The City of Columbia was not made aware in advance of the recent federal action by the General Services Administration (GSA) establishing an additional office presence in our community.
The building where the office is located is privately owned, and the City of Columbia would not have prior knowledge of, or involvement in, private lease agreements executed between property owners and federal agencies. As such, the City of Columbia was not part of this leasing decision.
Although the chosen location of this office is not preferred or ideal and is reported to be administrative in nature, federal agencies operate independently and private property transactions occur outside the City’s purview. Even so, communication and coordination with local jurisdictions remain critically important. We would have appreciated prior notification and engagement with our Columbia Police Department and City of Columbia leadership to ensure awareness and preparedness.
While we have expressed our concerns regarding the location of this office, we remain focused on our utmost priority, which is maintaining the safety, trust, and well-being of our City of Columbia community.