Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout8-3-21 Public Comments1 Kristina Santana From:George <dmillerrat@aol.com> Sent:Saturday, July 31, 2021 9:39 AM To:Kristina Santana Subject:"For Public Comment-8/3" Attachments:BeePresentationCityCouncil.pdf CAUTION: This message originated outside of our City of Diamond Bar network. Please submit this presentation for the city council meeting on 8/3. I plan to speak at the meeting that night Thank you! George Davidson 909-973-3429 BEES NEED OUR HELP! 1 According to the Bee Informed Partnership's latest survey, U.S. beekeepers lost 45.5% of their honeybee colonies last year — the second greatest reported one year loss since the partnership started its surveys 15 years ago. 10-year average losses are now up to 39.4% overall. There are several factors that have contributed to the population struggles that bees are experiencing currently including: 1.Climate change-Plants are blooming earlier and earlier and the traditional pollinating cycles are becoming less in sync with the blooms. 2.Pesticides-Insecticides, fungicides, rodenticides and herbicides are all types of pesticides. Neonicotinoids are found in many of these and are deadly to bees. Currently, the larger efforts to reduce neonicotinoids rest in the hands of government officials. 3.Parasites, viruses and bacterial diseases-Varroa Mites, Hive Beetles, Wax moths, Foulbrood, chalkbrood, and other issues 4.Exterminators and unethical bee removal practices are another leading cause for the decline in the bee population. Many people with hives on their property rely on bee removal processes that simply kill the bees and destroy the hive. 5.Africanization-They are more prolific than Western Honeybees, and we can’t stop them from coming, but we can help to mitigate them CLIMATE CHANGE o As global temperatures rise, North American and European honeybee ranges are getting smaller. In their southernmost habitats, bees are dying from high heat and have lost 200 miles of their livable range. ▪According to recent research, bees likely won't be able to adapt to a changing climate by shifting their habitat range ▪Many scientists are concerned about bees mistiming their spring emergence, arriving on the scene long after the plants are ready to be pollinated. ▪As the climate shifts into higher temperatures, it is extraordinarily likely that bees will face even greater threats from these unwelcome critters, which can cause Colony Collapse and wipe out entire hives.2 PARASITES, PESTS, DISEASE AND MORE ▪VARROA MITES ▪TRACHEAL MITES ▪SMALL HIVE BEETLES ▪WAX MOTHS ▪AMERICAN FOULBROOD ▪EUROPEAN FOUBROOD ▪NOSEMA ▪CHALKBROOD ▪POLLINATION SERVICES ▪CHEMICAL TREATMENTS ▪COLONY COLLAPSE DISORDER!! ▪Steinhauer says Varroa mites are the "number one concern" around wintertime. They've become harder to control, she says, because some of the tools that beekeepers have been using —chemical strips that attract and kill mites, essential oils and organic acids —are losing their efficacy. 3 PESTICIDES (NEONICATANOIDS) Williamson-Dickie Mfg. Co. | Strictly Confidential 4 A)Whenever possible, look for natural solutions to your pest problems A)I.E.Cooking oil in freestanding water will kill mosquito larvae instead of poisons SOME HELPFUL ADVICE!! B)Try to use bee-safe pesticides when you have to use them. C)NEVER use the treatment on blooming plants D)Apply treatments at sundown EXTERMINATORS 5 ONLY 25% OF SWARMS SURVIVE PEOPLE FEAR BEES, AND THEY OFTEN EXTERMINATE THEM WITHOUT CONSIDERING RELOCATING BEES REST SEVERAL TIMES ON THEIR JOURNEY BEES GROW POPULATION BY SWARMING AFRICANIZED BEES ▪ALMOST ALL BEES IN THE US HAVE SOME DEGREE OF AFRICANIZATION ▪LOCAL BEES ARE BECOMING MORE AFRICANIZED EVERYDAY!! ▪AFRICANIZED BEES ARE MORE PROLIFIC ▪MORE DEFENSIVE ▪APPEAR TO BE MORE RESISTANT TO DISEASE ▪BETTER AT GROOMING ▪AFRICANIZED BEES DEFEND LARGER AREAS ▪MUCH HARDER TO REQUEEN ▪CAN’T STOP IT BUT CAN HELP MITIGATE IT 6 The Africanized bee is a hybrid species of the Western honeybee. These bees were established when bees from southern Africa and local Brazilian honeybees mated. The first Africanized bees in the United States were discovered in 1985 at an oil field in California. Then, in 1990, the first permanent Africanized bee colonies arrived in Texas from Mexico. Today, Africanized honeybees are found in southern California, southern Nevada, Arizona, Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, western Louisiana, southern Arkansas, and central and southern Florida. Africanized honeybees can be dangerous stinging