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 August 9, 1998

Petition Deadline Remains August 27^th – While there has been much discussion in the newspapers about a possible extension, no extension has yet been granted and Valley residents must proceed with the urgency of the August 27^th Deadline. Until such time as it is reported that the State Legislature or a Judge has granted an extension to the petition drive, then the August 27^th date is the last day to collect signatures.

We thank Valley Councilwoman Laura Chick and her staff for their efforts to have the City of Los Angeles make amends for the Van Nuys Airshow incident where Valley residents were prevented from circulating the petitions. There is a possibility that Councilwoman Laura Chick working with Assembly member Bob Hertzberg at the state level can pass emergency legislation to provide an extension. However, with the legislature nearing the end of its session and the petition deadline less than three weeks away, odds are against an extension. We must assume August 27^th is the deadline.

State Budget provides funding for Valley Cityhood Study – Thanks to Assembly Member Bob Hertzberg and State Senator Cathie Wright, the California State Budget will allocate $340,000 to pay for the Valley Cityhood Study by LAFCO, provided the City of Los Angeles and the County of Los Angeles each put up money as well. LAFCO is a state mandated Commission which is funded locally by the City and County. In recent months there has been discussion about who should pay for the LAFCO studies. Some have suggested that the petitioners pay for the Study. However, Valley VOTE believes that if 25% of the registered voters of an area sign a petition calling for a study on restructuring local government, then it is a function of government to provide such a study. Furthermore, when other communities such as West Hollywood, Calabasas, Malibu, Agoura, and Santa Clarita sought LAFCO Studies about creating their own city they were not required to pay for the studies. Why should the Valley be treated any different? Having the cost of the Study shared by the State, County and City is a good solution. Thank you Bob Hertzberg and Cathie Wright.

Valley VOTE offers to donate to Non Profit Organizations – In an effort to make up for the signatures lost at the Van Nuys Air Show, Valley VOTE announced that it will make a donation to any non-profit organization for petition signatures their members collect. This is a great fundraising idea and helps a worthy cause -- a study of the facts. For signatures collected by members of a non-profit organization, Valley VOTE will donate the sum of $.50 cents per valid signature to the Non-profit organization. Little league parents are using this to raise money for much needed baseball equipment. Senior groups, PTA’s, homeowner groups, business organizations can all benefit. It’s simple and easy. If your non-profit organization is interested please contact Valley VOTE (818) 501-5862.

Taking it to our Neighbors – Every evening and weekend between now and August 27^th, Valley VOTE volunteers will be going from door to door throughout Valley neighborhoods armed with petitions and registered voter lists. The more volunteers we have the more neighborhoods we can cover. We urge Valley residents who support the petition drive to join in this effort. Because of the Van Nuys Air show incident the petition drive will be very tight. Volunteers will go out from 6:30 to 8:30 Monday through Friday, and 11:00 to 8:30pm Saturdays and noon to 8:30pm Sunday. Contribute a two hour shift of your time. We need your help. Call the Valley VOTE office at (818) 501-5862 and get involved. Thank you.

Send us your completed petitions – In order to get an accurate count of the signatures gathered we encourage Valley residents to mail in completed petitions now. As we approach the end of the drive a daily count is helpful to determine where we stand. The last day to collect a signature is August 27^th. Then Valley VOTE has 60 days to collect, organize and submit the completed petitions to LAFCO.

Keep the Pressure on – Only 3 weeks left! Did your neighbors, family, business associates sign the petition? Please carry around your petitions with you and ask the next 10 people you see to sign. Call (818) 501-5862 if you need more petitions. If you can’t circulate petitions then please contribute to help pay the cost of professional signature collectors.

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