A New Charter, Not Secession

The latest Times poll shows a significant jump in the percentage of San Fernando Valley residents who want the Valley to become its own city. Now, 60% of those polled favor secession and only 30% are opposed, up from 50% in favor three years ago and 36% opposed.

The rise in pro-secession sentiment in the Valley--elsewhere less enthusiasm was found--is a development that carries a huge caveat. Valley residents and Angelenos as a whole don’t know any more now than they did three years ago about what secession will mean in terms of costs and benefits, if indeed any benefits are in prospect. That painstaking analysis has yet to be done. It’s just too early to draw any firm conclusions.

At one time or another, you’ve probably longed for a dream home or luxury car but changed your mind when confronted with the cold, hard numbers and a full description of the deal. Right now, the secessionists are still at the starry-eyed stage. The accountants haven’t crunched the numbers yet.

Division of the city’s assets is just one of many complicated issues. And all the talk of small city government approaches the ridiculous in the face of the reality that the Valley city would be as populous as Philadelphia.

There’s another and even more important point: Ask people in just about any part of Los Angeles and you will undoubtedly find considerable dissatisfaction with the way the city is run. Residents already have the power to greatly alter the way the city is operated, and change can happen in June, not years down the pike. A vote for the reformed city charter would lead to more efficient government, a streamlined financial and management structure, increased citizen involvement and smaller, more responsive City Council districts.

The charter vote will come at a time when, according to the Times survey, dissatisfaction has begun to turn into a cautious optimism about the city’s future. The charter is the concrete option for improving Los Angeles’ governance. Secession, so far, is a lot of hype without any real facts.