Title
To thank Columbus City Council Member Priscilla R. Tyson for the 28 years of dynamic leadership and service that she has given the residents of Columbus and Central Ohio and to congratulate her on her retirement.
Body
WHEREAS, Columbus City Council Member Priscilla R. Tyson has dedicated her life to the cause of selfless public service, serving the residents of Columbus and Central Ohio as a dedicated leader, mentor and friend -Webster’s defines courage as a willingness to undertake or seek out new and daring enterprises, standing up against the odds, without fear, oblivious to danger, and showing valor with a firmness of purpose or belief; and
WHEREAS, Columbus City Council Member Priscilla R. Tyson service to the City of Columbus embodies the definition of courage; she became a member of Columbus City Council in January of 2007 and her abiding faith and devotion has enabled her to become the longest woman to serve on Columbus City Council and the 2nd longest tenured council person in the city’s esteemed history; and
WHEREAS, Council Member Tyson’s service includes championing job creation, economic development, safety, and a never ending desire to improve the quality of life for Columbus residents; her service includes being selected by her colleagues to chair City Council’s Finance Committee, Development Committee, Recreation and Parks Committee, Administration Committee, Health, Human Services, Workforce Development and Zoning Committees - she was also selected to serve two terms as the President Pro Tem of Columbus City Council - in these roles she worked to address many of the community’s highest priorities, including access to healthcare, small business development, job training and human service funding; and
WHEREAS, Council Member Tyson’s signature achievements include but are not limited to creating the Commission on Black Girls, which studied and assessed the quality of life for Black Girls in Columbus and Central Ohio; she partnered with Franklin County Commissioner John O’Grady to create one of the nation’s first joint City and County Food Plans to reduce food insecurity; passed legislation Declaring Racism as a Public Health Crisis in the City of Columbus and enacted legislation codifying the CROWN ACT - clarifying “Race” to include traits historically associated with hair texture and protective cultural hairstyles; she led the effort to pass T21 which raising the legal age of selling tobacco products in Columbus from 18 to 21; she was the 1st to update the Columbus Civil Rights Code to protect people on the basis of age, disability, sex, gender identity or expression, familial status, and military status - in October of 2019 she led a delegation to Genoa, Italy to accept the International Communication Award from the City of Genoa for her work with the Paganini Violin Exchange - this prestigious award on behalf of the City of Columbus highlighted her efforts to improve the cultural relationship between the City of Columbus and the city’s 1st Sister City, Genoa Italy on a global level; and
WHEREAS, Council Member Tyson has had a distinguished career and will leave a legacy that serves as an example for others to follow; her commitment and ability to motivate others by the power of her example is an inspiration to all - moreover Columbus City Council joins the community in celebrating her service and applauding the efforts of her family, friends, co-workers, admirers, staff and each of the people who have had the honor of being touched by her courageous dynamic leadership; now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
That this Council does hereby thank Columbus City Council Member Priscilla R. Tyson for the 28 years of dynamic leadership and service that she has given to the residents of Columbus and Central Ohio and wish her well in her retirement