Council Seeks to Keep Role in Secession Data Release

Making clear their desire not to be excluded, Los Angeles City Council members insisted Friday that city data produced for studies of San Fernando Valley and Harbor incorporation should be released under supervision of both the council and the mayor.

A council committee rejected a proposal by City Administrative Officer Bill Fujioka to have the joint supervision expire July 1, when a new City Charter could give Mayor Richard Riordan full control of the release of data for the studies.

“I believe that there should be collaboration,” said Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski. “There is a downside when any one part of the city government works alone. I’ve seen it far too often.”

Riordan has been a leading opponent of Valley secession and believes any study will show that it would not be in the area’s best interest to break away. Many City Council members also have voiced opposition to the breakup.

For that reason officials at Valley VOTE, the group heading the secession drive, said they would be concerned if there were an attempt by anyone to take control of the data collection and dispersal and remove it from public view.

“We don’t want to get in the middle of a power play between the mayor and City Council,” said Richard Close, chairman of Valley VOTE. “Our concern is: Whether it’s the council or someone else, is someone going to try to massage the numbers?”

Close said he is worried that city officials might try to edit, filter or hide data that are embarrassing, such as figures possibly showing the city overpaying for goods and services.

Councilman Joel Wachs, a member of the council’s Ad Hoc Committee on Special Reorganization, said the data must be released in a public setting, such as his panel offers, to allow for public scrutiny.

Fujioka said he made the proposal at the request of the mayor’s office, which noted that July 1, a new charter changes city management rules. It makes the mayor responsible for representing the city in dealings with other local agencies, including the Local Agency Formation Commission, which is conducting the cityhood studies.

But Fujioka’s proposal sparked concern and protests from some City Hall officials who feared that Riordan would exclude the council from the process.

Chief Legislative Analyst Ron Deaton refused to join Fujioka in signing the memo recommending the July 1 expiration date for the council’s involvement.

“I didn’t see why things would change on July 1,” said Deaton, the council’s top advisor. “I don’t understand what would happen after July 1. Why go through a big process to develop a system that is only going to last two months?”

Two other city officials said Riordan representatives told them the mayor’s office would legally have sole responsibility for the release of data to the Local Agency Formation Commission when the new charter takes effect.

But Deputy Mayor Bill Violante said Riordan is happy with the process that includes the council and does not anticipate a change that would exclude the council after July 1.