Following the death of former President Jimmy Carter, Bay Area residents and politicians remembered the impact of his presidency and the instance he set as a public servant.
California State Senator Scott Weinerwho represents San Francisco, Broadmoor, Colma, Daly City and parts of South San Francisco, called Carter a “great American” who “continued his public service for the rest of his life after leaving office and his love for all people everywhere.” showed”. in a post on X.
The Carter Center confirmed on social media platform He was 100 years old, the longest-living president in American history.
Vice President Kamala Harris was positive about his time in office, writing, “As president, he protected our air and water, promoted transparency in government, and brokered a historic peace treaty between Egypt and Israel at Camp David.”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an announcement highlighting Carter's efforts as “a tireless champion of human rights and democracy whose unparalleled dedication to service has made the world a better place.”
“President Carter was a man of rare character – whose convictions were true and deeply held, whose moral compass never wavered,” Newsom said. “He saw the common humanity in all of us, building bridges between people of different faiths and factions abroad while working to meet the needs of people at home. Despite tremendous challenges and difficult times, his radiant energy and spirit never faltered.”
Lateefah Simonan Emeryville resident who was elected to Congress this 12 months posted
Carter's influence prolonged to the Bay Area, as state Sen. Dave Cortese, who represents Silicon Valley, fondly recalled a dinner and conversation with the previous president.
“One of our lasting memories is having dinner and a great conversation with President Carter at the home of Mike and Mary Ellen Fox in Saratoga. I was lucky enough to sit right next to him,” Cortese said.
Some Bay Area residents also mourned the late former president. Janine Von Furst, a 70-year-old Alameda resident, says she met Carter briefly on a visit to Washington, D.C., when she was an intern for Illinois Senator Adlai Stevenson III.
“He couldn’t have been a nicer or more appreciative man. RIP,” Von Furst said.
Speaker Emeritus Nancy Pelosi said she and her husband mourned the previous president and expressed gratitude for his life.
“At the heart of President Carter’s public service was his passionate commitment to honoring the spark of divinity in every person,” Pelosi said. “He has always championed that spark: whether as a Sunday school teacher at his beloved Marantha Baptist Church, brokering the landmark Camp David Accords to pave the way to peace, or building homes with Habitat for Humanity.”
Carter was known for his work “Habitat for Humanity.” In fact, Carter and his wife Rosalynn made a stop within the Bay Area in 2016 as a part of their national tour celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of Habitat's Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project.
To raise awareness of the necessity for inexpensive housing, the couple helped renovate a house in east San Jose.
“Sometimes people say to us, 'Well, you're only working on one house,'” Carter told The Mercury News in 2016. “But look at the impact on this couple here if they get their house. This is profound. Second, Habitat is an example of how we can all help hard-working, low-income, middle-class people and stand up for the basic human right to a decent place to live.”
The Greater SF branch of Habitat for Humanity also wrote of the previous president: “As a father, husband and volunteer, former President Carter was instrumental in making Habitat for Humanity what it is today.”
Senator Adam Schiff wrote on X“President Jimmy Carter leaves a legacy like no other.” Unceasing in his service, unwavering in his dignity and revered for his commitment to our shared humanity. He fought the nice fight and kept the religion – and now he has finished his race.”
California State Senator Jesse Arreguínwho represents Oakland, Alameda, Berkeley, Richmond and a number of other cities in West Contra Costa County, also wrote on . “the promotion of human rights, social justice and peace.”
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