Time for Constructive Reform

It doesn’t seem unreasonable that a study of the effects of splitting up the nation’s second-largest city would take longer than secessionists anticipated when they talked about putting the matter to a vote by next year--or by 2002, for that matter.

Secessionists aren’t happy with the new timetable, of course. But if it’s any consolation, the citizens who are opposed to taking a sledgehammer to a great city aren’t happy having to do the study at all, given the time, money and resources it will drain from more constructive efforts.

But you can’t accuse the Local Agency Formation Commission, which oversees the San Fernando Valley’s secession bid as well as efforts to split off San Pedro and Wilmington, of foot-dragging.

Although it expects to complete the study in 25 months, the agency is drawing up a contract that allows for four years to save time required to renegotiate should the study take longer. That’s reasonable. And it won’t start the study until it hires a consultant, a task the commission expects to take five months.

By that time, even if the study only takes 25 months, it will not likely be completed in time for the 2002 ballot. So 2004 begins to look like the earliest possible date for a vote, since state law on secession attempts mandates breakup elections in even-numbered years, again a reasonable tactic intended to ensure the largest possible voter turnout.

All this reasonableness doesn’t mean LAFCO is above criticism. Executive Director Larry Calamine’s hiring of Sandor L. Winger as his top assistant is proof of that. Winger is an old friend of Calamine and LAFCO member and City Councilman Hal Bernson; the three were involved in an organization that campaigned unsuccessfully for secession two decades ago (another reason to not suspect deliberate delays). Calamine and Winger weren’t even confident enough of Winger’s qualifications for the $60,000 job to release his resume to a Times reporter. We can only hope they do better when it comes to hiring a consultant.

The best news about the likely delay is that it gives the city’s recently passed charter reform measures time to take effect--and residents of the Valley and the rest of Los Angeles time to experience firsthand an attempt to improve government that’s more constructive than a sledgehammer.