Valley Secession

Re “Fee Proposed for Secession Study,” June 10: It is the opinion of L.A. City Councilman Hal Bernson and the leaders of Valley VOTE that [most of] the cost of a Valley secession study, which may weigh in at over a cool $1 million, should be paid by county and state taxpayers. They claim it’s unfair to charge the entire cost of the study to Valley VOTE. I guess they think it’s “fair” to stick the bill to the county and state. But hey, Valley VOTE would be “willing to make a contribution” to fund the study.

If all it takes is for a group to throw in a few bucks while the rest of the tab is picked up by the public, the state, every county and every city run the risk of being sucked dry. If there is no financial responsibility, every malcontent neighborhood group statewide can start a secession drive with impunity, because they don’t have to pay for it.

Sorry, a “contribution” from Valley VOTE does not cut it. Valley VOTE should pay every penny incurred during its secession activities. One also has to wonder what kind of people the Valley VOTE folks are when in one of the first acts of their secession drive they have the audacity to demand a million-dollar handout.

GREG DOORE

Downey