Introductions Made at City Council Meeting

Tuesday night’s City Council meeting featured proclamations and introductions.

A proclamation was made recognizing November as Pulmonary Hypertension Awareness Month, with Mayor Steve Tye noting that, “Hypertension is a disorder causing intolerable blood pressure levels. With early diagnosis and effective treatment, it can be managed for years and years of a person’s life.”

Dr. Cho-Han Victor Cheng of Kaiser in Diamond Bar shared information on symptoms and other things to know about the condition.

“Pulmonary hypertension in the beginning usually doesn’t have any symptoms,” he said. “When you have shortness of breath, that’s the time you need to go see your doctor. Pulmonary hypertension can be there and no one is aware. The earlier you catch it there is a treatment. Medication can help.”

See’s Candy, which opened at Grand Avenue and Diamond Bar Boulevard in September, was honored as the Business of the Month.

“Most people don’t realize that See’s Candy will help you become a magician,” Tye joked. “I made that entire box disappear.”

Deputy Kimberly Whitlow, the new STAR Deputy for Diamond Bar, was also introduced to the council. 

“Some cities have had to cut the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s STAR program,” City Manager James DeStefano said. “Diamond Bar has been fortunate to not have to do so. The City Council made a conscious effort to maintain that program with the budget adoption in June of this year.”

The STAR (Success Through Awareness and Resistance) unit is dedicated to educating students throughout the county about life skills and the dangers of drugs and gangs.

“I feel that it takes a village to raise a child,” Whitlow, a 32-year member of the department, said. “Not only does it take parents, but also educators and people like myself. I always tell them I’m second mom. I have the second eyes when you’re at school, and I can call mom. I’m excited to be here in your city.”

During the public comments part of the meeting, Steven Ly, mayor of Rosemead, came to the podium and introduced himself as the interim CEO of the Regional Chamber of Commerce San Gabriel Valley.

“My focus is economic development, a stronger business community for this region, and to make sure the city of Diamond Bar has all the tools to build the economic and commercial center that it wants to see,” he said.

Look for more coverage of the meeting Thursday morning on Patch.