TELEPHONE: (212) ~1FAX NUMBER: (212) 669-8484

Joseph TrapaniBUREAU CHIEF

THE CITY OF NEW YORKOFFICE OF THE COMPTROLLERBUREAU OF MANAGEMENT AND

ACCOUNTING SYSTEMS1 CENTRE STREET - AM 1005NEW YOAK, N.Y. 10007-2341

AU\N G. HEVESICOMPTROLLER

September 21, 1995

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCeRN:

Sarah Wenig worked for me for four years, from 1974 to 1978, at theheight of the Boston Little City Hail program. I was the program's DeputyDirector during Sarah's employment there. The program operated a total of 24Little City Halls (LCH), one in each of the City's nelghborhoods, During thisdifficult period, the program was service oriented, dynamic, veryhighly regardedand demonstrably effective. A high proportion of LCH employees went on tobecome members of the City of Boston's senior staff and managers.

Sarah worked initially in the Fenway LCH and then, as a direct report tome in the central office. On a neighborhood level, Sarah quickly establishedherself as a very effective advocate for Fenway residents by successfullyaddressing community needs. Sarah's unique ability to create relationshipsbetween disparate groups was apparent as she brokered a program betweenFenway elderly residents and the City's major corporate citizens. The FenwayElderly Lunch Program was a great success and was successfully extendedcitywide. Sarah was almost singlehandedly responsible for the lunch program'screation and expansion. Her winning a pathbreaking case on area crimeprotection before the Boston Housing Court is another example of hereffectiveness. She contributed strongly to efforts in acquiring non-tax-Ievy fundsfor neighborhood anti-crime efforts, in fostering local input in neighborhooddevelopment plans, and in internal administrative matters involving employeetraining and development of service delivery methods.

Sarah was consistently able to achieve improved public services forneighborhood residents through negotiation with, cajoling of, skillful navigationwith, and truly effective persuasion of the overworked civil servants in thevarious departments of Boston's government. She was also well respected in theLCH program itself and by the neighborhoods.

In addition to a genuine affection for and understanding of the diversenatures and circumstances of individuals, Sarah has the insight, determinationand broad worldview to work with individuals and groups of all types. Shemaintains a consistent focus on goal achievement. I recommend her heartily toanyone seeking to build or sustain a productive and meaningful organization .

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John LoskDeputyBureau Chief