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.

The Latest Update August 23,1998

Howard Jarvis Taxpayer’s Assoc. Endorses Valley Petition Drive for a study – Stating that "the LAFCO study will allow residents throughout Los Angeles to learn how their taxes are being spent" the Howard Jarvis Taxpayer’s Association last week endorsed the San Fernando Valley’s petition drive and urged Valley residents to support the study and sign the petition. The Association has not yet taken any position on Cityhood for the Valley, but believes "even if secession never occurs the facts that will be discovered as a result of the study will provide a gold mine of information for Los Angeles residents." This includes how efficiently and wisely our tax dollars are being spent.

Many Valley residents want Valley tax dollars kept in the Valley and believe a smaller Valley City would be more manageable and efficient. This would mean lower taxes like the other 87 smaller cities that surround Los Angeles City, in Los Angeles County enjoy. The LAFCO study would answer these and other important questions long before anyone is asked to vote yes or no on Cityhood. With the results of the LAFCO study residents can make an informed decision.

Deadline remains August 27^th – Despite intense activity in Sacramento to provide an extension to the Valley’s petition drive, Valley residents should focus on August 27^th as the deadline and collect last minute signatures. Signatures can be collected up until midnight August 27^th and then petitions should be promptly mailed to Valley VOTE. Any finished petitions, whether they have one or ten signatures should be mailed in now so we can maintain an accurate count.

Legislation that would give the Valley an extension passed the Senate 37-0 and now goes back to the Assembly for a vote. The bill is authored by Valley Assemblyman Bob Hertzberg. The last day of the legislative session is Friday August 28^th, and the bill must still clear the Assembly and be signed by the Governor. Only if and when the Governor signs the legislation can you assume we will have more time. Until then, please ask your family, friends, neighbors and co-workers to sign the petition by August 27th.

Background information: Virtually every other city in California has 180 days to complete a LAFCO petition drive except for residents of Los Angeles who have only 90 days. The legislation in Sacramento would grant the residents of Los Angeles the same 180 days the rest of the state has. Thank you to the State Senate and Assemblyman Bob Hertzberg for recognizing that Valley residents deserve the same rights as the rest of the States residents.

ACLU Files suit against the City of Los Angeles on behalf of the Valley – It has been over a month since volunteers were denied access to the Van Nuys Air Show and illegally kept from circulating the Cityhood Study petition. Yet no one has been held accountable or disciplined even though the City has acknowledged that the actions of Airport management and security were wrong. If citizens violate the slightest city ordinance we are held accountable and in most cases fined. How, therefore, can it be that City staff can violate the Constitutional and Civil Rights of its citizens and yet the City does not punish any of those responsible. This failure to act by the City calls into question how serious the City is about preventing future incidents. While the Air show has been the most publicized incident involving volunteers who were interfered with by the City, there have been numerous other incidents. That is why the ACLU this week filed suit in Federal Court asking for an permanent injunction to prevent the City from interfering with this and future petition drives. Remember, when Mayor Riordan collected over 300,000 petition signatures calling for an election on Charter Reform, Mayor Riordan had to go to Federal Court and get a judge to force the City Council to put Charter Reform on the Ballot. The City’s reluctance to punish or investigate the Air Show matter deeper also demonstrates the need for a truly independent investigation by the Attorney Generals Civil Rights division and/or the District Attorney’s office. Valley VOTE is calling upon Valley elected officials to join in the call for an independent investigation.

Valley VOTE stands for Valley Voters Organized Toward Empowerment. As a Valley wide coalition of Homeowner and Business groups working together we are serious about empowering the people of the Valley, giving the people of the Valley a greater voice and will not submit to fear, interference or intimidation.

Need more petitions? – Call (818) 501-5862 if you need more petitions or cut a petition out of the Sunday Daily News. Valley VOTE purchased a full page ad stating why Valley residents should support a study and sign the petition. Many believe it is the most important issue to face Valley residents in 50 years.

Newsletters – If you want to receive newsletters by FAX please contact us. If your fax is in your home and you want only daytime faxes. We can arrange that.If you receive the newsletter by mail, give us a fax number for faster delivery. Have someone who wants to be added to our Newsletter mailing list? Let us know and we will add them.

SUPPORT THE PETITION DRIVE

Please help and contribute to support this Valley-wide effort:

Newsletter index
Valley VOTE Home Page