Washington, D.C. – This week, Reps. Mike Honda (D-Campbell) and Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose) celebrate the renaming of Westgate Post in San Jose after local labor leader Tony Cortese. Mr. Cortese, a graduate of San Jose’s James Lick High School, served as President of the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC), Branch 193, for 27 years before his passing in 2007. Mr. Cortese is also widely known as the founder of the NALC Santa Clara County Food Drive, which served as the model for the NALC’s national food drive.  Over 18 years, letter carriers have collected over 1 billion pounds of food to feed the nation’s hungry, and it all started with Tony.

“Having stood on the House floor in support of legislation to designate my district’s Westgate Station Post Office in memory of my friend Tony Cortese, it is an honor to see it come to reality,” noted Rep. Mike Honda. “Tony’s tireless advocacy for letter carriers, and his four-decade legacy at the Postal Service, will never be forgotten; this naming ensures that.  Serving as the president of the National Association of Letter Carriers Local 193, Tony accomplished much on behalf of San Jose’s working families, expanding health benefits, procuring buildings and providing open forums for union members, community advocates, and local elected officials. This Post Office naming is the least we can do to honor Tony’s countless contributions to our community.”

“I was honored to have introduced the bill to rename the post office building after Tony,” noted Rep. Zoe Lofgren. “Tony was a mediator and a leader who had the amazing ability to bring people together and was deeply respected by both management and his fellow letter carriers. While he is greatly missed, his name and legacy and commitment to his community will live on at the Anthony J. Cortese Post Office and the NALC’s food drive.”

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