insects that have been known to chase people for more than a quarter of a mile once they get excited and defensive. This is why they earned the nickname “killer bee.” DIAMOND BAR BEE POPULATION CONTROL The reality is that the AFRICANIZED bees are continuing to thrive, and their populations are going to continue to grow in SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. We can see in the news on a regular basis that more and more incidents are occurring. UNFORTUNATELY,WE CANNOT STOP THEM FROM MIGRATING IN OUR AREA AND IT IS ONLY GETTING WORSE! But DIAMOND BAR has a few unique things that will allow us to CONTROL the populations of AFRICANIZED BEES much better and MAKE OUR CITY SAFER FOR EVERYONE!! 1)Male bees (Called drones) congregate in areas waiting for virgin queens to fertilize. (Queens with mate with 15-20 drones) 2)The GENETIC MAKEUP of these male bees will directly impact the genetics of the area’s overall bee population 3)Beekeepers control the genetic populations of their MANAGED bees by requeening AFRICANIZED genetics with more docile genetics (A new queen will produce 100% of the offspring in a hive in around 6-8 weeks- eliminating the AFRICANIZED genetics altogether for that hive, without killing any bees!!) 4)If an AFRICANIZED virgin queen flys into our airspace, and the majority of the drones that are mating with her are of docile genetics, her offspring will be more docile since 50% of the genetics comes from the drones!! DIAMOND BAR PROPOSED SOLUTION THIS IS THE LONG BEACH APIARY THIS STRUCTURE IS 8 FEET TALL,which makes it safe for anyone to view the bees behind the screen (Bees fly up and out) The BEE SANCTUARIES will be managed by BASC (Beekeepers Association of Southern California) DIAMOND BAR PROPOSED SOLUTION-CONT 9 ▪APPROVE TWO BEE SANCUARIES APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES APART (NORTH AND SOUTH ENDS OF TOWN (Bees fly 3-4 miles from their hive) ▪BASC will finance the building of these sanctuaries and provide insurance ▪BASC will put out baited SWARM TRAPS that will help catch migrating bees into the area ▪BASC will offer at least 6 classes each year helping to safely educate Diamond Bar residents that are interested ▪BASC will offer MENTORING for anyone interested in keeping bees, assuring they are educated and that their bees are safe docile bees ▪BASC will help ANY Diamond Bar residents who have a bee problem that contact us. We will assess their situation and offer affordable options to resolve their unique situation ▪BASC will MANAGE the AFRICANIZATION of the bees in both sanctuaries and if necessary,will take care of humanely removing the defensive bees out of the Cities bee populations ▪ IN CONCLUSION DIAMOND BAR has a unique situation with all of our OPEN SPACE to recognize the trending AFRICANIZATION of the Southern California bee populations and with very little effort, implement a PIONEERING strategy to help keep our residents SAFER!! -BY CREATING two Bee Sanctuaries approximately 5 miles apart, we can help control the overall genetics of the bees flying in and around our city -BASC will manage these sanctuaries,and ensure that as many DOCILE Male DRONE bees are constantly flying over our airspace, reducing the genetic AFRICANIZATION of migrating feral bees -BASC will set out baited SWARM TRAPS which will help catch migrating bees coming into our City limits -DB Residents that are interested will have the opportunity to have an amazing experience in attending a class, or to be mentored by an experienced beekeeper in a safe friendly environment -DB Residents will benefit from having direct access to BASC members and get advice on how to resolve any bee issue they may experience -Diamond Bar has an opportunity to lead a pioneering movement to embrace and control the AFRICANIZED bee populations that are continuing to migrate West into our area. This effort is something that other cities can emulate and easily implement, which will only continue to help keep everyone safe,while at the same time help keep our bee populations growing!! 