[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 146 (Tuesday, September 27, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1371]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        HONORING COLUMBIA HEIGHTS' ALL-AMERICA CITY DESIGNATION

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. KEITH ELLISON

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 27, 2016

  Mr. ELLISON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend the City of 
Columbia Heights for its designation as a 2016 All-America City by the 
National Civic League. Since its incorporation in 1921, Columbia 
Heights has demonstrated sincere dedication to creating a safe, 
livable, and inclusive community.
   Columbia Heights' community vitality is a direct result of investing 
in youth and putting children first. The City has shown great 
leadership through collaborative efforts such as: Big Brothers and Big 
Sisters; recreation and education outreach programs; and a strong City, 
Police Department, and School District partnership. This year, to 
ensure no child goes hungry in the summer months, Columbia Heights 
entered into a partnership with Loaves and Fishes to serve a healthy, 
complete lunch free of charge to local children five days a week.
   In 2008 under the leadership of Police Chief Scott Nadeau, the 
Columbia Heights Police Department implemented a policing philosophy 
focused on community partnership. Through work with the Columbia 
Heights school district, the police force drastically reduced criminal 
activity over a seven-year period and has taken youth arrests from 230 
per year to 90 per year. This work earned the city the International 
Association of Chiefs of Police Award for Community Policing in 2012, 
and the L. Anthony Sutlin Civic Imagination Award in 2015 from the 
Department of Justice for collaboration between law enforcement and 
community members.
   The City of Columbia Heights also recently completed construction on 
a beautiful 22,000 square foot library. In 2014, city residents passed 
a referendum to raise funds to build a library the city could call its 
own. Now, Columbia Heights has a tremendous community asset and 
gathering place that it can be proud of for years to come.
   Columbia Heights has actively engaged its new immigrant communities, 
from working to build a community park in the Circle Terrace 
neighborhood, to hosting Iftar dinners in the police building to bring 
the community together.
   Columbia Heights stands as a Minnesotan beacon of inclusion and 
progress. I wish the city of Columbia Heights all the best in its 
future endeavors of successful community engagement, and congratulate 
the city on this well-deserved honor.

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