Valley Secession

Howard Berman’s Nov. 17 opinion article, “Building the Next Silicon Valley,” has the right idea. Our Valley has produced the “high brainpower” industries that are propelling this nation into the next century. These industries and the individuals who provide the brainpower came from places like Caltech, UCLA, USC and JPL; however, they now live in Northern California, at a place called Silicon Valley.

The San Fernando Valley was home to a progressive, technological, visionary middle class of the 1950s and ‘60s. These people were fundamental to the development of the technologies of the 1990s.

Our Valley has lost this middle class because of taxation and unfair representation, controlled by the City Council. The council has taken the tax dollars generated from the Valley and reinvested in other areas. Our standard of living, environment and safety are declining. The separatist movement has loudly [advocated] separating from Los Angeles, but who is listening?

For these reasons, the next Silicon Valley will not be located in an area like the old GM facility. Jobs being created in our Valley are low-tech and minimum wage. Our new job base is coming from super-retail establishments. Home Depot is targeting a parcel at Woodley Avenue and Roscoe Boulevard. This corporate giant plans to roll into a middle-class community with massive traffic congestion and day labor issues, and who is listening? What is left of our middle class that could build the next Silicon Valley is leaving the Valley. Will the last person turn off the lights?

DEX MORRIS

Sherman Oaks