1 Kristina Santana From:Christina Goode <cagoode@me.com> Sent:Tuesday, August 3, 2021 1:12 PM To:Kristina Santana Subject:FOR PUBLIC COMMENT CAUTION: This message originated outside of our City of Diamond Bar network. To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to speak against Mr. Tye’s vote of “no confidence” in the LA County Health Department and Mayor Lyons suggestion of a letter expressing concerns over the revised Health Officer Orders. The LA County Health Department have considered all the data and, with the input of their medical and science advisors, have determined that face masks are necessary. As for the FDA moving away from EUA, that’s not something we as a city can even hope to influence. Receiving full approval must follow procedure and protocol – failure to do so undermines the process of security and safety of FDA approval. Even bringing these items up for discussion by the City Council will give more validity to the people who are fighting against evidence-based decisions and are choosing to disregard the orders and indeed actively harass others who do wear face masks. I do respect both Mr Tye’s and Ms. Lyon’s opinions, however one cannot have opinions on facts. And the facts support mask use to reduce the transmission of the Delta variant [1-5] as well as other variants that will come about because of the mutations that can occur and spread in unvaccinated individuals [6]. I understand that the changing advice can be confusing but the nature of science is that it DOES change and with analysis of these changes the advice will change. If medical and science experts did not respond to changes in information, we would still be using morphine to calm babies, prescribing thalidomide for morning sickness and performing surgeries with unsterilized equipment. The delta variant is a mutation that is more transmissible than the original alpha (Kent) variant and recent evidence indicates that even in a vaccinated individual the virus can be found in the nasal and throat passage, and pres ent in very large copies [7]. The R0 value of this variant of 8-9 and instead of 15 minutes exposure that was documented with original virus, it’s now 1 second of exposure that may result in an infection (CDC data). In Australia, there is documentation of transmission between families in a quarantine hotel, where there was NO contact, just shared use of a hallway within 30 minutes of each other. We cannot take the approach that unvaccinated individuals make their choice because clearly children under 12 DO NOT HAVE A CHOICE. Neither do vulnerable individuals who are immunocompromised or lack access and/or accurate information. And now with delta, children are increasingly a larger portion of the COVID cases with a recent five-fold increase in new Covid patients under 12 years old in LA County [8]. I urge city council members to recognize that the EXPERTS have determined that masks are necessary, and we MUST trust their expertise. I don’t want a politician operating on me and I don’t want a politician deciding issues about my health. Wearing a mask is not too much to ask of people who care for their fellow humans. If the city council is concerned with the citizens of Diamond Bar they will not follow through with this vote and letter. Instead, they will 2 actively encourage mask wearing to protect the vulnerable members of our community and ultimately to stall the transmission and allow for recovery. Respectfully yours, Christina A. Goode PhD, Biochemistry Associate Dean, Graduate College of Biomedical Sciences Professor of Biochemistry, Western University of Health Sciences Professor Emeritus, California State University Fullerton. LITERATURE CITED 1. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02801-8?fbclid=IwAR2MxVkAMBJX90iGBdqG- RdCyTI9ZByYA6iCl1nP8XDfcNqjTWG5PKnebuY 2. https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fwww.pnas.org%2fcontent%2f118%2f4%2fe2014564118%3ffbcli d%3dIwAR18ZhLU0MJw7e42b2zidwfuqlcd0vMAwzlnWeVj84fHNcZsl3STVf3pU4Q&c=E,1,1Nzd7DE3kxTuBhGZAitqo_EWG Qb9AE8Nb1aamA7LgFyAXPCMSfa4gcqWW95bfUsrN7bVX2_d2ejrSPanY9y8VslSJzemRjzTKTY84cSCV3Daypv8u0_r-- s,&typo=1 3. https://www.epa.gov/sciencematters/epa-researchers-test-effectiveness-face-masks-disinfection-methods-against- covid-19 4. https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fjamanetwork.com%2fjournals%2fjama%2ffullarticle%2f2776536 %3ffbclid%3dIwAR1g-IpPTxrwwLL_3H1uuQh3vzaTifDdG- ALOyJaOVthc4F2qzOywv7c2SE&c=E,1,CSgaXpzEQdOXo_3qkN5KlRiGIE8szekmF- Wri_RP4YSZeCdofC2gFObZPOBAuxrOH0RfjSY1YQNXsBXpMc7yMzqfNqV_UdOlsStFSV40KrSbp60JxwWI&typo=1 5. https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fwww.mdpi.com%2f2673- 3986%2f2%2f2%2f16%3ffbclid%3dIwAR1ZGh3dRIuaXYm56IYgX4Wk5oX38337jtdUh1Im5gfO9wHuETUlWgWUPvU&c=E,1 ,jiyLOIbJvYnwL6Y9gllz9IA88mr9Iy45bAomJ78832jd_EYfujPNzBLg_1ISiGvyS3Y8WNsY4bcL3-TojDDLsGvz2bKAyH0- SXTO7DDXnv4ZJPwfEMRlgPM,&typo=1 6. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-021-01413-7 3 7. