For Immediate Release: 
August 20, 2001                       

Contact:
David Vossbrink, (408) 277-3515, Office of Mayor Ron Gonzales

San Jose, CA ---- At the dedication of the new airport runway today, San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales announced today that he will ask the City Council to rename San Jose International Airport for United States Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta.

“Norm is a great son of San Jose, and renaming our airport in his honor will be a wonderful tribute that our community can give to him and his career of dedicated service,” said Mayor Gonzales.

 “His long history of effective leadership for our community and our nation has benefited the people of San Jose for nearly four decades.  He has earned deep respect from all perspectives for his vision and his balance that has achieved consensus for solutions at every level of government.”

Mineta served on the San Jose City Council from 1967 to 1971 and as Mayor from 1971 to 1974.  He was the first Asian-American to serve as mayor of a major U.S. city. From 1975 to 1995 he served as a member of U.S. House of Representatives, where he was known for his consensus building among his colleagues and for forging public-private partnerships. He served as chairman of the House Public Works and Transportation Committee between 1992 and 1994. He chaired the committee’s aviation subcommittee between 1981 and 1988.

He was appointed Secretary of Commerce by President Clinton, becoming the first Asian-American to serve in the cabinet. President Bush named Mineta as Secretary of Transportation this year.

“Norm Mineta has long been a key figure for addressing practical solutions for transportation and aviation issues on the national level, and he has also been an effective spokesman for issues important to the residents and the economy of San Jose and Silicon Valley throughout his career,” said the mayor.

“I am proud to recommend placing his name on San Jose’s airport to celebrate a lifetime of public service to our community and the nation.” Gonzales will propose changing the name of San Jose International Airport at an upcoming City Council meeting.

Mineta was at the airport to dedicate the completion of a new runway today.  The $65 million runway project will enhance the efficiency and safety of airport operations by helping reduce peak period delays, ground taxi time, and aircraft idling. The first of many airport improvements over the next 10 years to improve customer service and airline efficiency, the runway was completed in 19 months, on time and under budget.