Senate Resolution No. 1801

BY: Senator MONTGOMERY

COMMENDING Deb Howard upon the occasion of her
retirement after many years of distinguished service
as Executive Director of the Pratt Area Community
Council

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to acknowledge
the significant milestones in the distinguished careers of esteemed
residents of this noble Empire State; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commend Deb Howard upon the occasion of her retirement after many years
of distinguished service as Executive Director of the Pratt Area
Community Council; and

WHEREAS, In 1990, Deb Howard began working for Pratt Area Community
Council (dba IMPACCT Brooklyn) as a community consultant with tenants,
landlords and small homeowners; she became a certified homeowner
counselor specializing in foreclosure prevention, individually assisting
residents in their efforts to purchase and maintain their homes; and

WHEREAS, Eight years later, Deb Howard held the position of PACC's
Director of Homeowner Services, designing and overseeing services and
programs that enable neighborhood residents to become homeowners and
provide information to support their efforts to resist displacement; and

WHEREAS, In 2002, Deb Howard became PACC's Housing Director,
managing and supervising PACC's affordable housing development projects;
and

WHEREAS, Dedicated to developing affordable, safe and healthy
communities, Deb Howard served on the Board of Directors of the
City-Wide Task Force on Housing Court from 1992-1998, and has been a
member of the Neighborhood Initiatives Advisory Panel with the title of
Chair of the Small Buildings Committee; and

WHEREAS, In addition, Deb Howard is an active participant of the
Association for Neighborhood Housing Developers, New Yorkers for
Responsible Lending and Women in Housing Finance; and

WHEREAS, For her steadfast and unremitting commitment to her
community, Deb Howard received the 1998 Woman of Distinction Award; and

WHEREAS, Throughout her illustrious career, Deb Howard has rendered
faithful, conscientious and valuable service to the Fort Greene, Clinton
Hill and Bedford Stuyvesant communities of Brooklyn, New York, earning
the admiration, esteem and affection of her colleagues; and

WHEREAS, In her capacity as Executive Director of Pratt Area
Community Council, Deb Howard served with loyalty, honor and
distinction, and was governed by a keen sense of duty and always showed
a unique grasp of human problems in her official acts; and

WHEREAS, With her throughout have been her partner, Jerry, and
daughter, Emily, both of whom feel privileged to be a part of her life
and rejoice in her accomplishments; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when
individuals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our
attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens
of the great State of New York; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Deb Howard upon the occasion of her retirement after many years
of distinguished service as Executive Director of the Pratt Area
Community Council; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Deb Howard.