[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 9291]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL MESSINA

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JUDY CHU

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 10, 2015

  Ms. JUDY CHU of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
the extraordinary life and achievements of my friend, Michael Messina, 
former Mayor and City Councilmember of Alhambra, who passed away on 
April 10, 2015.
  Michael was devoted to his city and his community. A lifelong 
resident of Alhambra who attended Ramona Elementary School and Alhambra 
High School, he graduated from California State University Los Angeles, 
and remained a resident of Alhambra until his passing.
  In 1979, Michael began his public service career, serving on the 
Alhambra City Council from 1979 to 1986, and as Mayor in 1982 and 1986. 
During this time, Michael dedicated himself to improving the city and 
community he loved.
  Michael was driven to help businesses to flourish in Alhambra and 
thanks to his efforts, downtown Alhambra is now a thriving commercial 
center with restaurants and businesses, giving the intersection of Main 
and Garfield streets a ``Main Street USA'' feel. Michael worked to 
expand development, tackling things as instrumental as repaving streets 
and sidewalks to paving the way for Price Club (now Costco) to come to 
Alhambra, which has become the largest retail tax producer in the city. 
He also personally led a city delegation to meet with the founder and 
CEO of Mervyns Department stores, as he was convinced that such an 
addition would bring even more business to the city center, and he was 
right. Mervyns planted its roots in Alhambra, and stores followed, 
including the Alhambra Place shopping center, which is still the center 
of retail in the city today, and every year hosts the ``Taste of 
Alhambra'' Festival. This is all thanks to Michael's vision for his 
city.
  As the population of Los Angeles County grew in the past 20 years, 
Michael fought to increase his community's access to transportation and 
to bring down congestion in the area. He was a champion of seniors, 
expanding programs like Senior Ride and Senior Housing, and he believed 
deeply in the public spaces of Alhambra, increasing the capacity of the 
Parks and Recreation department, so everyone in the city could enjoy 
the beautiful outdoor spaces in the San Gabriel Valley. For him, civil 
service was about the people and the community he loved.
  Even when he left the Alhambra City Council, Michael remained as a 
key figure in the community, eventually sitting on the Oversight Board 
for the city. He was a devoted parishioner of All Souls Church, and 
volunteered with Meals on Wheels, Knights of Columbus, the Alhambra 
Exchange Club, the Foundation for the Blind, and was president of the 
local St. Vincent de Paul Society. No matter what he did, Michael was 
determined to give back. Michael's dedication to Alhambra was an 
inspiration, and when I was first elected Mayor of the neighboring city 
of Monterey Park in 1988, I looked to Michael as an example of a true 
public servant.
  There is no doubt that Alhambra has lost one of its most devoted 
citizens and most stalwart champions. We are thankful for his many 
years of service, and will continue to honor his legacy of leadership 
and commitment to our community.

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