EDITORIAL : LIFTING THE VALLEY FLOOR; NAYSAYERS SEE NO CHANCE OF CITYHOOD CREATING A BETTER COMMUNITY FOR ALL.CAN the Valley become a better city for everyone? Now that more people are starting to think seriously about cityhood for 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. , the public is beginning to reflect on what kind of city the Valley could be and whether community life would be better as a result. The question of Valley cityhood will be a test of whether people believe that a better community and better local government can happen in the Valley. Cynics Cynics (sĭn`ĭks) [Gr.,=doglike, probably from their manners and their meeting place, the Cynosarges, an academy for Athenian youths], ancient school of philosophy founded c.440 B.C. by Antisthenes, a disciple of Socrates. say that's impossible. The powers that be are counting on such cynicism and Valley infighting in·fight·ing n. 1. Contentious rivalry or disagreement among members of a group or organization: infighting on the President's staff. 2. Fighting or boxing at close range. to kill the movement for cityhood. That would keep the Valley as part of 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. , with the dysfunctional municipal governance that pays lip service to the people and only serves the politically connected. They look down their elitist e·lit·ism or é·lit·ism n. 1. The belief that certain persons or members of certain classes or groups deserve favored treatment by virtue of their perceived superiority, as in intellect, social status, or financial resources. noses and ask, who could love the Valley? Well, we do, the more than a million of us who live, work, raise children and enjoy a wonderful life right here in the Valley, that's who. Efforts for new cityhood will measure just how strong that love of the Valley is, and whether preserving the quality of life in the Valley and creating a healthier identity for it are worth the effort to organize and fight for a divorce from the downtown City Hall power structure. It will be a test of whether Valley NIMBY NIM·BY n. pl. NIM·BYs Slang One who objects to the establishment in one's neighborhood of projects, such as incinerators, prisons, or homeless shelters, that are believed to be dangerous, unsightly, or otherwise undesirable. , not-in-my-back-yard, activists and organizations are able to develop working relationships with other segments of the Valley, and whether they can settle into a balanced, productive alliance for the greater good. Those who speak from a viewpoint of cynicism predict that such dreams are impossible. Those who want the status quo [Latin, The existing state of things at any given date.] Status quo ante bellum means the state of things before the war. The status quo to be preserved by a preliminary injunction is the last actual, peaceable, uncontested status which preceded the pending controversy. will try to fuel such doubts. The Valley's challenge is to tip the balance away from cynicism, moving toward civic-minded mutual respect. That will require the entire Valley to forgive past slights and work together to forge strong, new connections for a working alliance that includes every neighborhood regardless of income level, race and ethnicity. Can a local government be created that will be more accountable, more efficient and will make the Valley a better place for everyone to live? That is the challenge. For it to happen, leaders must reach out to every community and make sure all residents have a chance to participate as the Valley decides its future. |
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