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7031e2.htm?s_cid=mm7031e2_w 8. https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fpublic.tableau.com%2fviews%2fCOVID- 19HospitalsDashboard%2fHospitals%3f%3aembed%3dy%26%3ashowVizHome%3dno&c=E,1,J6Sn4NMJ2musMb5lnWvu OSSwojd5eTzbbe17RAniR503lbQPbAj-1UEMxEJ_Doo7mlmkIeSECmyUy1Bb7UVsQTjrexOXZgx5K-4OZA0WRgyEBYanxl- Jlw,,&typo=1 1 Kristina Santana From:Adrienne Cotterell <alcqa@verizon.net> Sent:Tuesday, August 3, 2021 1:31 PM To:Kristina Santana Subject:FOR PUBLIC COMMENT Attachments:Public Comment Letter for Aug 3 City Council Meetings.docx CAUTION: This message originated outside of our City of Diamond Bar network. These comments are public comment for today's, Tuesday, August 3, 2021, City Council Meeting. I have embedded them in this email, and also provided an attachment for your convenience. Thank you. To: Diamond Bar City Council August 3, 2021 City Council Meeting PUBLIC COMMENT From: Adrienne Cotterell, Diamond Bar Resident I submit these comments regarding the proposed letter to Hilda Solis, Chair of the Board of Supervisors, LA County. Members of the Diamond Bar City Council, specifically Steve Tye and Mayor Nancy Lyons, seem to think they know more than trained epidemiologists and public health professionals about what is needed to curb the recent surge in COVID-19 cases fueled by the Delta variant. A letter complaining about resumption of requirements to wear masks is not only ill-advised and ignorant of science, it is embarrassing, as I believe most Diamond Bar residents support doing all we can to prevent the spread of the virus, to protect our children under twelve who cannot be vaccinated and our immunocompromised residents who cannot mount an immune defense despite being vaccinated or who are unable to be vaccinated, and to prevent further mutation of the virus to even more virulent forms. There are published data on the effectiveness of mask wearing, in direct opposition to statements in this letter. And, as recent data gathered by the CDC has made abundantly clear, vaccinated people can harbor large amounts off the virus in their noses and spread the virus. Mask wearing is not difficult. I expect our community leaders to do everything in their power to protect the well-being of residents, to support our public health professionals, and to not spread misinformation. And certainly not to pander to those who spread false information about what is needed. None of us are happy about the virus, but we cannot make believe that it isn’t still here causing death and long -lasting morbidity. Many DB residents have died from this virus, or have had family, friends and relatives hospitalized or living with the ill effects of long Covid. This letter is an affront to their suffering and to the majority of residents who do not wish these things to happen to their loved ones, themselves or the wider community. Instead of expending energy fighting mask wearing and the authority of our health professionals, our city officials should contemplate ways to encourage the unvaccinated to get vaccinated. As of today, August 3, 2021, nearly 77% of Diamond Bar residents over the age of 16 have received at least one 2 dose of the vaccine and 85% of our children aged 12-17 are vaccinated. It should be made policy that all City Hall employees and contractors, new and continuing, be vaccinated as a condition of employment. I believe we should also explore requiring vaccination to participate in community indoor activities. At the very least, there should be outreach to the unvaccinated, enlisting the help of community foundations and religious leaders. The proposed letter should not be sent. And when it comes time to vote for City Council members, I will remember that Steve Tye and Nancy Lyons prefer political posturing and pandering over true leadership. Adrienne Cotterell To: Diamond Bar City Council    August 3, 2021 City Council Meeting    PUBLIC COMMENT  From: Adrienne Cotterell, Diamond Bar Resident  I submit these comments regarding the proposed letter to Hilda Solis, Chair of the Board of Supervisors,  LA County.  Members of the Diamond Bar City Council, specifically Steve Tye and Mayor Nancy Lyons, seem to think  they know more than trained epidemiologists and public health professionals about what is needed to  curb the recent surge in COVID‐19 cases fueled by the Delta variant.  