Los Angeles City Council honors 1999 'Pioneer Women' and long-serving city employees
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Summary
At a March 1999 council session the City of Los Angeles presented 'Pioneer Women' awards to 15 district honorees, recognized retiring officials and singled out city staff and a tradeswoman for awards, highlighting volunteerism, disability advocacy and long public service.
The Los Angeles City Council spent much of its March 1999 session recognizing community leaders and long-serving city employees, presenting 'Pioneer Women' awards and a series of departmental commendations.
The event, organized with the Los Angeles Commission on the Status of Women, honored 15 women chosen by council districts for work ranging from community organizing and youth services to disability advocacy and small-business leadership. Councilmember Alatorre presented Juana Gutierrez (CD 14) for decades of Boyle Heights organizing; Councilmember Chick introduced Judith Hirschberg as the 3rd District honoree after a recent recovery from brain surgery; other honorees included Susan Burske (5th District), Mary Anne Jones (6th District), Mildred Kramer (CD 13), Bertha Woolridge (1st District) and Camilla Townsend Kosol (15th District). Many speakers emphasized grassroots volunteerism and neighborhood revitalization as the common thread among honorees.
Councilmembers and honorees framed the awards as recognition of sustained community service rather than a partisan or policy statement. Councilwoman Galanter introduced Westchester Neighborhood School students who collected more than 2,500 canned goods for the LAX food pantry as an example of local civic action. Dr. Grace Harper of Building and Safety accepted a Tradeswoman of the Year honor from WINTER (Women in Nontraditional Employment Roles) and the department as a whole received California’s Building Department of the Year recognition; General Manager Andrew Adleman accepted the award for his staff.
Blake Coleman, a long-time Coliseum vendor recognized earlier in the meeting, told the chamber, “This is really an honor,” and thanked council members for the resolution commending his work. Several retirees were also acknowledged: Phyllis Curry — noted for roles across city budgeting and as chief financial officer at the Department of Water and Power — and Keith Comrie, the City Administrative Officer, received council resolutions praising decades of public service.
The presentations filled the morning; council then moved on to regular agenda business. The ceremony emphasized volunteer-led programs, senior and youth services, and initiatives by residents and nonprofit groups to improve neighborhoods across Los Angeles.
The council plans to carry forward the programmatic highlights into ongoing constituent services and departmental recognition efforts; no formal policy votes stemmed directly from the recognition items at this session.
