This is a lettter to the public and to Valley vote
BERT BOECKMANN - DAVID FLEMING
To all our Valley friends and neighbors:
Some people have wondered where we both stand regarding charter reform on one hand and city hood for the Valley on the other.
The recent Valley Voter survey we commissioned dramatically revealed to us and everyone else the deep frustrations held by Valley citizens over L.A.’s current structure of government and the voters’ pronounced enthusiasm over the prospects of Valley Independence.
We have always felt that our residents MUST be empowered to make local decisions on matters impacting the quality of life within their neighborhoods and communities. No one knows for certain whether such empowerment could or would come about through charter reform or whether to achieve empowerment the Valley will have to detach and form its own city. Regardless of how we get there, we must keep our options open.
So while we both encourage charter reform, we join the rest of the Valley’s voters who, by a 5 to 1 margin, want LAFCO to conduct a feasibility study of Valley City hood! But LAFCO can only act if, by the end of August, one quarter of the registered voters in the Valley sign a petition requesting such a study be undertaken.
These next two weeks are becoming the most important weeks in the Valley’s history. Not since 1915, when 400 Valleyites voted to annex to Los Angeles, has there been so much at stake for our Valley. That is why each of us has contributed money to assist Valley VOTE in its effort to get petitions signed. We are asking you to join us. Every initiative needs financial support. This one is no different. To get enough signatures to assure qualification, money is needed NOW to pay professional signature gatherers. Time is of the essence. A few weeks from now is too late.
This is a call to arms! Your financial participation TODAY is more important for the future of the Valley than ANY cause any of us have ever been asked to support in the past! Time is short. A minimum of $150,000 must be raised within the next ten days to assure a sufficient number of signatures will be obtained by the August deadline to start LAFCO on its way.
Please join us by sending in your contribution today. And while it is not tax deductible, it is absolutely vital for the future of our Valley.
Bert Boeckman
David Fleming