County Division

In response to your editorial “Secession Fever Is Spreading” (March 30).

Assembly Bill 303 will simply create a local agency made up of cities and the county, known as the Los Angeles County Revision Authority, to evaluate the service delivery capability and fiscal condition of Los Angeles County.

The study, funded by the participants, would determine if division of the county into two or more smaller counties would result in enhanced fiscal health and service delivery. I agree with your assertion that evaluation of service delivery should be ongoing. Unfortunately, a comprehensive evaluation has not occurred.

Moreover, you recommended a relationship be created between communities and county departments in order for communities to have more input. Yet it is difficult to believe that even if the lines of communication were open, or if the county did an internal audit, that corrections would be made to the current system. It is even more difficult to believe that the county would conclude that citizens would be provided better services with two or more smaller counties. This bill would allow local communities a voice in determining if the services provided are in fact worthwhile and cost effective.

A review of service delivery is essential when evaluating a county that has a population of 10 million people represented by five supervisors. As mentioned in the editorial, citizens need to have a valid place to express their views. I do not believe a valid place is one in which 10 million citizens place their concerns in the hands of a three-person majority.

GEORGE RUNNER

Assemblyman, 36th District

Lancaster