Lafayette council proclaims April 2025 Parkinson’s Awareness Month

The Lafayette City Council voted unanimously on April 28 to proclaim April 2025 as Parkinson’s Awareness Month in Lafayette.

Councilmember motioned to adopt the proclamation and it carried with an affirmative voice vote. The mayor read the proclamation aloud before presentation to members of the public who had asked the council to adopt it.

The proclamation’s text cited national statistics and the local impact of the disease: it described Parkinson’s as the second-most-common neurodegenerative disease in the United States, noted an estimated U.S. prevalence and projected growth, and referenced an estimated annual national economic burden of about $52 billion. The proclamation also stated that there is currently no objective biomarker or cure for Parkinson’s disease and recognized the work of caregivers, researchers and organizations such as the Parkinson’s Foundation.

Cheryl, a local resident who asked the council for the proclamation, described living with a recent diagnosis and urged support for research and community resources. “There’s a lot of hope in the Parkinson’s world,” she said, and noted research at UCSF and Stanford.

Why it matters: The proclamation is a formal recognition by the city intended to raise awareness and encourage community support for individuals and families affected by Parkinson’s disease. It does not create a funding commitment or new municipal program.

Votes at a glance: - Proclamation: April 2025 Parkinson’s Awareness Month — approved (voice vote, unanimous). - Consent calendar (with exceptions 9A and 9C): adopted. - Plaza Park Shops business approvals (consent item 9C, as amended to include two additional businesses): adopted. - Legislative matrix (receive and file): accepted per staff recommendation. - Approval of summer downtown programming/Princeton intern fundraising support (item 15b): approved.