departing the San Carlos City Council 
after serving from 2005 to 2018 and three times as Mayor. Bob's 
leadership during his years in city life has left an indelible imprint 
on San Carlos.
  From 1994 to 2000, Bob served on the planning commission and 
struggled with some of the most vexing problems of the community. Bob 
served on the Railroad Land Use Committee, a temporary entity that left 
a lasting impact in the form of an extensive grade separation project 
that now saves lives throughout the year.
  During his time on the council, San Carlos created a new budget 
process, contracted for police and fire with other agencies to save 
taxpayer money, ended its chronic budget deficits, and started new 
communications efforts with citizens. A major medical practice building 
was built and a hospital remains in the city's future. New hotels have 
been constructed, including one that required the city to aggregate 
land and to solicit an investor. Many claimed the hotel effort would 
fail. Bob and his colleagues knew better and it's been a major success.
  After years of planning, major housing developments are now dotting 
the landscape of San Carlos. These units, and others that are planned, 
give people a chance to live near work, to improve the environment by 
reducing their emissions related to commutes, and add vibrancy to the 
city's thriving downtown area. Bob Grassilli supported these new units 
and, as a developer, had a keen eye for the balance between aesthetics 
and the critical need to house a growing population.
  Bob has a conciliatory personality, but he's not afraid to make hard 
choices. He voted for the controversial Holly Street restriping project 
which opened up an additional lane to burgeoning traffic during commute 
hours. He voted to adopt a climate action plan despite the skepticism 
of some about whether humans play a meaningful role in global climate 
change. No one likes to be the one who votes to eliminate trees from a 
city that cherishes its landscape, but the trees were dangerous and Bob 
stood up for public safety. He also made countless other choices about 
individual housing proposals, traffic lights and crosswalks, and the 
city's master plan that never pleased everyone. This is leadership--the 
willingness to take the hits because in the long run the public 
deserves the choice you believe is in its best interests.
  One anecdote illustrates Bob's dedication to public service. As 
mayor, he was alerted to a dangerous road condition that had been 
inadvertently created by a city road contractor. He drove to the scene 
and confirmed that the intersection was dangerous. He contacted the 
city manager and then waited about 90 minutes for a crew to show up to 
fix the problem.
  At the time, Bob was wearing his signature lime-green polo shirt. It 
served the dual purpose of alerting oncoming traffic--from 1000 feet 
away--to a road hazard and it protected Bob from being hit. 
Unfortunately, it also created its own hazardous road condition. Bob 
knows so many people in San Carlos that motorists and pedestrians would 
honk or shout out and wave to him, sometimes even congratulating him on 
his fashion choice, but they also sometimes lost track of where they 
were in the dangerous intersection. Thankfully no one got hurt. The 
insight from this anecdote is clear: Bob Grassilli dresses for success 
and never leaves until the job is done.
  In his private life, Bob is one of the Peninsula's consistent 
philanthropists. He sits on the board of one foundation and personally 
contributes thousands to some of our most important safety net 
nonprofits in San Mateo County. He also participates in countywide and 
regional bodies focused on good governance. He's a leader who is 
dedicated to ensuring that others receive a fair shake in life through 
better public services and assistance when times are difficult.
  Bob will be challenged in retirement from public life because he will 
have to be satisfied by what newcomers may do. These choices may be 
different from his own. However, Bob is a true product of American 
democracy. He may disagree with any given choice and yet celebrate the 
outcome because it is created by the people of his community through an 
elected city council. A man who is satisfied with a dissatisfying 
result because it was fairly determined is an uncommonly wise 
individual and a too-rare public official in modem America. However, 
this is the man who we know as Mayor Bob Grassilli, the wise man with 
the gavel and the model for those who cherish local government in all 
its glory.

                          ____________________