A letter complaining about  resumption of requirements to wear masks is not only ill‐advised and ignorant of science, it is  embarrassing, as I believe most Diamond Bar residents support doing all we can to prevent the spread of  the virus, to protect our children under twelve who cannot be vaccinated and our immunocompromised  residents who cannot mount an immune defense despite being vaccinated or who are unable to be  vaccinated, and to prevent further mutation of the virus to even more virulent forms.  There are published data on the effectiveness of mask wearing, in direct opposition to statements in this  letter.  And, as recent data gathered by the CDC has made abundantly clear, vaccinated people can  harbor large amounts off the virus in their noses and spread the virus.  Mask wearing is not difficult.  I expect our community leaders to do everything in their power to protect  the well‐being of residents, to support our public health professionals, and to not spread  misinformation. And certainly not to pander to those who spread false information about what is  needed.    None of us are happy about the virus, but we cannot make believe that it isn’t still here causing death  and long ‐lasting morbidity.  Many DB residents have died from this virus, or have had family, friends  and relatives hospitalized or living with the ill effects of long Covid. This letter is an affront to their  suffering and to the majority of residents who do not wish these things to happen to their loved ones,  themselves or the wider community.    Instead of expending energy fighting mask wearing and the authority of our health professionals, our  city officials should contemplate ways to encourage the unvaccinated to get vaccinated. As of today,  August 3, 2021, nearly 77% of Diamond Bar residents over the age of 16 have received at least one dose  of the vaccine and 85% of our children aged 12‐17 are vaccinated.  It should be made policy that all City  Hall employees and contractors, new and continuing, be vaccinated as a condition of employment.  I  believe we should also explore requiring vaccination to participate in community indoor activities.  At  the very least, there should be outreach to the unvaccinated, enlisting the help of community  foundations and religious leaders.  This proposed letter should not be sent.  And when it comes time to vote for City Council members, I will  remember that Steve Tye and Nancy Lyons prefer political posturing and pandering over true leadership.   1 Kristina Santana From:Doug Barcon <dougbarcon@gmail.com> Sent:Tuesday, August 3, 2021 2:39 PM To:Kristina Santana Subject:FOR PUBLIC COMMENT CAUTION: This message originated outside of our City of Diamond Bar network. Hi Kristina. Below is my public comment on City Council Agenda Item 6.2. Please note that the email I sent last week to Dan Fox was directed to him as city manager and was not to be a public comment by me. If you have it as part of the public comments, please remove it. The following is my public comment on agenda item 6.2: In reference to Item 6.2 on the City Council Meeting agenda regarding the L.A. County health officer order of July 16, 2021, on indoor face coverings and risk reduction of the highly transmissible SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant, this item is ill- conceived and should be tabled or removed from the agenda for consideration by the city council. The content of Item 6.2 is not in the best interest of the residents and businesses in Diamond Bar and the health and safety of Los Angeles County residents, workers, and visitors. It shows a lack of understanding of public health, virus transmission, CDC guidance, and the benefits of wearing masks, hand washing, and social distancing. A vote of no confidence in the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is not warranted. The author of the letter to L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis; city staff; and those on the city council who supported the approval of the content for Item 6.2 and moving it to a vote tonight fell into the trap of believing the false narratives and misinformation in abundance on the Internet without fact-checking it. The Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 with its 1000 fold increase in viral load is as transmissible as Chickenpox and more transmissible than Smallpox and Ebola. Measles spreads faster. While the death rate of the Delta variant may be low, those who are unvaccinated are at greater risk of severe disease and hospitalization than those who are vaccinated, as shown by the published data. Moreover, the long-term sequelae of the survivors of a COVID-19 infection will take years to be fully known. The combination of universal wearing of effective masks, mask layering per CDC