Group Deserves More Time to Submit Petitions, Chick Says

Banishing petition gatherers from the Van Nuys Aviation Expo was so unfair that the group collecting signatures for a study on San Fernando Valley secession should be granted an extra 30 days, Councilwoman Laura Chick said Thursday.

Chick’s proposal, which calls for intervention from the courts or an appropriate government agency, comes after an investigation revealed the petition gatherers were illegally barred from Van Nuys Airport July 18 and 19 because of a “miscommunication.”

Specifically, airport manager Ron Kochevar instructed security “not to allow petitioners to collect signatures inside the venue,” according to a report released Thursday.

However, the report said that Kochevar’s order was aimed at preventing the petition gatherers from setting up an unauthorized booth at the air show, a distinction Kochevar failed to make clear.

The report was conducted by Kochevar’s supervisor, John Driscoll, executive director of the city Department of Airports.

Leaders of Valley VOTE, the group collecting signatures for a Valley secession study, dismissed the findings as a “cover-up.”

“Our worst concerns have been shown to be true,” said Richard Close, chairman of Valley VOTE. “The city has admitted that they violated the rights of Valley VOTE volunteers, but they refused to take responsibility. I think it’s a cover-up.”

Many city officials, including Mayor Richard Riordan, have opposed Valley secession. Riordan has pushed city charter reform as the best way to redress Valley political grievances.

Close estimates the group could have gathered 15,000 signatures at the popular air show. Valley VOTE needs 135,000 signatures by Aug. 27 to force a study and possible citywide vote on Valley secession.

An additional 30 days would be a tremendous help, Close said. According to recent estimates, Valley VOTE has gathered 100,000 signatures, although they require verification by elections officials.

“We don’t know if we’re going to get the required signatures,” Close said.

On Monday, the organization asked Dist. Atty. Gil Garcetti to conduct an independent investigation into the allegations. Last week, Rep. Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-Santa Clarita) asked the U.S. attorney’s office to investigate.

The group--Valley Voters Organized Toward Empowerment--is trying to collect enough signatures to prompt a study on the feasibility of the San Fernando Valley seceding from the city of Los Angeles.

Close said Valley VOTE volunteers were told by airport police they were being barred from airport grounds based on advice from the city attorney’s office.

City Atty. James K. Hahn reviewed the allegation and on Thursday released a report stating lawyers from his office, on several occasions, advised the airport manager to allow the Valley VOTE petitioners to gather signatures on airport grounds.

When attorneys told Kochevar the volunteers had a constitutional right to solicit signatures inside the Aviation Expo, he “readily agreed that he would not interfere with their efforts,” Assistant City Atty. John M. Werlick stated in a letter to the City Council.

Kochevar acknowledged making a mistake, but said in an interview Thursday he has never held any malice against Valley VOTE.

“My instructions to the police were certainly over broad,” Kochevar said.

Kochevar said Valley VOTE tried but failed to get advance approval for exhibition space at the expo, and when volunteers showed up to collect signatures during the air show, he was under the impression they wanted to set up an illegal booth.

Chick said she plans to introduce a motion today asking for a 30-day extension for the Valley VOTE signature-gathering process. Since state law sets a 90-day time limit for secession petitions, granting an extension may be difficult, she said. A court order or action by the state Legislature may be required, she said.

“The city must act strongly and swiftly,” Chick said. “Gathering signatures for a petition drive is a constitutional right; we cannot afford to create the perception that people’s rights are not protected in the city of Los Angeles.”

Chick was quick to add, however, that her action in no way endorses Valley secession.