[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 157 (Wednesday, September 28, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E986-E987]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING JOHN JACKSON KENNEDY

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JUDY CHU

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 28, 2022

  Ms. CHU. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of John J. 
Kennedy, who passed away on July 21, 2022, at the age of 61. John was a 
respected leader and councilmember in the Pasadena community whose 
legacy will be felt indefinitely.
  John J. Kennedy was born and raised in Pasadena, California to his 
parents Thomas and Leola Kennedy as the eighth of ten siblings. John 
was always a natural leader, drawn to serving and representing those 
around him from an early age. He was student body president at 
Pasadena's Blair High School and went on to serve as student senator at 
the University of Southern California, where he received a dual 
bachelor's degree in Economics and International Relations. After 
earning his juris doctor degree from Howard University School of Law, 
John became the youngest person to be elected president to the Pasadena 
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in 
1987. His decades-long work with the NAACP as both president and a 
member represented his powerful commitment to creating opportunities 
for everyone in Pasadena.
  In 1987, John also founded John J. Kennedy & Associates, a management 
consulting

[[Page E987]]

firm that assisted in public relations, dispute resolution, grant 
writing, program development, and more. And from 1995 to 1998, John 
even served as Deputy Chief of Police for the Richmond, Virginia Police 
Department. After returning to California, John worked for Southern 
California Edison from 2004 to 2011 as Director of Special Projects, 
and from 2011 to 2013, he was the Senior Vice President for the Los 
Angeles Urban League, where he helped to fundraise and connect all 
levels of government with important policy issues affecting the local 
area.
  John was a well-regarded leader among his constituents, peers, and 
elected representatives from every level of government. Prior to his 
election to the city council, John worked for the City of Pasadena in 
several capacities, including in the Finance, City Attorney, Police, 
and Public Works Departments. With a clear and unyielding passion for 
giving back to the city that raised him, John was elected to the 
Pasadena City Council in 2013 to represent District 3, which he served 
tirelessly until his death. In his nearly three terms on the city 
council, John served as Vice Mayor, Chair of the Public Safety 
Committee, served on the Finance Committee, and was one of three city 
representatives to represent Pasadena on the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena 
Airport Authority.
  John's powerful commitment to helping those around him defined his 
many accomplishments as an elected official. Particularly during the 
COVID-19 pandemic, John stepped up to assist those who needed it most. 
In fact, during the peak of the pandemic John secured 60,000 face masks 
for the City of Pasadena, ensuring that city staff and residents would 
not experience any potential shortage. He also fought hard to establish 
local grants that were crucial in helping many small businesses keep 
their doors open. And John even continued his annual tradition of 
providing families with thousands of Thanksgiving turkeys and Christmas 
hams at a time of crisis and need.
  Despite the immense challenges of the pandemic, John was able to 
spearhead the creation of the Pasadena Police Oversight Commission, one 
of the most important accomplishments the City of Pasadena has 
achieved. This was an effort John had championed for six years that 
started with no support. And yet despite countless objections and 
hurdles along the way, John persevered, advocated, built coalitions, 
and ultimately succeeded in gaining the votes necessary to establish 
the commission.
  John was also a longtime advocate for increasing affordable housing 
throughout Pasadena. In 2020, John pushed the City of Pasadena to set 
an ambitious goal of building 1,000 units in 1,000 days. And because of 
his leadership, the city broke ground on a new housing project called 
Pasadena Studios, which will consist of 180 all-affordable units. 
Outside of affordable housing efforts, John was also an ardent 
supporter of several other projects to improve some of Pasadena's 
landmark facilities and institutions, including advocating for $20 
million for Robinson Park, fighting relentlessly for $11 million 
towards the Playhouse Village Park, and supporting Measure J which 
transferred approximately $8 million a year to the Pasadena Unified 
School District.
  John always recognized that Pasadena's success was built by the hard 
work and sacrifice of our predecessors, many of whom were African 
Americans, Chinese Americans, Mexican Americans, Japanese Americans, 
and countless others from different backgrounds. Because he wanted to 
ensure that future residents of Pasadena were aware of its history, he 
fought hard to establish a monument that recognized this fact. And 
after months of hard work, along with the support of community members 
and organizations, the City of Pasadena erected a monument dedicated to 
minority residents and their incredible contributions to this city. 
This monument will serve to honor not only the unquantifiable 
contributions of these communities but will memorialize the honorable 
efforts of John himself.
  John's love for Pasadena and Pasadenans guided his public service as 
he strove every day to make it better for everyone. It is certain that 
he did just that. It was an honor to work with him and call him a 
friend. I ask my colleagues to join me in commemorating the life of 
this extraordinary individual.

                          ____________________