[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 26, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1379-S1380]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      REMEMBERING RICHARD RIORDAN

 Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise today to celebrate the 
life of Richard Joseph Riordan, a veteran, businessman, father, proud 
Californian, and the 39th mayor of the city of Los Angeles.
  Born in Flushing, Queens, in New York City, and the youngest of eight 
siblings, Mayor Riordan's intellect and work ethic earned him a degree 
in philosophy from Princeton University, before he went on to serve our 
Nation in the U.S. Army during the Korean war. His keen mind for 
business and legal matters brought him to the University of Michigan 
Law School and later to a career in legal practice and private equity 
in Los Angeles, where he made his home. But to many Angelenos, we know 
him best for his time as mayor of Los Angeles from 1993 to 2001.
  I had the privilege of serving alongside Mayor Riordan during my 
first 2 years on the Los Angeles City Council,

[[Page S1380]]

and I am proud of the work we did together on behalf of Los Angeles 
families. Mayor Riordan cared deeply about the city's children and 
prioritized the modernization of parks, libraries, and recreational, 
and cultural opportunities for children. He was instrumental in 
bringing the Children's Museum of Los Angeles, now known as the 
Discovery Cube Los Angeles, to the San Fernando Valley.
  His response to crisis earned Los Angeles national recognition, both 
in rebuilding after the devastating Northridge earthquake in 1994 and 
working with the U.S. Department of Justice to reform the Los Angeles 
Police Department and advance community-based policing efforts. And he 
was instrumental in bringing the Democratic Convention to Los Angeles 
in 2000, showcasing the City of Angels to a national audience.
  Angela and I offer our deepest condolences and appreciation to Mayor 
Riordan's family and loved ones. His legacy has left a lasting mark on 
our city, and his loss will be deeply felt by all Angelenos.

                          ____________________