Why the Rush?

The fiscal analysis of the San Fernando Valley secession proposal is running a few months behind schedule.

So? What’s the big deal?

Valley VOTE, the group pushing for Valley secession, blames city officials for not having the reams of information needed for the study at their fingertips.

But Larry Calemine, executive director of the Local Agency Formation Commission, which by law oversees the secession study, blames the delay simply on the “absolute ton of data” needed.

The undertaking is so huge, he said, that no one knew at the beginning exactly what information would be needed--or what a truly realistic deadline would be.

“Nobody’s dragging their feet,” he told The Times on Wednesday. “We’re moving along as rapidly as we can.”

LAFCO planned to release the financial report by a private consultant Jan. 1. The release has now been pushed back to March 31 at the earliest.

It doesn’t seem unreasonable that a study of the effects of splitting up the nation’s second-largest city would take longer than anybody anticipated. It’s not like anything of this magnitude has been attempted before, here or anywhere else.

Secessionists may not like the fact that such a huge study takes time, but then those who hate the idea of breaking apart Los Angeles aren’t happy seeing the study’s drain on city time, money and resources either.

Valley VOTE officials fret that a delay could keep secession from making the November 2002 ballot--assuming LAFCO approves putting it to a vote. (The commission must find that a municipal divorce would not financially harm either a new Valley city or the remaining city of Los Angeles before it can legally call for a citywide vote.)

So? Why would that matter?

Calamine believes the study can still be completed in time for the 2002 ballot. But what harm would it do to vote later than that? Why rush headlong toward a divorce, especially with Los Angeles just beginning its experiment with neighborhood councils and other charter reforms?

A delay would give the city’s charter reform measures time to take effect--and residents of the Valley and the rest of Los Angeles time to experience more constructive efforts at improving city government. Which may be just what Valley VOTE really fears.