Lawmakers to Offer Bipartisan Secession Bill

Two Assembly members agreed Friday to join forces and co-sponsor a compromise bipartisan secession bill, a move that significantly enhances the legislation’s chances of passing this year.

A third Valley assemblyman, Tony Cardenas (D-Sylmar), backed away from joining the compromise, however, and introduced a competing measure Friday.

The joint bill that will be co-sponsored by Assemblymen Bob Hertzberg (D-Sherman Oaks) and Tom McClintock (R-Northridge) would remove the veto power of the City Council over secession requests.

It addresses the most contentious issue of who votes on secession by calling for a citywide vote, rather than putting the matter solely to Valley voters.

A Valley-only vote is being urged by a local group of activists backing legislation to remove the grip of the City Council over whether the city should be broken up.

A compromise on a citywide vote was neither lawmaker’s first choice, but was necessary, they said.

“It’s much better to have a citywide vote than a veto,” Hertzberg said. “It’s a step in the right direction.”

Both Hertzberg and McClintock said they were convinced the legislation was doomed unless they acceded to a citywide vote.

“Given the choice of the City Council continuing to thwart the will of the people of the San Fernando Valley against a citywide vote, it became clear a citywide vote is preferable,” McClintock said.

The compromise on the citywide vote puts the Assembly bill in sync on that issue with the secession bill sponsored in the state Senate by Senate President Pro Tem Bill Lockyer (D-Hayward).

The first hearing on the Lockyer bill is set for next week before the Senate Local Government Committee.

Cardenas’ new bill is at odds with the others. Seeking to protect constituents in his northeast Valley district, Cardenas wants a two-thirds vote requirement before the Valley could secede.

To protect the Valley, the Hertzberg-McClintock measure requires a double majority, meaning a secession ballot measure must pass in both the Valley and the city as a whole.