Valley VOTE is a diverse, Valley-wide coalition of San Fernando Valley residents, educators, business leaders, community activists and organizations who support a LAFCO study (Los Angeles County Local Agency Formation Commission) on the issue of creating an independent Valley City.

Questions & Answers Concerning Valley Cityhood

How do I decide
If I sign the petition does that mean I support valley cityhood?
What is LAFCO? (Local Agency Formation Commission)
Could the valley sustain itself as an independent city?
Would valley cityhood financially impact the rest of Los Angeles?
What would the boundaries be for the proposed new city?
How would city assets and liabilities be divided?
Would the valley have water?
What would the valley do for police, fire & other public services?
What would the new valley city government be like?
Will valley cityhood affect my property taxes?
How will valley cityhood affect other city taxes and fees?
Is Los Angeles city too big?
Why would smaller be better?
What about charter reform?
Will an independent valley city be ethnically diverse?
How will valley cityhood benefit disadvantaged communities?
Is the valley being short changed?
Who is expected to oppose the creation of a separate valley city?
Why would voters outside the valley vote to support valley cityhood?
How does someone get involved and help?

How do I decide whether or not to support cityhood for the san fernando valley?

There is no need to decide now. Valley VOTE is asking LAFCO (Local Agency Formation Commission) to conduct a series of independent studies on Cityhood. The studies will answer all of the public's questions on Cityhood and allow Valley residents to make an informed decision before the issue is ever put to a vote. A petition drive is required to initiate the LAFCO studies.

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If I sign the petition does that mean I support valley cityhood?

No, it only means you support having LAFCO study the issue of Valley Cityhood. Last year the issue for the Valley was restoring our right to vote on creating our own city. This year the issue is our right to fully study the facts about creating our own city. An independent poll of Valley voters found that 80.2% of voters are willing to sign a petition requiring LAFCO to start the studies. Valley VOTE expects to begin circulating petitions by summer. If 25% of the Valley's registered voters sign the petitions within a 90 day period, LAFCO will start its studies.

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What is LAFCO? (Local Agency Formation Commission)

LAFCO was created by the State to oversee changes to existing city boundaries and the creation of new cities. Each California County has its own LAFCO. Before the issue of Valley Cityhood can be put to a vote, a full study of the facts must be completed by the LA County LAFCO. The study will explain how municipal services will be delivered, how the city's assets and liabilities will be divided, and the new city's tax structure. Based on the studies, LAFCO will decide whether or not to allow a vote on Cityhood. A vote on Cityhood can only proceed if LAFCO determines that the Valley can sustain itself as a separate city and that Valley Cityhood would not financially impact the remaining portions of Los Angeles City. The poll conducted by the CIVIC Foundation found that 81.2% of Valley voters favor putting Cityhood on the ballot. If a vote were held today Valley voters would support Cityhood by a 2 to 1 margin.

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Could the valley sustain itself as an independent city?

Yes, the Valley has a significant economic base and could more than adequately sustain itself. Currently, the Valley economy not only pays for the existing level of services it receives but pays to supplement services to the rest of the city. A recent poll found that 72.6% of Valley voters believe a new Valley City would be more efficient and 54.6% believe it would be less bureaucratic. If the Valley were a separate city it would be the sixth largest city in the United States with 1.2 million residents. By comparison Agoura Hills has 18,000 residents, Calabasas has 18,350, San Fernando 26,000, West Hollywood 36,700, Santa Monica 89,200, Burbank 99,900, and Santa Clarita 127,900 residents. There are 87 smaller independent cities located within Los Angeles County that surround Los Angeles City. All of them are self-sustaining, most have lower taxes, provide better services and offer a better quality of life for their residents.

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Would valley cityhood financially impact the rest of Los Angeles?

No. For LAFCO to allow a public vote on the issue of Valley Cityhood, State Law requires LAFCO must first take steps as necessary to make Valley Cityhood revenue neutral meaning -- it would not have a negative financial impact on the rest of Los Angeles.

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What would the boundaries be for the proposed new city?

The proposed Valley City shall include that part of Los Angeles City within the area bounded by the existing Los Angeles City boundaries on the west, north and east sides of the Valley, then from the eastern city boundary follow south along Barham Blvd., south along the Hollywood Freeway, west along Mulholland Drive to the western most point where it meets the Topanga State Park boundary above Woodland Hills, and south along the Topanga State Park boundary until it connects to the existing western city boundary.

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How would city assets and liabilities be divided?

