THE TIME FOR TALKING IS OVER.
IT'S TIME TO IMPLEMENT SOLUTIONS.
NOW.
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ACCOUNTABILITY
When the City is stuck on moving forward, I’d like to publish the attempts by the City Staff and the concerns of the public, so we can brainstorm and push forward with a solution. When we are looking at the budget, I’d like to make sure that the essentials are of first priority and are fully funded. Every year we want to make sure you are satisfied, I will do this with personal outreach and surveys.
As there are new challenges to our City, we need to have more community engagement to get feedback from the public to the staff. Having an independent audit of the City of Columbia will bring about a discussion and transparency.
We need to have a better response time to the resource challenges in the Wards. We need to have enough staff to cover pothole repair, snow removal and street light replacements in a timely response. We need to address future electric and water needs due to the growth demand and to avoid the fall out from natural disasters other states experience.
Look at the "Body of Columbia" and as an example we wouldn't ignore the left foot if we are concentrating on the right elbow. We all live here and our future success depends on us being able to create a healthy Columbia for all.
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Mental Health and Moving Forward
Many homeless individuals face mental health challenges, making it essential to recognize mental illness as a health diagnosis linked to homelessness. We should organize summits in mid-Missouri and statewide with major cities to develop coordinated plans addressing homelessness. Non-profits receiving City Money must provide detailed financial reports and avoid duplicating services. Additionally, we need awareness campaigns about the potential harm of directly donating to the homeless. We need to enforce trespassing laws and create a local identification card for homeless individuals from Columbia. Collaborating with other cities, we can establish a health plan for reunifying homeless individuals with their support systems where they can detox, receive nutrition and psychological care. Educate the public on the effects of substance abuse as a preventative measure. Finally a tiered care system should be implemented to address the varying needs of temporary and chronically homeless individuals with special attention to the veterans.
SAFETY & CRIME REDUCTION
SAFETY
Columbia deserves a safe community. I want our Police and Fire to be fully staffed on the streets with the supplies they need to keep us safe. The Columbia Police Department and the Columbia Fire Fighters need to have their retirement funded. My plan will look at our future population and the amount of staff needed for our future.
Training will be for current challenges and those of a growing city with our unique location of colleges and crossroads of the state. Role reversal training is vital with the lens of success from the neighborhood to the police and police to the neighborhood.
I will always be proposing and voting to make sure that our Police and Fire have enough equipment, protective gear and vehicles to do their job at the state-of-the-art level.
CRIME REDUCTION
Tackle the root causes of crime: Poverty, insufficient resources, mental health issues, absence of positive role models, education, limited economic opportunities.
Collaborate with faith-based organizations and non-profits.
YOUTH
Enhance career planning initiatives between the Chamber of Commerce and Columbia Public Schools.
Implement programs focused on financial management, gardening, and job success.
Transportation plays a crucial role in determining a family's future and their childern's potential.
Enhance neighborhoods by improving lighting, curb appeal, road conditions, grocery store accessibility, and clarifying the roles of the City and other agencies.
Establish clear expectations for non-profits regarding the outcomes of funding received.
Conduct regular assessments of the non-profits by professionals knowledgeable about their operations.
Engage Elementary School PTAs to motivate parents to take action and participate in voting.
Organize prayer walks in neighborhoods, utilizing maps that highlight specific street names.
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ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY
Enhance community engagement by promoting job training awareness. Bring back successful alumni from that neighborhood to inspire and share knowledge.
Boost the visibility of the meeting time of organizations and streamline information sharing to foster economic growth. Take a closer look at our water quality, potholes, water and electric needs for future generations to plan accordingly.
Explore options for neighbors to offer transportation, utilizing a model akin to a neighborhood community calendar.
Investigate innovative housing solutions that are more affordable and promote mental well-being through improved building sciences.
Establish step-up neighborhoods where residents can begin the journey and receive financial training through faith-based organizations.
ABOUT ME
My name is Tanya Heath and I'm asking for your vote. Here is why.
I was born and raised in Columbia and I can no longer sit back and watch the continued deterioration of our once great city. I can no longer tolerate the criminal activity, misplaced priorities and lack of direction from our City leaders on key issues facing Columbia.
I’m an ’87 Hickman graduate and ’91 graduate from the School of Journalism at the University of Missouri. My husband and I raised our daughter in Columbia and she attended Columbia Public Schools. I’ve worked for more than 30 years in advertising and public relations, teaching and event planning. I’ve volunteered in numerous local organizations and I’ve been a member of Community United Methodist Church for 30 years.
The bottom line is WE CAN DO BETTER. Each year, I’ve spent my life in Columbia participating, observing and getting to know people. We need to get back to the basics of funding law enforcement, creating safer streets and sidewalks and stopping the nonsense spending on pet projects like pollinator habitats. (Amendment: In balancing the need for pollinators there are two concerns. First the safety sight line for drivers/motorcyclists and then "first impressions opportunity costs" when people are deciding to move or not move to Columbia. Instead, we can look at pollinator islands with low height growth native flowers and encouraging pollinator spaces in backyards.)
Please join me to fight for reform and common-sense government. We must stop the decline that is going to destroy our community. It will take all of us. I hope you will join me in my efforts to become Mayor of Columbia! I’m here to serve you.
WHAT OUR COMMUNITY IS SAYING
"I am proud to endorse Tanya Heath for mayor. Tanya has been nothing short of amazing. I've seen her in action. She truly has a heart for the people and the community they are in. This is something the world needs especially communities. They need to be heard and understood. Both which Tanya is great at. "
- ReuuTasha Harris-Belcher
Director of CAABA
(Columbia African-American Business Alliance)
DISCOVER OUR VISION FOR COLUMBIA
We encourage you to look at all of the candidates.
VOTE FOR TANYA
WATCH COLUMBIA GET ON THE RIGHT TRACK TO BECOMING THE CITY WE ALL WANT IT TO BE!
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