Honor Deb Howard’s Retirement

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.