Formatting necessary for an accurate reading of this text may be shown by tags (e.g., <DELETED> or <BOLD>) or may be missing from this TXT display. For complete and accurate display of this text, see the PDF.
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E774-E775]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING ALDERMAN MARGARET LAURINO ON HER RETIREMENT
______
HON. MIKE QUIGLEY
of illinois
in the house of representatives
Thursday, June 13, 2019
Mr. QUIGLEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Alderman
Margaret Laurino on her retirement from her position as Alderman of the
39th Ward of the City of Chicago.
Born and raised in the very ward that she served as Alderman,
Margaret Laurino has dedicated her life to providing the strong,
community-minded administration that our city deserves. She is an
accomplished public servant who has demonstrated exemplary leadership
in the City Council and worked hard to improve the lives of her
constituents in Chicago's 39th Ward for 25 years.
Margaret ``Marge'' Laurino was elected by her colleagues to serve as
President Pro Tempore of the Chicago City Council, bestowing upon her
the responsibility to preside over City Council meetings in the Mayor's
absence. She served as Chairman of the City Council Committee on
Pedestrian and Traffic Safety as well as the Committee on Economic,
Capital and Technology Development, and was a member of the Committees
on Budget and Government Operations; Committees, Rules and Ethics;
Finance; Workforce Development and Audit; and Zoning, Landmarks, and
Building Standards.
Alderman Laurino has been a champion for Chicago's youth and an
advocate for quality education throughout her career. During her time
in the ward, she successfully advocated for the building of new annexes
in five existing schools, in addition to the construction of two new
public schools. She also expanded healthcare access for students in the
ward by opening new health centers in both the Albany Park
Multicultural Academy and Roosevelt High School.
Alderman Laurino also oversaw numerous infrastructure improvements to
benefit senior citizens in her ward. She worked in conjunction with the
City's Department of Housing to fund the construction of a 97-unit
senior building, secured funding for senior citizen home improvement
grants, and played an instrumental role in the renovation of an
outdated building on North Park Village's grounds, which will soon
serve as a wellness center for seniors.
The improvement of the 39th Ward under Alderman Laurino's leadership
did not just reach youth and seniors, but the entire community as well.
In 2014 she oversaw the construction of the new Albany Park Library,
which was built to the highest current environmental standards, and
features more space and nearly four times as many free public computers
as the neighborhood's previous library. Alderman Laurino also addressed
public safety concerns within the ward by replacing the outdated 17th
District Police station with new facilities that are home to state-of-
the-art technology and community-oriented meeting spaces.
The City of Chicago is lucky to have been served by Margaret Laurino,
who improved access to fresh, nutritious foods for Chicagoans by
creating the Food Desert Task Force, championed government transparency
by video streaming all City Council meetings and fought unethical
practices in government by mandating ethics trainings for all City
employees. Furthermore, Alderman Laurino made our roads safer and more
accessible by banning texting while bicycling and advancing the first-
ever Pedestrian Plan. Finally, Alderman Laurino created new
opportunities for young Chicago residents to learn about City
government operations and to follow in her footsteps by cultivating
careers dedicated to serving the public through the Aldermanic intern
program.
Marge would be the first to tell you that her family is her first
priority and they have provided support during her entire career; her
[[Page E775]]
husband Randy Barnette, her son John Hundrieser and his wife Maria, and
their children, Oliver and Emma.
Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in applauding Alderman
Laurino's years of service to the City of Chicago. I hope that her
dedication and hard work inspire us all to see the difference we can
make by serving our local communities. I wish her a happy and
successful retirement and all the best in her future endeavors.
____________________