The management approach of small city governments in the United States differs from that of cities in mainland China. It gives people the impression of being more like a steward, a service institution, caring for the safety of the people: not only maintaining the community’s roads and parks but also finding ways to provide more thoughtful transportation for the elderly to go out…
This Wednesday evening (15th), the Mayor of Diamond Bar City in the eastern part of Los Angeles County, Deng Jiayou, held the annual municipal status report meeting, giving people a glimpse of the operational mode of small city government in the United States.
Deng Jiayou recalled moving to the city with his wife 16 years ago, searching for the ideal community scenario: they hoped for a good community with convenient facilities, quality schools, quiet streets, low crime rates, and well-maintained parks and roads. He said that residents’ high expectations are directly related to the operation of the city government. The efforts of the local government to a large extent determine the quality of life in the community.
When presenting the report, Deng Jiayou stated that he has benefited greatly from his three years as a city council member, realizing the value of this position. He emphasized that every decision made by the city council is centered on maintaining the high-quality of life cherished by residents and the best interests of Diamond Bar City. Despite the city’s small financial resources, Diamond Bar City has achieved remarkable results in public safety, fire protection, and infrastructure maintenance in recent years, creating a clean, safe, and harmonious community environment.
To improve the efficiency of using limited funds, Diamond Bar City outsources public services such as public safety, fire protection, and garbage collection to Los Angeles County. Deng Jiayou believes that this model can control expenditure while providing residents with high-quality services.
Earlier this year, there was a rise in home burglary cases in the eastern part of Los Angeles County, including Diamond Bar City. Deng Jiayou introduced that the city collaborated closely with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, deploying special action teams and initiating suppressive patrol strategies, leading to the successful arrest of multiple suspects and a 20% decrease in similar local cases.
To reduce the risk of fires, Diamond Bar City assisted the Los Angeles County Fire Department in implementing proactive controlled burning in certain areas of Tonner Canyon in May, reducing fire hazards and enhancing disaster resilience.
Road maintenance is also a significant expense. Deng Jiayou mentioned that in 2023, $3.2 million was allocated for the maintenance of 12 miles of residential streets and 1.5 miles of main roads; due to rising costs, last year saw $3.1 million invested, only able to maintain 2.7 miles of residential streets and 1 mile of main roads; this year, the city’s financial budget of $3.75 million cannot meet the needs of any residential street projects and is only used for repairing a 3.8-mile section of a main road.
Several important projects within Diamond Bar City are nearing completion or about to commence. Some street upgrade projects have received funding support from the state and county governments. The transformed streets will create a more friendly environment, enhancing the city’s shopping experience.
There are many projects that require funding, but Diamond Bar City’s municipal budget mainly relies on partial property taxes, sales tax refunds, and funds obtained from the state and county governments, with limited amounts. Deng Jiayou urged residents to support community businesses to help the city government receive more sales tax refunds. They have launched Diamond Bar Week activities this week.
Deng Jiayou’s report received rounds of applause from the guests. Alvin, the former president of the Chinese Parent-Teacher Association of Susanna Middle School, stated that he is more concerned about education and community development. He understands that Diamond Bar will increase hotels and a lot of green spaces, feeling that the city’s urban planning is well done.
Deng Jiayou also informed residents of the increasing financial pressure that Diamond Bar City is currently facing: the city government’s revenue growth cannot keep up with rising costs. In the next fiscal year, the city may face a structural deficit of $1.4 million, and if effective action is not taken, the deficit gap could approach $2 million by 2028.
During the interview that evening, Deng Jiayou expressed his disagreement with California spending hundreds of millions of dollars to vote on Proposition 50 for district realignment. “What benefits will this proposal bring to California voters and residents? The person proposing this can’t even tell us how this proposal will benefit us,” he said. He believes that this is purely a political struggle proposal, “Just based on that, I don’t support it.”
Deng Jiayou believes that the two-party political views in California may differ, but they can debate, “and this Proposition 50 has no debate at all, it’s just a fight with others.”
“A proposal that does not benefit voters should not be put on the table at all; and it costs so much money,” he said. “California is already short of money, and this money could be used to subsidize our local governments! Our local governments need money.”
That evening, hundreds of residents listened to the mayor’s report on the spot. Attendees included four other city council members, Los Angeles County police officers and firefighters, business representatives, school district commissioners, and volunteers. Deng Jiayou welcomed guests from all walks of life on behalf of Diamond Bar City and thanked everyone for their contributions to the city’s development. ◇