DEBATE CENTERS ON TAXES, SERVICES.Byline: Ryan Oliver Staff Writer UNIVERSAL CITY - City Controller Laura Chick said at a debate Thursday that 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. separatists are wrong to demand that the Valley get equal dollars in 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. back for the taxes they pay. ``I was a U.S. history major and I don't remember our Constitution ever saying for every dollar you spend on taxes, you get a dollar back in services,'' Chick said, adding that the areas with the most need are deserving of the most money. Richard Close, chairman of Valley Voters Organized Toward Empowerment, countered that not only is the Valley losing out, but that all 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. residents are losing out because of city inefficiency. ``The issue is, no one is getting their fair share,'' Close said. ``Let's talk about football stadiums, let's talk about parking structures at Hollywood & Highland - that's where our money is going.'' Close and Chick argued at a formal debate sponsored by the Los Angeles Police Protective League at the Hilton hotel in Universal City. A three-member panel opposing secession said the recently formed 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. must be given a chance to improve communities and that secession does nothing to address any of the Valley's real problems. ``Secession is a lot like cotton candy to a kid,'' said Councilman Eric Garcetti Eric Garcetti (born 1971) is the son of former Los Angeles county district attorney Gil Garcetti, and was elected to the Los Angeles City Council in 2001. He was reelected in 2005. . ``It looks good and tastes good, but they're still hungry at the end.'' Separatists argued that neighborhood councils are useless since they have no spending power The power of legislatures to tax and spend. Spending power is conferred to state and federal legislatures through their constitution. Judicial Review of legislative spending varies from state to state, but the law of federal spending informs courts in all states. , and that the Valley is in a better position to solve its problems than city government downtown. ``(Neighborhood councils) don't work as long as those checkbooks are kept downtown,'' said Bob Scott, co-chairman of Alliance for a New L.A. Scott and Close were joined by former state Assemblywoman Paula Boland in arguing for secession at the forum. Garcetti and Chick were debating against secession along with City Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski. Voters citywide will decide Nov. 5 whether the San Fernando Valley and Hollywood areas should be allowed to secede from the city of Los Angeles
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