LETTER: Barbara Hoppe is a tireless advocate for Columbia

I support Barbara Hoppe for Sixth Ward councilwoman. I have known Barbara since 2001. She has worked tirelessly and effectively to make Columbia a better place to live. She works closely with constituents to solve problems in the Sixth Ward. 

For example, she has advocated a comprehensive solution to traffic problems in the area of the New Haven Road/U.S 63 intersection, and evolving solutions are starting to happen. She has been meeting with constituents of two neighborhoods to resolve issues about the location of a proposed walking and biking trail in the Stadium Boulevard/Old 63/Broadway area. She attends meetings of many neighborhood associations. She has office hours to meet with citizens on Saturdays that precede Monday council meetings. 

Citywide she is an advocate of comprehensive planning to guide development. She was instrumental in the initiation of the Natural Resources Inventory, which will add several layers to the city’s GIS system. The result will enable city staff, developers and citizens to accurately determine via digitized, high-resolution aerial photography the conditions that exist on any property in the metropolitan area and the location of nearby city infrastructure. The GIS database supports planning efforts of the city.  

Barbara Hoppe is very involved in communicating with and acting in ways to represent the citizens in the Sixth Ward and all of Columbia.