guidance, receiving COVID-19 vaccinations, hand washing, disinfecting surfaces, social distancing, testing, and contact tracing is the best combination of tools to protect individuals and the community from becoming infected with COVID-19. I urge the city not to mail the letter to Supervisor Solis. Instead of approving Item 6.2, support the health order and vaccinations of everyone qualified for the vaccines to help bring the pandemic to an end rather than being part of the problem. Respectfully, 2 Dr. Douglas Barcon Diamond Bar resident 1 Kristina Santana From:Stacy Lee <shlee1024@gmail.com> Sent:Tuesday, August 3, 2021 3:19 PM To:Kristina Santana Subject:FOR PUBLIC COMMENT Agenda item 6.2 CAUTION: This message originated outside of our City of Diamond Bar network. Dear members of the Diamond Bar City Council, I am writing to you today regarding Agenda item 6.2 HEALTH OFFICER ORDER ON INDOOR FACE COVERING REQUIREMENTS. As someone who was raised in Diamond Bar, a proud graduate of Diamond Bar public schools and now an advocate who works in research and public policy, I am alarmed and embarrassed by the course o f events that lead to the drafting of this letter to the LA County Board of Supervisors. The politicization of public health has directly contributed to the los s of over 613,00 American lives, 87 such tragic losses in Diamond Bar alone. The incredible personal loss, trauma and economic devastation our residents have endured over the past 18 months of this pandemic are not to be toyed with for political theatre. Public health officers, including in LA County, have been threatened, belittled, harassed and some driven to quit their positions due to the treatment they receive. As leaders in this community, it is your job to help rally our community - TO COME TOGETHER - to take science, public health and joint community efforts seriously so we can fight this virus successfully. It is a time for courage and leadership and to do the right thing, which is not always the popular thing. We now know that the Delta variant is at least 50% more transmissible, that vaccinated people DO transmit the virus but ARE protected by the vaccine. The recent case study of the largely vaccinated population in Cape Cod Massachusetts led public health officers at the CDC to pause and revisit their mask requirements for vaccinated people - as those previous recommendations were made based on our understanding of the prior virus Alpha variant. While I'm glad to see the vaccine continues to mitigate serious illness with the Delta variant, for those who have received it, we know that allowing the virus to spread allows for it to continue to mutate, so in addition to protecting those who are not able to vaccinate, we must stop the spread. In addition, it is frustrating that so many adults overlook the fact that the entire child population below age 12 are unvaccinated and need and deserve our protection; our greatest responsibility is to protect our children and those who are vulnerable. What this means is that in order to stop the spread, we need to wear masks. We learned this over and over the past 18 months. Those denying the efficacy of masks are holding onto a small shred of a moment in the earliest days of the pandemic that we have moved on from with mountains of data and evidence that clearly show masks work. Doctors and health care workers have been wearing them 12+ hours a day this entire pandemic. We all want to live life with less restrictions.We can live our lives if we use the knowledge available and do what works, when we learn something new we adapt. We can do that right now if we ALL pull together and wear masks. YOU, the leaders of Diamond Bar should be modeling this, not spreading doubt upon our tireless public health officers who work night and day to keep us safe. Customer facing staff everywhere have dealt with hostile customers, threats, physical violence and even shootings because aggressive, misinformed attitudes and doubt have been allowed to proliferate. Please retract the letter to Supervisor Solis, and identify opportunities to use your position to elevate sound, evidence based practices to stop this virus, support vaccination efforts, support our grieving and traumatized community members who have experienced death or long term illness due to covid19 or other illnesses impacted by it, and support our schools and businesses in being able to overcome the obstacles set forth by this once in a century, global crisis. Sincerely, 2 Stacy Lee Diamond Bar, CA 1 Kristina Santana From:Cynthia Robin