Latino Group Mixes Its Messages on Secession

A dispute within a national Latino political group over San Fernando Valley cityhood became public Friday, with a vice president announcing the organization’s support for secession and the president saying no such endorsement had been made.

Both sides said the matter would probably be settled Aug. 31 at a meeting of the Mexican American Political Assn.’s national executive board.

“Until then, there is no national MAPA endorsement of Valley secession,” national President Steve Figueroa said.

The organization’s Hollywood area chapter supports Hollywood secession, he added.

The dispute within the national leadership mirrors one at the local level. A long-standing Valley chapter of MAPA voted to oppose secession, but a new chapter is being formed in the Valley by secession supporters.

“This is another example of secessionists trying to mislead the Latino community,” said Xavier Flores, vice president of the Valley chapter that opposes secession.

One association leader said the dispute may end up in court as the principals consult with attorneys on the issue.

Secession leaders have courted the civil rights group, which was formed in the 1960s, because they see Latinos as a crucial voting bloc in the November election.

Secession supporters believe the group has sway within the Latino community, even though the national organization appears to be in disarray.

Figueroa’s board is one of two that have filed papers with the California secretary of state’s office to be recognized as the national MAPA. The other group has not weighed in on the secession issue.

This week, the Valley and Hollywood cityhood committees put out a notice that national Vice President Al Castaneda would announce MAPA’s endorsement of both secession proposals on the Nov. 5 ballot.

In an appearance with secession leaders in Pacoima on Friday, Castaneda said the national group had endorsed the secession proposals at a recent convention after it “came to the conclusion that the people of San Fernando [Valley] and Hollywood are ready to stand on their own.”

But in view of the national board’s upcoming meeting, he added: “We may be forced to recall that endorsement in the short future.”

Figueroa said Valley secession has not yet been put to an official vote of the national executive board, as required for endorsements.

Castaneda said the Valley chapter disbanded in March 2001, but 40 people, including many secession supporters, petitioned this week to form a new local chapter.

Local leader Flores said the Valley chapter had not lost its charter and that the proposed chapter does not have a legal right to form.

That dispute will also be taken up by the national executive board, Figueroa said. The board could recognize the old Valley chapter, or recognize both it and the proposed one and force the sides to take one stand on secession.

The confusion over whether the national association supports secession proved an embarrassment for the Valley Independence Committee. At the news conference in Pacoima, the committee heralded the “historic” endorsement and said it showed that the area’s Latino elected officials are out of step in their opposition to secession.