EDITORIAL : HEAR THE PEOPLE; THE PUBLIC STRONGLY FAVORS AN ELECTION ON VALLEY CITYHOOD.

SAN Fernando Valley voters would overwhelmingly support cityhood if the vote were held today.

Nearly everybody who votes has heard about the cityhood movement. Almost as many favor conducting a study and putting the issue on the ballot for voters to decide.

These are among the stunning findings of a new scientific survey of public opinion, which was conducted by respected political pollster Arnold Steinberg and sponsored by Valley civic leaders Bert Boeckmann and David Fleming.

The poll found support for cityhood across geographic, ethnic, age and gender lines. It found Mayor Richard Riordan was viewed favorably by nearly everyone, the City Council by the slimmest of margins and the Los Angeles Unified School District disdained by a huge majority.

The findings pose a test for the leadership of the city of Los Angeles.

Valley voters first and foremost want control over their government, self-determination, independence. They want a fair tax system and a fair share of services, efficiency in government, schools that educate the children.

The strength of those opinions, and the degree of public agreement in those views, hopefully will wake up our local officials.

For too long, they have listened to the naysayers and self-servers. They mocked, scorned and threatened Valley voters and their values.

Now they should listen to the people. Instead of thwarting the debate, they should join it.

``The supporters of cityhood,'' pollster Steinberg observed, ``are not a limited segment of the electorate but comprise the electorate itself.''

There is very real, broad dissatisfaction with the status quo.

Most people have heard local government entities insist for years that things would get better. But local government leaders haven't delivered on promises and many aspects of life have deteriorated.

The public knows it deserves better and is coming to believe that it can get better.

Cityhood is the issue: whether Los Angeles becomes an open city that celebrates the diversity of its neighborhoods or whether the Valley must create its own city where the people have the power - not the vested interests and special interests.

The Valley and its people want a flourishing city of the 21st century, not a rotting city of the past.

The power structure of Los Angeles has lost credibility with the public. Too many of its leaders are fighting for a failed status quo.

Between the lines of this poll is a message of hope, a message that voters can overcome apathy and alienation and join together to form a great city - be it the city of the San Fernando Valley, or the city of Los Angeles.