City Council Agrees to Aid Valley VOTE

The Los Angeles City Council, setting aside a bitter internal feud over the political future of the San Fernando Valley, voted unanimously Tuesday to help Valley activists gain more time to petition for a study and possible vote on secession.

Members expressed outrage that city officials at Van Nuys Airport illegally banned petition gatherers from Valley VOTE, the group collecting signatures for the study, from the widely attended air show July 18-19.

Valley VOTE leaders estimate they could have netted more than 15,000 signatures at Van Nuys Aviation Expo ‘98, which attracted about 250,000 spectators. “It’s a sad commentary because it shows there is very little understanding of the 1st Amendment by the average American,” said Councilwoman Jackie Goldberg, an outspoken opponent of Valley secession. “I think we can do no less than request an extension for signature gathering, and I’m pleased to support this.”

The proposal, approved 14-0, was sponsored by Councilwoman Laura Chick of the West Valley, who does not support secession but said the city must make amends for violating the rights of Valley VOTE volunteers.

“This was not about secession, it was about righting a wrong,” Chick said. “We have to send a message that the city of Los Angeles respects the democratic process and constitutional rights, and we’re not going to allow the interference of those rights.”

John Driscoll, executive director of the city Department of Airports, publicly apologized to Valley VOTE members and told council members those responsible for barring the petitioners “have been held accountable for their actions.”

Driscoll declined to name those punished or what disciplinary action has been taken, saying personnel matters are confidential. Van Nuys Airport Manager Ron Kochevar said Thursday he ordered airport security to keep Valley VOTE petitioners off airport grounds, but intended only to prevent the group from setting up an unauthorized booth.

The council directed the city attorney’s office to assist leaders of Valley VOTE if they file a court action seeking a 30-day extension for the petition drive.

However, legal assistance from the city is contingent on assurances by Valley VOTE leaders that they will not sue the city over the airport incident. That provision was tacked on at the last minute by Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas, at the request of the city attorney, and caught members of Valley VOTE off guard.

“Before we agree to any waiver like that, we want to see what the city can do for us,” said Valley VOTE President Jeff Brain.

“The city, regardless of what the city attorney says, has tremendous exposure” to a lawsuit, Brain said.

Esther Bormaster, one of about 15 Valley VOTE volunteers who came to the council meeting, left doubting the city was going to do much of anything.

“I think they do a lot of talking,” said Bormaster, a retiree from Woodland Hills wearing a bright red Valley VOTE T-shirt. “They seem to be a little frightened Valley VOTE might sue them. I just hope we get what we want.”

The council also ordered city attorneys to send a letter to the Local Agency Formation Commission to determine whether the agency has the authority to give Valley VOTE an extra month for its petition drive for the secession study.

Under state law, Valley VOTE has 90 days to gather 135,000 signatures to prompt a study on creating an independent city in the Valley. The deadline is Aug. 27.

LAFCO would conduct the study. If the agency determines an independent city in the Valley would be able to sustain itself without causing financial harm to the city of Los Angeles, LAFCO has the authority to place the measure on the ballot for a citywide vote.

However, LAFCO might not have the authority to grant Valley VOTE an extension, said Larry J. Calemine, executive director of the agency.

“We’re dealing with a state statute. LAFCO can’t make unilateral decisions,” Calemine said. “I don’t know if we have the authority or not.”

Still, the state law dictating the secession process would require LAFCO to give Valley VOTE an extra 15 days to gather signatures if the petition drive for a secession study fails, Calemine said.

Lloyd Pellman, the county attorney representing LAFCO, said Valley VOTE might also be able to collect signatures for two to three months after the Aug. 27 deadline, when the petitions are being processed and then verified by county officials. But the law is unclear on that point, he said.

This tenuous option may be the only way Valley VOTE can receive the 30-day extension the city council supports, if a court fails to act, said Timothy B. McOsker, chief deputy city attorney.