COMMISSION HEARS SECESSION, REFORM ISSUES; MOVEMENTS COULD CHANGE LAWS.Byline: Michael Coit Daily News Staff Writer A state commission formed during the birth of the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. cityhood push came to town Friday to hear about the secession and charter reform experiences. Secession and charter reform could contribute to changes in state laws governing boundary changes and ways to increase citizen participation in local government, said San Diego San Diego (săn dēā`gō), city (1990 pop. 1,110,549), seat of San Diego co., S Calif., on San Diego Bay; inc. 1850. San Diego includes the unincorporated communities of La Jolla and Spring Valley. Coronado is across the bay. Mayor Susan Golding Susan G. Golding (born August 1945) is an American Republican politician from California, best-known as the former two-term mayor of San Diego. She is currently president and CEO of the Golding Group, a strategy consulting firm and a Senior Fellow of Public Policy at the University , chairwoman of the Commission on Local Governance. ``The whole secession movement is about how local government is structured and how it can be changed,'' Golding said. The commission is made up of 15 members appointed by former Gov. Pete Wilson For others named Pete Wilson, see . Peter Barton Wilson (born August 23, 1933) is an American Republican politician from California. Wilson served as the thirty-sixth Governor of California (1991–1999), the culmination of more than three decades in the public arena that and legislative leaders to look for ways to guide the formation of local governments. This was the fifth of 15 meetings being held throughout the state this year. ``We had good participation, Golding said. ``Obviously passions are high on this issue, but that's good because people obviously are involved.'' Mayor Richard Riordan Richard J. Riordan (born May 1, 1930) is a Republican politician from California, U.S. who served as the California Secretary of Education from 2003–2005 and as Mayor of Los Angeles from 1993–2001. Riordan ran for Governor of California unsuccessfully in 2002. led off, saying the proposal backed by the elected and appointed charter reform commissions ``is a clear example of how we can work together to solve the problems of our city.'' Riordan and charter reform leaders said the measure voters would have to approve would establish neighborhood councils Neighborhood councils are governmental or non-governmental bodies composed of local people who handle neighborhood problems. They can be found in many cities throughout the world. , area planning commissions and greater mayoral authority, and expand the City Council to improve accountability for residents. Long a secession opponent, Riordan challenged claims that Valley taxpayers subsidize sub·si·dize tr.v. sub·si·dized, sub·si·diz·ing, sub·si·diz·es 1. To assist or support with a subsidy. 2. To secure the assistance of by granting a subsidy. city services The examples and perspective in this article or section may represent an unduly geographically limited view of the subject. Please [ improve this article] or discuss the issue on the talk page. to other areas and contended that the region has gained jobs, private investment and influence in city government during his administration. ``I do believe that some of the frustrations expressed by Valley residents have been valid. I have worked for six years to address residents' concerns in constructive, meaningful ways,'' he said. ``The new City Charter will build on this progress. ``I believe secession won't ensure anything but another big bureaucracy.'' Valley VOTE leaders, meanwhile, said they are not causing problems for the city but rather exercising the rights of residents discontent with their representation and denied their fair share of public services Public services is a term usually used to mean services provided by government to its citizens, either directly (through the public sector) or by financing private provision of services. . ``More than any point, I would ask you to remember . . . the right of citizens to petition, the right of citizens to define their own government and even the right of the citizens to change their own government when government fails to respond to or meet their needs,'' said Jeff Brain, president of Valley Voters Organized Toward Empowerment. ``And while sometimes some may not like, understand or agree with change and going through the process can be painful, it's the people's government,'' he said. Brain said the resistance to change is clear, given Department of Water and Power chief David Freeman's public comments this week that San Fernando Valley residents will pay higher water and electric bills if the Valley secedes from Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. . ``We think that's wrong. We have as much right to that water,'' Brain said. ``We should not have to fear retribution.'' Irene Tovar, president of the Latin American Civic Association, described a different concern. She worries that secession could dilute minority political power and fears the cost to pay for a cityhood study, with estimates ranging from $2.8 to $8 million, could cut into city services. ``Will we be turned back again? Will we have to fight for self-representation?'' she asked. ``And because we don't have a lot of answers, we have a lot of reservations.'' |
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