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Politics & Government

Traffic, Finances, and Optimism All Part of Mayor's State of the City Address

Diamond Bar Mayor Ling-Ling Chang delivered the annual State of the City address Thursday night.

Speaking to a nearly packed house in the Diamond Bar Center, Mayor Ling-Ling Chang delivered the annual State of the City address Thursday night, stressing the underlying message that Diamond Bar has "weathered the storm" of the recession. 

Well over 75 people were in attendance, with the crowd containing everyone from elected city officials to Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies, residents, and even the Miss Diamond Bar court.

Although her speech began a little past the scheduled 6:30 p.m. start-time, Chang started off by giving a drawn-out thanks to all her fellow elected officials, praising them for "putting residents first" and not getting bogged down with "petty political bickering." 

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“We may have different opinions,” she said of her fellow City Council members, “but we share the same desire to improve the city we call home.”

However, the mayor’s focus soon shifted to addressing the issues at the heart of many in Diamond Bar. Speaking of the “traffic challenges” plaguing the 57/60 freeway interchange, Chang expressed her dedication to seeing the congestion long associated with the third busiest interchange in California eliminated.

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Pledging to continue lobbying in Washington D.C. for the funds for a redesign, she said that not only are the freeway troubles a congestion issue, but a safety one as well, saying that Diamond Bar residents are left to “bear the consequences” of freeway traffic.

Chang also touched on the hot-button issue of the potential football stadium in Industry. In spite of the fact that a competing project is being pushed in downtown Los Angeles, Chang said the likelihood of the stadium coming to the hills near Diamond Bar was still “very real.”

A vocal proponent of the stadium, Chang urged attendees to look at the positive economic benefits of it, calling on residents to embrace something other than the status quo.

The address took on a decidedly light-hearted air as Chang pointed to the construction of the new City Hall and library – set to open this summer – as examples of how Diamond Bar has managed to evolve while staying fiscally sound. Additionally, plans for the city’s first dog park – which the mayor heralded as a means through which "healthy lifestyles for both pets and owners" can be attained – and for a new park on Washington Street underscored the mayor’s efforts to preserve the city’s distinction as one of the safest places to live in the San Gabriel Valley.

The night closed out with a comedic video shot by the mayor the day before her speech. Going out into the city incognito, Chang approached unsuspecting residents to ask what they loved most about their city and what they’d like to see improved. In the end, the mayor disclosed her true identity to the participants, who shared a laugh with her on camera. 

In her final words to the audience, Chang closed the address by stressing the city's exceptional performance during the economic crisis, saying, “Diamond Bar has not only weathered the storm; it has thrived.” 

For video of Chang's address, click .

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