Valley Can’t Wait Much Longer for L.A.

James Flanigan’s muddled “Uplifting View for the Valley” [On Southern California, Sept. 24] on the potential secession of the San Fernando Valley left me dazed.

Is he saying that the Valley needs the city’s leadership? We have been waiting for that. As we wait, the surrounding communities like Glendale, Burbank, Culver City, Santa Monica and Santa Fe Springs are booming. The reason is they are not Los Angeles. In the Los Angeles area--mostly in the surrounding communities--130,000 jobs in the video/interactive sector have been established. What has Los Angeles done to attract those businesses into its borders?

Los Angeles under Richard Riordan has become more business-friendly, but not enough. We in the Valley know that businesses are looking for four principal things: 1) trained, educated and responsible employees, 2) a low-tax environment with a cooperative government, 3) a safe, clean community for their business and employees and 4) a quality education system for their families and employees. Based on the actions of the current leadership of Los Angeles, it appears they do not understand these points.

As we work through the process of deciding whether we wish to form our own community, we will analyze these factors. Unless we see further improvement in the areas that are important to attracting and retaining businesses in the Valley, our decision will be made for us.

BRUCE L. BIALOSKY, CPA

Member of the Board of Directors of Valley VOTE