Buoyed by Valley Effort, Westside Groups Begin Looking at Creating New City

Encouraged by the push for San Fernando Valley cityhood, Westside community groups have begun exploring a secession plan that would create a new municipality out of some of the most affluent neighborhoods in Los Angeles.

The proposal envisions a city of 643,000 people called Westside that would absorb Hollywood, Westwood, Bel-Air, Brentwood, Pacific Palisades and Los Angeles International Airport.

The Westside Civic Assn., a coalition of local leaders and homeowner representatives, considered a preliminary draft of the plan last week during its regular meeting.

Members agreed to gather later after assessing support for secession among business, community groups and homeowner associations. If there is substantial interest, organizers say, a steering committee will be set up.

“This is at an initial stage,” said Jeff Brain, a supporter of Valley secession who has been working with Westside leaders. “The idea has received a good reception. All we are saying is, ‘Let’s explore it.’ ”

The plan is the work of Dave Tuttle, an urban planner and writer who once worked for the Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency. He decided to draft a specific proposal after attending meetings of the Westside Civic Assn., which has been considering the possibility of secession for at least a year.

The new city would extend from Hollywood on the east to Pacific Palisades on the coast. Westside also would include Mar Vista, Palms, Westchester and city beaches from Playa del Rey to Topanga.

Promoters of the plan, including supporters of cityhood for the Valley, say Los Angeles neighborhoods have been interested in secession as a way to gain more local control, improve government efficiency and obtain better schools and public services.

“People are fed up with government that is unresponsive, dysfunctional and appears to be obsessed with its own power,” Brain said.

The proposal is expected to run into considerable opposition if it gets beyond the exploratory stage. Los Angeles is not likely to give up the airport without a fight, and City Council members have repeatedly scoffed at Valley cityhood.

In addition, Venice and Westchester are exploring the possibility of setting up their own separate cities and might reject an effort to include them in a larger municipality.