Questioning Secession

* Re “To Stem Secessionism, Adopt a Borough System,” Opinion, Jan. 7: Kevin Starr calls secessionism a “duplicative and wasteful” alternative. However, every study of city size finds that smaller cities cost the same, or less, to run on a per-person basis.

Secessionism is not a “half-baked” idea. Starr says, “Great cities do not voluntarily put themselves out of business.” The error in his logic is that Los Angeles has failed to provide services that make it a great place to live.

Starr concludes by saying that secessionists wish to leave behind all those “urban problems and problematic urban peoples.” Unfair. The San Fernando Valley, Hollywood and the Harbor areas have their share of “problematic urban peoples,” although I would never use that expression to describe anyone.

SHIRLEY SVORNY

Northridge