Secession Sentiment Remains High

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Secession Sentiment Remains High

By JACQUELINE FOX

San Fernando Valley Business Journal

San Fernando Valley business leaders reflect what many involved in the cityhood movement have said since the November election: secession is not a dead issue.

A Valley Leadership Survey conducted by the San Fernando Valley Business Journal and Cooper Communications in Woodland Hills finds that 51 percent of those polled favor a second secession initiative, while 36 percent said they thought the issue should be put to rest and 13 percent had no opinion.

Measure F, the secession initiative, was defeated by a 2-1 margin citywide; it passed narrowly in the Valley.

A total of 45 Valley business leaders responded to the survey. Of those, 64 percent said they supported the measure.

Mayor James Hahn, in his post-Election Day pronouncements, vowed to heed the message that citizens of the San Fernando Valley were not getting their fair share of services.

But Martin Cooper, president of Cooper Communications, said that until the Valley business community sees tangible change, the idea of a breakup is still alive.

“I don’t think business people in the Valley believe yet that there are deeds to follow the mayor’s words,” said Cooper. “I think there is a level of skepticism about the city’s ability and desire to successfully grapple with the issues that were at the core of the secession movement.”

Walt Mosher, president of Precision Dynamics Corp., was among the 51 percent who support another vote. “The San Fernando Valley was blackmailed into joining the city of Los Angeles over water issues and should never have been annexed in the first place,” he said.

Respondents opposed to secession haven’t changed their attitudes either.

“When there are so many other things going on in the world, I believe that starting the secession issue again will cause further friction,” said Rosemarie Wolff, president of Royal Staffing Services. “Let’s see if our elected officials took heed and that some of the changes we were hoping to achieve will be implemented.”

While 56 percent of the respondents said they believe the city would be more concerned about issues impacting the Valley business community than before the election, 60 percent said there will be little improvement regarding the streamlining of city permitting and business tax and licensing procedures, and 51 percent said they think there will be little movement toward business tax reform.

“These aren’t new issues,” said Cooper. “These are concerns that have been around for a long time and while some may prefer to take a wait-and-see attitude, others have been pushing for these changes for years.”

Despite the support for a separate Valley city, 62 percent said they would like to see a borough system or a neighborhood council system with teeth as a way to more local control.By JACQUELINE FOX

San Fernando Valley Business Journal

San Fernando Valley business leaders reflect what many involved in the cityhood movement have said since the November election: secession is not a dead issue.

A Valley Leadership Survey conducted by the San Fernando Valley Business Journal and Cooper Communications in Woodland Hills finds that 51 percent of those polled favor a second secession initiative, while 36 percent said they thought the issue should be put to rest and 13 percent had no opinion.

Measure F, the secession initiative, was defeated by a 2-1 margin citywide; it passed narrowly in the Valley.

A total of 45 Valley business leaders responded to the survey. Of those, 64 percent said they supported the measure.

Mayor James Hahn, in his post-Election Day pronouncements, vowed to heed the message that citizens of the San Fernando Valley were not getting their fair share of services.

But Martin Cooper, president of Cooper Communications, said that until the Valley business community sees tangible change, the idea of a breakup is still alive.

“I don’t think business people in the Valley believe yet that there are deeds to follow the mayor’s words,” said Cooper. “I think there is a level of skepticism about the city’s ability and desire to successfully grapple with the issues that were at the core of the secession movement.”

Walt Mosher, president of Precision Dynamics Corp., was among the 51 percent who support another vote. “The San Fernando Valley was blackmailed into joining the city of Los Angeles over water issues and should never have been annexed in the first place,” he said.

Respondents opposed to secession haven’t changed their attitudes either.

“When there are so many other things going on in the world, I believe that starting the secession issue again will cause further friction,” said Rosemarie Wolff, president of Royal Staffing Services. “Let’s see if our elected officials took heed and that some of the changes we were hoping to achieve will be implemented.”

While 56 percent of the respondents said they believe the city would be more concerned about issues impacting the Valley business community than before the election, 60 percent said there will be little improvement regarding the streamlining of city permitting and business tax and licensing procedures, and 51 percent said they think there will be little movement toward business tax reform.

“These aren’t new issues,” said Cooper. “These are concerns that have been around for a long time and while some may prefer to take a wait-and-see attitude, others have been pushing for these changes for years.”

Despite the support for a separate Valley city, 62 percent said they would like to see a borough system or a neighborhood council system with teeth as a way to more local control.

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