City assets such as roads, parks, buildings and equipment as well as city liabilities such as bonds and debts are divided by LAFCO in a manner similar to a divorce. LAFCO must divide city assets and liabilities fairly between the Valley and the rest of Los Angeles. Opponents who suggest that the Valley would have to raise taxes to purchase these assets from Los Angeles City are incorrect. LAFCO will equitably divide the city assets. The Valley will not have to pay for them. After all, taxes paid by Valley residents were partially used to pay for these city assets in the first place. That is why state law requires LAFCO to ensure that the Valley receives its fair share of city assets and liabilities.

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Would the valley have water?

Yes. Water rights owned by the City of Los Angeles are considered an asset of the City and under state law would be divided by LAFCO like any other city asset. Opponents who suggest that Valley residents would not have water or that Valley residents would have to pay increased water rates are incorrect. The Valley will receive its fair share of water from the existing sources.

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What would the valley do for police, fire & other public services?

If the Valley becomes a separate city, the Valley has the option to create its own Police and Fire Departments or to contract with the City, County, or private businesses for these and other services. Valley leaders will work with LAFCO to explore the Valley's options and to ensure that Valley communities receive the best public services in the most cost-effective manner. It is widely believed that the Valley's strong economic base can provide increased police, fire, and other public services without any increase in costs and possibly while lowering taxes. Significant research has been done showing that smaller cities are more cost-efficient and provide better public services. Detailed information on the delivery of public services will be made available to Valley residents before they are asked to vote on Valley Cityhood.

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What would the new valley city government be like?

Valley VOTE has established a Local Governance Roundtable Committee. This committee is examining various forms of city government, city charters, and the best practices of desirable and efficient cities. The roundtable is identifying certain principles of good government that should serve as the basis of city governance -- increased citizen involvement, excellence in providing public services, commitment to fiscal restraint, economic viability, equity and access for all, clear lines of accountability for performance, common sense policies based upon the priorities of the citizens, and sound long-term planning. The goal is to explore government that are responsive to the local needs of communities while meeting the Valley's regional needs and the needs of its diverse population. While the opportunity for reform exists, the Roundtable will share its findings and recommendations with the City of Los Angeles Charter Commissions. If the Valley decides to pursue Cityhood the ultimate decision about the form of city government will be decided by Valley residents and voters.

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Will valley cityhood affect my property taxes?

No. Property taxes are protected by Proposition 13. Neither the City of Los Angeles nor a newly formed Valley City have the ability to alter your property taxes.

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How will valley cityhood affect other city taxes and fees?

The LAFCO studies will answer this question fully before anyone is asked to vote on Cityhood. Don't be fooled by some opponents who claim that taxes will go up. There is no evidence that taxes will go up. In fact, to the contrary, currently the City of Los Angeles has some of the highest taxes and fees in all of Southern California. As an independent city, the Valley would determine its own tax structure and decide how its taxes are spent. Valley leaders are committed to creating a City that is more manageable and efficient with lower taxes similar to the Cities that surround the Valley. Significant research has been done on the effectiveness of smaller cities, including a recent Harvard Kennedy School of Government report showing that smaller cities are more cost efficient than larger cities. There are 87 smaller independent cities that surround the City of Los Angeles. Most of them have lower taxes. But you don't have to take anyone's word for it, because the LAFCO studies will answer this important question before you are asked to vote on Valley Cityhood.

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Is Los Angeles city too big?

Yes. With 3.6 million residents, the City of Los Angeles is larger then 25 states. The City is so large that St. Louis, Milwaukee, Cleveland, Minneapolis, Boston, San Francisco, Pittsburgh and Manhattan could all fit within the city boundaries. Each Council person represents 235,000 constituents while in most major cities the average council person represents 20,000 to 40,000 constituents. That is why people in Los Angeles feel so disconnected from Los Angeles City government. Howard Husock of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, states "as government jurisdictions get larger, control gradually melts away from voters; realizing the difficulty of influencing officials... individuals give up." Many residents feel Los Angeles has grown too large, bureaucratic and unresponsive.

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Why would smaller be better?

Voters' common sense tells them that the closer they are to government, the more it will respond to their demands. They will see their hard-earned tax dollars spent on the kinds of projects they prefer and will have a greater assurance that interest groups will not usurp local government for their own benefit. According to the CIVIC Foundation poll 64.5% of Valley Voters believe their quality of life would be better if the Valley became its own city. Smaller municipalities can tailor their services to their constituents. Americans have historically supported the creation of smaller local governments. Significant research has been done on the effectiveness of smaller cities. According to Howard Husock, at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, "smaller, not bigger is more efficient." Researchers found that large cities are inefficient and burdened with bureaucracy.

