[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 206 (Monday, December 7, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1099]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       IN HONOR OF JANET BORGENS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JACKIE SPEIER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, December 7, 2020

  Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the outstanding 
service of Janet Borgens, departing member of the city council of 
Redwood City. She leaves the council after five years of service and 
after more than ten years on the city's planning commission. The 
community owes her a tremendous debt for the countless hours she has 
served.
  Janet grew up a few miles away in East Palo Alto where she went to 
local elementary, middle and high schools. In 1969, she moved to 
Redwood City and put down roots in part by buying a hair salon. As a 
single mother, she needed the flexibility of owning her own shop and 
setting her own hours.
  I first got to know Janet when she came to my office in the state 
legislature to advocate on behalf of cosmetologists. She has always 
been a consumer advocate and her efforts on behalf of clients improved 
the health and safety of both clients and practitioners. As the owner 
of a small business, she also became aware of the impact of city 
government on local establishments.
  Ultimately, she was selected to serve on the Redwood City Senior 
Affairs commission, the Housing and Human Concerns committee and the 
planning commission. Through these positions of progressively greater 
responsibility she came to understand the needs of various populations 
of her community.
  Redwood City is a thriving city of 86,000 persons located 15 miles 
south of San Francisco Airport and a few minutes north of Facebook. 
Within the city's boundaries are the headquarters of Oracle and 
Box.com, many pharmaceutical companies, and the Chan-Zuckerberg 
Initiative. Redwood City is also the county seat of San Mateo County, 
hosting the county government center, jail and numerous other county 
agencies.
  Downtown has exploded in population during this past decade as 
employers seek to locate near its heavily utilized train and bus lines. 
48 percent of adults age 25 and older have a college degree, and 
housing costs reflect this high-earning cohort. Median rental costs are 
$2,100 per month for an apartment, necessitating an annual income of at 
least $76,000.
  Officially, 10 percent of the population lives in poverty but since 
the official poverty level is not reflective of reality in Redwood 
City, the actual population living in poverty is likely greater. Non-
college educated adults working in the service sector and recent 
immigrants often struggle to make ends meet.
  The hallmark of Janet's service is her consistent advocacy on behalf 
of wage-earning families who struggle with the cost of living in the 
city. She's been outspoken about her support for affordable housing, 
repeatedly voting to allow affordable developments in the community. In 
recent council discussions about establishing a safe site for 
recreational vehicle living, Janet wanted to be sure that fines for 
failing to heed the city's overnight parking ordinance were not 
ruinous.
  Her work on the Bayfront Canal is a special example of her concern 
for low income residents. I've visited the Redwood City trailer parks, 
filled with wage-earning families and retirees, that are flooded almost 
every year because the canal overflows. This project was not fully 
funded but Janet and the city kept at it, eventually raising the money 
needed to fix the problem. She will leave office just as permits 
allowing construction may be issued.
  Through her council duties, she currently serves on the San Francisco 
Airport Community Roundtable, various Caltrain-related committees, and 
she is an active CERT trainer. Her commitment to the community is truly 
noteworthy. For 20 years, she led the American Cancer Society's Wig 
Bank, work which earned her honors. She has long worked with the 
homeless by packing and distributing meals, collecting clothing, and by 
working with the Salvation Army. She raises funds for college 
scholarships and is an active member of the Peninsula Sunrise Rotary 
Club.
  Madam Speaker, after five years on the city council and decades of 
service to the community, Janet is now leaving public life. She and her 
husband Milt, a former police officer, will have additional time to 
spend with their three children and four grandchildren. Her 
neighborhood of Friendly Acres has many remaining challenges, but 
residents will always have an advocate because her love of Redwood City 
is genuine and unwavering. Even out of the public eye, Janet Borgens 
will remain in service to the public and its future. It has been my 
honor to serve with her.

                          ____________________