Smith <diamondbarbeautiful@gmail.com> Sent:Tuesday, August 3, 2021 4:35 PM To:Dan Fox Cc:Kristina Santana Subject:Public Comment, Aug. 3, 2021 Council Meeting CAUTION: This message originated outside of our City of Diamond Bar network. RE: Agenda Item 6.2 City Council Meeting Aug. 3, 2021 Dear Mr. Fox, After reading the entire affair about city council members doubting and condemning Los Angeles County Public Health officials and orders, which are based on the broader health authorities like the Center for Disease Control, et al, I am disappointed. I respectfully ask item 6.2 be removed from the meeting agenda. While it is true, council members are entitled to their own personal opinions - it is not a good idea to allow opinion or even, possible partisan bias (?), to lead over facts and science, when it comes to public health safety. Residents expect city leadership to agree with established science, and if in any doubt at all, to err on the side of caution, to protect the health of the most vulnerable in our city. Residents want leadership prioritizing public health safety Three weeks ago, during a medical check-up at UCLA Health, my own doctor advised me to continue wearing a mask, even when vaccinated - because the Delta variant could affect me and/or I could be a carrier, exposing others to infection. UCLA Health system is ranked #1 in California and #3 in the nation. I truly hope the City of Diamond Bar leadership will side with the best science and be an active part in reaching public health objectives, that we are ALL responsible for. Please read my comment at tonight's online meeting. Thank you. Respectfully, Robin Smith, DB Resident Cynthia "Robin" Smith, Naturalist, Wildlife Habitat Restoration, Native Garden Design Diamond Bar Is Beautiful Blog: www.diamondbarisbeautiful.com California Native Trees, Landscapes; Wildlife Habitat Conservation Diamond Bar - Pomona Valley Sierra Club, Angeles Chapter A Public Benefit, Non-Profit Organization Conejo Ridge Native Garden, Outdoor Classroom 324 S. Diamond Bar Blvd., #230 Diamond Bar CA 91765 2 909-861-9920 Desk 951-675-6760 Cell 1 Kristina Santana From:K Bob <kbob411957@gmail.com> Sent:Tuesday, August 3, 2021 5:00 PM To:Kristina Santana Subject:For Public Comment Attachments:Public Comment.docx CAUTION: This message originated outside of our City of Diamond Bar network. Attached is my public comment FILE FOLDERS     **Font sizes 18 and 14**    CENTRAL HEALTH           2020    CENTRAL HEALTH        2021                                                  For Public Comment    My name is Mindy Farabee and I am a resident of Diamond Bar.     My comments today are in response to City Council person Steve Tye and Mayor Nancy  Lyons proposing Agenda item 6.2.  According to the Agenda Packet pages 10 & 11 ‐  Steve Tye wants the City to consider a “no‐confidence” vote in the LA County Public  Health Department and Nancy Lyons says she finds the mask mandate very irritating.  I  don’t have confidence that these council members are any sort of expert in public  health and I find it irritating that they would question the experience and knowledge of  those who are.    In the letter drafted by Mayor Lyons, she states “If we expect people to trust in the  science to keep them safe, then mandates and strategies should also be based on that  same science.”  I’m not sure how she can say this when she is making this statement in a  letter saying she doesn’t trust the science of the public health officials.    Los Angeles County and its Public Health Director are following CDC and federal  guidelines and I believe they are doing their best to serve the public good for both  businesses and residents of the county as they have been doing all through the  pandemic. The informed public has learned that vaccinated individuals can spread the  Delta variant and that mask wearing, social distancing, and hand washing are all still  vitally important.       Tye’s and Lyons’ suggestion of this “no confidence” letter makes me wonder if they are  not well informed regarding virus public safety information and therefore should not be  representing our city and sending this letter as such OR if this is some partisan political  move that I have seen too many politicians make in the last year that does not appear to  be in the interest of public health.      I do not “like” wearing a mask, but I wear one whenever I patronize any Diamond Bar  business because I know that the people, businesses and the entire city will be a better  place to live and shop if everyone is healthy.