Secession Backers Get Look at Long Road Ahead

In a meeting with the state’s chief deputy attorney general, supporters of a vote on San Fernando Valley secession learned Tuesday of the legal pitfalls in their path.

Deputy Atty. Gen. David Stirling told members of Valley Voters Organized Toward Empowerment that answers to the many thorny legal questions posed by secession will not come quickly or easily.

For now, he told the group, “there may not be answers to the questions that you ask. You may have to go through this in a trial-and-error process.”

Stirling was invited by members of Valley VOTE as the group prepares a petition drive that, if successful, would initiate a study on the feasibility of seceding from Los Angeles.

But Stirling disappointed several members of the group by declining to answer many of their questions. He instead told them to request a legal opinion from the attorney general’s office, a process that could take as long as six months.

“I know you want to move quickly but I don’t think that will happen,” he told the group.

Next month, members of Valley VOTE hopes to begin collecting the 135,000 signatures needed to initiate a secession study by the Local Agency Formation Commission.

If the study shows a breakaway would not incur costs to either municipality, then the question could go on a citywide vote in 2000.

The biggest legal question so far is how to define the boundaries of a new Valley city.

Jeff Brain, co-founder of the group, said he wants to get a legal opinion from the attorney general’s office on boundaries to prevent a court challenge to the petition effort.

“We know this is a lengthy, difficult process,” he said. “We want to do this right.”

Under state law, Stirling said only lawmakers and some law enforcement agencies can request a legal opinion from his office.

So he suggested that Valley VOTE draft a list of questions and have a local legislator submit them to the attorney general. He said his office could return a formal opinion in four to six months.

Marvin Selter, chairman of the Valley Industry and Commerce Assn., said he is worried the petition effort could end up in court, especially if the city raises a legal challenge.

Stirling said he is now on leave from his job to campaign for the attorney general post. But he said his meeting with Valley VOTE was not campaign-related.