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What about charter reform?

Some suggest the Valley should put the study of Valley Cityhood on hold until Charter Reform is completed. For years the Valley has given the benefit of the doubt to the City Council and bureaucracy to make our communities and our lives better. But no more. Charter Reform would not exist if not for the Valley's effort to explore cityhood. Both charter commissions are expected to put their recommendations for reform on the ballot in the year 1999 while the issue of Valley Cityhood is likely to be on the ballot in the year 2000. By moving forward now to study Cityhood, if the charter commissions fail to put meaningful reforms on the ballot in 1999, then Valley residents will have an option the following year: an opportunity to vote for Valley Cityhood.

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Will an independent valley city be ethnically diverse?

Yes. The issue of Valley Cityhood is about giving Valley residents control over Valley issues, keeping Valley tax dollars in the Valley, and the cost-effective delivery of municipal services. It has nothing to do with differences between cultural and ethnic groups. There are many ethnic groups that live in and will continue to live in the Valley. The Valley is rich in diversity with 40% minority residents, many of whom are involved in the effort to study Cityhood. Furthermore, there will be no change in how people travel to different parts of Los Angeles City or the 87 surrounding cities which already exist to experience the cultural and ethnic diversity the region has to offer.

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How will valley cityhood benefit disadvantaged communities?

As a city grows larger, disadvantaged communities are the first to lose their voice and influence. These communities have the most to benefit from Valley Cityhood. "Freed from centralized bureaucracies, these neighborhoods, including many of the older, poorer ones would prosper." writes the Case Director at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. Currently these areas not only have to compete with other Valley Communities, but with the rest of Los Angeles for much needed resources and services. If the Valley were to become a separate city, these communities would have a larger voice in a smaller city and they would make their own decisions about local issues, decisions currently being made by bureaucrats from afar.

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Is the valley being short changed?

The CIVIC Foundation poll found that 63.3% of Valley voters believe the Valley is being short changed. The Valley represents 35% of the City's population and 48% of the City's geographic size. Despite paying 1.3 billion dollars in Prop. A & C taxes over the last 10 years, the Valley has no major transportation system. The rest of Los Angeles has a Red Line, Blue Line and Green Line built and operating. Of the $666 million dollar MTA budget for 1998 the Valley will only receive $5 million, less than one percent. Of 6.6 million library books in LA libraries only 1.18 million are in the Valley. There are 9 libraries per 100 square miles in the Valley -- 18 per 100 square miles in the rest of Los Angeles. Last year the city spent $28 million on street repairs but only $4 million in the Valley. The Valley has 1.2 police officers per 1000 residents, the rest of Los Angeles has 2 police officers per 1000. These are just a few of the inequities Valley residents are confronted with.

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Who is expected to oppose the creation of a separate valley city?

The public employee unions, elected City officials, and some downtown business interests who benefit from the current situation. The Los Angeles Times has already announced its opposition even before having the facts studied and Mayor Riordan is opposed. The Mayor has worked hard for the Valley but will be gone in a few years. Who will be the next Mayor? Our gains could slip away. Last year the state legislature and the governor, in a bipartisan effort, gave the people of California the right to explore and study the benefits of creating their own cities. The effort to study Valley Cityhood is a movement of the people as allowed by law to explore and define our own local City Government.

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Why would voters outside the valley vote to support valley cityhood?

Once people in other areas understand that the Valley leaving Los Angeles will not be allowed to impact them financially, they recognize that if the Valley leaves, the remaining portion of Los Angeles will be smaller and more manageable and they too will benefit. This country is based on the premise that we don't hold people against their will. If 1.2 million Valley residents want to leave, and it will not hurt the rest of the City financially, why hold Valley residents against their will. Additionally, other areas such as San Pedro, Wilmington, Venice, Westchester, Hollywood, Pacific Palisades, Eagle Rock, South Central and the Westside are also considering Cityhood and are sympathetic with the Valley residents.

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How does someone get involved and help?

The effort to explore Valley Cityhood and to gather enough petition signatures will require the help of many Valley residents. If you support exploring Cityhood, call the Valley VOTE offices and find out how you can help. Additionally, contributions of any size in support of the petition drive are being sought. There are no contribution limits and no requirements to disclose the names of contributors. If everyone helps then the effort to explore Valley Cityhood will be successful. This is an historic effort and it needs your help and support.

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