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.

Update July 26, 1998

US Attorney General’s office asked to investigate Civil Rights violations at the Van Nuys Air Show By Airport personnel – Last weekend the people of the San Fernando Valley were subjected to a grievous violation of their rights. At a public event on public property, Valley residents attempting to circulate a petition were denied their right to gather signatures. No one disputes the following facts:

Volunteers carrying only petitions were automatically removed from the air show by Airport/City employees under threat of arrest.

Anyone wearing T-shirts in support of the Valley Cityhood Study were prevented from entering the Air Show even those not carrying petitions.

Volunteers wanting to use restroom facilities or get water from the first aid center which were located within the premises were told they would have to remove their T-shirts before they could enter the Airport property.

Volunteers were told by Airport Security they were being removed from the Air show because they believed Airport management did not agree with the intent of the petitions. Those who objected were told that Airport management had received approval from the City Attorney’s office to keep Valley Cityhood Volunteers out of the Air Show, an accusation the City Attorney’s office denies. Furthermore, Volunteers did not try to setup a booth at the air show as Airport management only after the fact is now claiming.

Both the US Constitution and the California State Constitution protect the right of citizens to collect petition signatures on public property where the public is welcome. To deny citizens this right to petition is a violation of the civil rights under the First Amendment. These taxpaying residents had their constitutional rights – their civil rights violated. And as their rights were violated the rights of every San Fernando Valley resident was violated. With only 5 weeks to go, the Valley lost this opportunity to collect between 15,000 to 20,000 signatures. Valley VOTE has asked for an investigation to determine who in the City gave instructions to keep supporters of a study of Valley Cityhood out of the Air show. The ACLU, the Daily News and the LA Times all have condemned the City’s actions. Even the City Council recognizing the seriousness of Airport personnel actions asked for a report from the departments involved.

Department heads, however, are already declaring that they’ve sufficiently reviewed the matter and before talking with any of the volunteers whose rights were violated, have dismissed it to be a simple misunderstanding (among city officials). On behalf of Valley residents, Valley VOTE finds that explanation to be completely unacceptable. On July 23, Congressman Buck McKeon formally asked the US Attorney General’s office to conduct an independent investigation. If this was in any way an attempt by some individuals connected with the City to hurt the Valley’s petition drive then it is unlikely any city department could conduct an investigation without having a conflict of interest. Valley VOTE has joined Congressman McKeon and made a formal request to the US Attorney General’s office and at the instruction of the State Attorney General’s office, have asked District Attorney Gil Garcetti’s office to investigate the treatment of volunteers as well.

A final push for the Home Stretch -- Valley VOTE is asking supporters of a study on Valley Cityhood to double their efforts as we enter the last five weeks of the petition drive. With approximately 100,000 signatures already collected we want to collect another 80,000 to 100,000 signatures over the next 35 days to make certain we meet the required 135,000 valid signatures. Please carry around your petitions with you and ask the next 10 people you see to sign. Have all your friends and family members signed? Have you asked your neighbors? Have you asked members of your community or business group to sign? Don’t assume people have signed. Call (818) 501-5862 if you need more petitions. Additional petitions will be mailed to you. If you can’t circulate petitions then please contribute to help pay the cost of professional signature collectors. This is a defining moment for the future of the Valley. With the results of the Study we can make an informed decision.

If the Valley fails, then it risks being further ignored by city hall and the motivation behind Charter Reform will die.

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