A History Lesson for Valley Secessionists

For months I have been following the Valley secession movement with growing agitation, and “Valley Secessionists Weary of L.A.’s Snubs and Snobs” (Aug. 13) has finally moved me to write. The reason the Valley has no major cultural facilities is because 25 years ago the Valley, led by the very same people leading the secession movement today, spurned the opportunity to build a first-rate cultural center in the Sepulveda Basin. The Valley Cultural Center had secured from the Army Corps of Engineers a large site at the intersection of Victory and Balboa boulevards. Architectural designs and models were prepared, local elected officials were supportive and funding was in place.

But Valley homeowner leaders vehemently opposed the project, claiming that it was “growth-inducing.” This is the same argument that has been used over the years to oppose recreational facilities in the basin, rail transit and numerous other improvements and facilities proposed for the Valley. The bottom line is that the Valley we have today is the Valley that homeowner leaders and secessionists have spent the last 25 years creating. Contrary to popular myth, the city has not ignored the Valley but has listened too closely, cowering in the face of angry Valley homeowner groups and going elsewhere with new projects.

I am a lifetime resident of the Valley and love it here. It is pitiful that anyone would feel inferior because they live in this wonderful part of the city. I am reminded of Eleanor Roosevelt’s comment that nobody can make you feel inferior but yourself. Secessionists would be wise to ponder this and assume responsibility for their own state of real and/or imagined inadequacy.

Joyce Emerson

Granada Hills

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When I moved to Studio City for a brief time, I couldn’t believe I was still in Los Angeles! The city park down at the corner had beautiful grass, a clean and updated play yard and even flowering perennials; no park in L.A., where I was born and raised, ever looked like that! No wonder L.A. city parks look so horrible--all the city’s best gardeners are working in the Valley. Maybe if the Valley seceded we would have better service in the city’s parks and sports programs. I certainly won’t miss all the best stuff for children going to the Valley first.

Cyndi Vodhanel

Los Angeles

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Recently I wondered why a perfectly good and fairly new road currently undergoes extensive new resurfacing. At first I thought the reason was that this particular road in Chatsworth borders a multimillion-dollar gated community. However, the picture became very clear. I received a written notification from the city informing me that the street I live on in Chatsworth, a quiet cul de sac, would soon be resurfaced.

Huh? There is nothing wrong with the surface of my street! There is hardly any traffic and there is no reason to spend tax money on unnecessary and costly projects. I now realize that this is all a silly attempt from the powers in charge to give us the impression that the people over the hill, our loving and caring neighbors, are actually taking care of us. And of course now we all will vote against Valley secession.

Robert van der Heiden

Chatsworth