LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Ms. L. Ann Rocker for her ceaseless
dedicated service to her community

WHEREAS, Individuals who give of their time and energies and serve the
best interests of their communities are an asset beyond remuneration and
cannot be sufficiently extolled; and
WHEREAS, Ms. L. Ann Rocker has given not only of her time and energies
but also of her competence, intelligence and leadership and consequently
has been designated for special recognition; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Ms.
L. Ann Rocker for her ceaseless dedicated service to her community; and
WHEREAS, The community of West Harlem was burdened with the North
River Sewage Treatment Plant; for over 25 years, there has been an
urgent need to defend both the health and the safety interests of the
community against the effects of this sewage treatment plant; and
WHEREAS, The community of West Harlem was spurred into action by the
efforts of Ms. L. Ann Rocker, a community activist who has been at the
forefront of developing and providing an ongoing vehicle to educate and
give a voice to the concerned members of the community; and
WHEREAS, For the past 40 years, this outstanding woman has lived and
raised her family in the West Harlem community; and
WHEREAS, Since 1996, Ms. L. Ann Rocker has worked as a social worker
and has successfully trained others to serve as aides within the commu-
nity; and
WHEREAS, Due to her dedicated involvement, major changes have been
made to the North River Sewage Treatment Plant such as the establishment
of programs aimed at monitoring the air and water quality, as well as
the emissions from trucks and buses; and
WHEREAS, The Riverbank State Park was created as part of a compen-
sation for the communities being forced to accept the North River Sewage
Treatment Plant; and
WHEREAS, Ms. L. Ann Rocker served with the commissioner of the Depart-
ment of Environmental Protection of the City of New York to establish
city-wide environmental committees; she has worked tirelessly to develop
the programs for the Environmental Benefits Fund with the New York State
Department of Environmental Conservation; and
WHEREAS, Ms. L. Ann Rocker founded the North River Environmental
Community Review Board (NRECRB), a community based organization that is
working with U.S. EPA to monitor the watershed and the rivers that
surround the Island of Manhattan; and
WHEREAS, Ms. L. Ann Rocker and NRECRB have continually met on a month-
ly basis for the last 25 years along with the aforementioned agencies to
educate and bring the concerns of the community to light; and
WHEREAS, A great protector of the environment and a great defender of
health for the people of West Harlem and the State of New York, Ms. L.
Ann Rocker has been called upon to contribute her time and talents to
countless civic and charitable endeavors and has always given of herself
unstintingly; and
WHEREAS, Throughout the entire period of her community service, a
period of constructive involvement, Ms. L. Ann Rocker has stood constant
in dignity, good grace and humor; and
WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the impressive dedication shown by an individ-
ual for the benefit of others which Ms. L. Ann Rocker has displayed
throughout her life; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who
enhance the well-being and vitality of their community and have shown a

long and sustained commitment to excellence certainly have earned the
recognition and applause of all the citizens of this great Empire State;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Ms. L. Ann Rocker for her ceaseless dedicated service to her
community; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Ms. L. Ann Rocker, West Harlem, New York.