[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 1] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page 43] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]IN RECOGNITION OF LEON N. WEINER & ASSOCIATES INC. ______ HON. MICHAEL N. CASTLE of delaware in the house of representatives Tuesday, January 15, 2008 Mr. CASTLE. Madam Speaker, it is my great pleasure to rise today in honor of Leon N. Weiner & Associates Inc. (LNW&AI), a company that for almost 60 years now has been accomplishing great feats and doing outstanding work for the housing industry in Delaware and surrounding areas. Today, I wish to call attention to a neighborhood renewal project this group championed. It positively impacted our community to such a degree that the readers of Affordable Housing Finance Magazine named it the Nation's best affordable homeownership development. Leon N. Weiner & Associates Inc. was presented with this prestigious award because they had the vision, drive, prowess and compassion to take an area in need of revitalization and transform it into a true community. Less than a decade ago the Wilmington, Delaware neighborhood now known as Eastlake was home to some of the highest per capita drug and crime rates in the nation. All of that has changed since LNW&AI came in with an innovative renewal plan to construct new homes at below-market rates for neighbors. While designing this community, LNW&AI was mindful of practicality, community, affordability, safety, and aesthetics--all of which help explain the program's great success. Through the work of LNW&AI and its project affiliates, the Village of Eastlake is now seeing an unprecedented influx of residents that are inspired and committed to bettering their community and future. I have long been a supporter of Leon N. Weiner & Associates Inc. Leon Weiner, whom I had the distinct privilege of knowing and working with while he was alive, founded the company in 1949 and made it a success. He recognized that people from every walk of life, regardless of economic circumstances, share a common need and dream of having a place to call home. His hard work and dedication to such a cause helped put thousands of people of modest incomes in homes. Furthermore, he established a rich philanthropic legacy within LNW&AI. Through my personal experiences with Leon's successors: Kevin Kelly and David Curtis, as well as the rest of the LNW&AI staff, I can assuredly say that Leon's legacy not only lives on, but thrives in the company today. Once again, I would like to recognize Leon N. Weiner & Associates Inc. Their work at the Eastlake community is remarkable and very deserving of Affordable Housing Finance Magazine's Reader's Choice Award. They are an invaluable asset to our community and I wish them all the best now and in the future. ____________________