Secession Sentiment: Follow the Money

Re “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do,” Commentary, May 13: Denise Hamilton’s dig at the Valley as “an arid valley of broad, flat boulevards and tract homes” and Karen Grigsby Bates’ very-pleased-with-herself listing of art, cultural and other institutions south of Mulholland are notable.

The assertion that there is no worthy cultural architecture in the Valley is precisely the Valley’s point. Downtown takes Valley money to spend on huge projects over the hill, then snobbishly makes fun of the Valley for not having any great stuff. Hellooo? Try not to be so contemptuous of the people paying for the very things over which you gloat.

Dale Ma

Sherman Oaks

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Secession won’t lessen Los Angeles’ political clout; L.A.-area cities form coalitions all the time to make their point in Washington or Sacramento. Secession won’t impact tourism; people come to “L.A.” whether they are going to Disneyland, Malibu or Hollywood. It is all Los Angeles to the non-Southern Californian. Anti-secessionists care only about (the loss of) two things: money and power. Valley residents are tired of paying taxes for services they don’t get. If the Valley secedes, there will be less money for Mayor James Hahn and others to spend. With less money, leaders lose some of their personal power. If Los Angeles breaks up, those in districts that will then be in seceded sections will lose their jobs and their power.

So keep your eyes open, L.A., especially when you read articles in The Times, a player in the money and power game. As those in power in Los Angeles begin to seriously think that parts of the city will be able to secede, they will aggressively play any card, from race to fear of public-service curtailment, not because they really believe that L.A. as a metropolitan area will be diminished but because they want to stay in power, with control of your money.

Rebecca Mocciaro

Los Angeles

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Re “Boroughs Pitched as Middle Ground,” May 13:

Council members Janice Hahn, Tom LaBonge and Wendy Greuel have come up with the best solution to the Valley voter’s never-ending woes: create boroughs. New York City’s five boroughs offer a wide variety of educational resources and major recreational attractions. While Chicago does not have boroughs, everyone refers to North, South and West Chicago. Secession is risky. Boroughs have been proven and work in other cities.

Carole Wade

Century City

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Back in the ‘40s when Ventura Boulevard was the only way to get to the San Fernando Valley, it seemed reasonable for the Valley to be part of the city of Los Angeles, but as the years went by and the Valley burgeoned, it became a daunting task for Los Angeles to keep the issues and people in hand.

Like a rocky marriage that finally ends years later, one wonders why they waited so long.

Elinor Lynch

Palm Desert