Studying Valley Secession

Allowing any L.A. city politician or bureaucrat to filter the data going to the Local Agency Formation Commission (“Battle Lines Form Over Study Data,” June 14) is like permitting Charles Manson to filter the parole board’s decisions on his application before the public sees the final result.

JOEL FINKEL

Woodland Hills

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* Jeff Brain’s column on Sunday (“Charter Vote Affirms Desire for Change,” June 13) was full of grand generalities--improved basic public services, safe and clean neighborhoods and a government that is accessible and responsive, to name a few--and all of this with lower taxes and fees. As a resident of the Valley for more than 40 years, I can’t settle for generalities. I need specific answers to some simple, everyday problems of living.

* Will I be able to walk Ventura Boulevard in the evening without worrying about being mugged? Will I be able to use an ATM machine on Ventura without being robbed or murdered? Will I be able to leave a supermarket without keeping a watchful eye on my purse and person?

* If I get in a fender bender, can I be sure the other driver will be insured and will not race away without stopping to exchange information? Will I have to lock my car everywhere I go?

* Will the police come to my house immediately if I am burglarized or suspect a prowler, instead of hours later? Will I still need an expensive burglar alarm system?

* If my water or power is shut off without reason and without notice (a too-frequent occurrence), will I be able to reach someone immediately for explanation and repair?

* Will I end up with an apartment house or an obtrusive home business in a area zoned for single-family residences, or even a three-story building where only two-story buildings were previously promised?

* Will I be able to find someone to deal with my complaints or will I be shuttled, as before, from one voice mail option to another, only to be left in electronic no man’s land?

* How will we pay for these services and yet lower taxes and fees? Surely, they must have some specific idea of how it might happen, before putting the taxpayer to the additional expense of a long, detailed study.

JEAN SAPIN

Sherman Oaks

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Before we get completely carried away with San Fernando Valley secession, let’s ask a few questions about where this is really heading and who will truly benefit. We’re told that Valley independence will mean a smaller, more responsive city government. But the new city will be as large as San Diego. In a city that large, will the streets really be cleaner? The street lighting department easier to contact? The new and improved Valley city will be staffed by employees brought over from the city of Los Angeles. Oh, boy! “Hold, please.”

Who is backing the secession movement? Those petition gatherers outside Ralphs didn’t work for free. Who foots the bill for them? . . . And who wants the power in the new city? . . . What developer will be the first to step up and say the new city can never be a real metropolis without a downtown? Are you ready for a skyline, North Hollywood? Right there on Lankershim, next to your subway.

If you truly care about Los Angeles and want to make the greatest impact on crime, poverty, community involvement, forget about Valley secession and put all of your efforts into driving a stake into the heart of the Los Angeles Unified School District. Education is what can power this city. Valley secession is a joke.

WAYNE ARONSON

Northridge