[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 192 (Tuesday, December 3, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1526-E1527]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  IN HONOR OF IRENE O'CONNELL, DEPARTING MEMBER OF THE SAN BRUNO CITY 
                                COUNCIL

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JACKIE SPEIER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 3, 2019

  Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, Irene O'Connell is leaving the San Bruno 
City Council after a remarkable 24 years of service to the community. 
Her departure marks the end of an era but the beginning of a new path 
in the life of this amazing woman and civic leader. During all these 
years I have deeply appreciated Irene's friendship and enjoyed working 
with her to promote San Bruno's bright future.
  In 1995, Irene O'Connell was elected to the San Bruno City Council, 
serving her community with enthusiasm, vigor and effectiveness. She 
helped initiate a Youth Committee and helped create an after-school 
program at Allen Elementary that has since expanded to five other 
schools. She identified $600,000 in flood control district funds that 
became available to help residents of the Belle Air community. She 
initiated the creation of the City's Culture and Arts Commission with 
funding through a surcharge on building permits. The Commission has 
installed a number of pieces of public art including the Centennial 
Mosaic at the San Bruno Caltrain station and the mural painting at 
Centennial Park in San Bruno's downtown. A park on Florida Avenue is 
authorized in large measure because Irene's love of civic beauty is 
matched with a love of open space in San Bruno's urban environment.
  For 22+ years, 200 volunteers have joined Councilwoman O'Connell 
annually to sweep up, recycle, plant flowers and trees, paint garbage 
bins, and to otherwise beautify the city. As a representative on 
transportation and water agencies, she's helped the city to obtain 
transportation grants and ensured that the water supply remained 
reliable and affordable. If your heart stops in San Bruno, a paramedic 
on a fire truck is present in large part because Irene O'Connell 
insisted that the service be standard on fire trucks throughout the 
county. She evaluated and advocated for ambitious plans for full 
rehabilitation and replacement of the City's utility systems over a 20-
year period and the necessary funding to complete the improvements.
  During some of the most difficult years in the history of her 
hometown, Irene O'Connell and her colleagues first consoled and then 
fought for the citizens of San Bruno after a natural gas pipeline 
exploded and killed 8 residents and destroyed 38 homes. She and her 
colleagues were warriors for justice holding PG&E accountable for its 
gross negligence.
  No mention of Irene's love of her community would be complete without 
mention of her founding of the San Bruno Library Foundation. Irene's 
commitment to the library is heartfelt and enduring.
  Irene is a first-generation Italian American and as such reflects the 
industriousness and civic involvement characteristic of those whose 
parents struggle to come to this country. She was born in San Bruno and 
has lived there ever since.
  She and her family were continually involved in community service and 
other activities. They volunteered for the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts 
and when that wasn't exhausting enough, Irene and her father collected 
paperback books for the veterans hospital. Also as volunteers, the 
family managed the San Bruno Girl Scout House, sewing curtains, 
painting and helping it to operate. During her time on the City 
Council, she helped develop and manage a Rebuilding Together project to 
refurbish the house to enhance community programs held there.
  When St. Bruno's needed baptismal robes for less fortunate 
parishioners, Irene and her mother sewed them. This family exuded 
community pride with every undertaking.
  As she grew into adulthood, Irene realized that her first love was 
teaching. She obtained a B.A. in Liberal Studies and a Master's in 
Elementary Education with a Lifelong Teaching Credential. She taught 
sixth grade at St. Veronica's in South San Francisco and then left to 
raise her three children. However, she didn't leave community service. 
As a board member of Art-Rise, a local non-profit, she promoted local 
artists by finding space for them to display their works. The Boy 
Scouts and 4-H benefitted greatly because Irene was ever-present.
  Irene is the proud mother of son Joe and daughters Katie and 
Jennifer. Her husband, Bill, keeps her young, her mother Marina Kaiser 
keeps her hopping, and her community keeps her strong.

[[Page E1527]]

  Madam Speaker, for decades Irene's presence in San Bruno has been as 
exciting to watch as a home run at a Little League game at San Bruno 
City Park. Now, San Bruno's Mighty Casey is laying down her bat. It's 
time to give her an enormous cheer for her contributions to the team. 
San Bruno will long cherish the swing-for-the-fence public service of 
Irene O'Connell.

                          ____________________