Honoring John Kromer.

WHEREAS, Mr. John Kromer has served as this City's Director of Housing and Community Development for nearly a full decade, and in that time, the Office of Housing and Community Development (OHCD) has overseen the spending of more than $1 billion in federal and state development block grant funds; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Kromer has created the nation's largest first-time homebuyer program, which to date has provided counseling and settlement grants for 14,000 families. Through Mr. Kromer's efforts, these families are now homeowners in addition to being productive, taxpaying citizens; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Kromer has also used all the resources available to him in order to enhance the lives of the citizens of this City. For example, he worked with the University of Pennsylvania to launch our first comprehensive inventory of vacant houses and lots. Once this information was downloaded into the University's system, all authorized users could obtain all the available information about a particular address. He also engaged college students to promote education on neighborhood reinvestment issues; and

WHEREAS, Although John Kromer's accomplishments are far too numerous to list, it will be remembered that he has maintained high levels of performance in housing production and preservation, and has helped to strengthen the real estate market in many of our neighborhoods. Because of his continuing and untiring efforts, this City is now in a position to improve conditions all across Philadelphia; now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby honor and commend Mr. John Kromer. We thank him for his years of distinguished service to the citizens of this City, and wish him great success in his next challenge.

RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Mr. John Kromer as evidence of the high esteem and sincere admiration of this legislative body.

End