EDITORIAL IT ADDS UP.

IT'S official. The San Fernando Valley counts at the federal level and will be broken out for the first time in the U.S. Census with data released next year.

This is the fruition of a long struggle to get the Valley recognized as a distinct population center that has its individual needs, separate from the greater city of Los Angeles. And it's due to the hard work of many people who struggled to make this section of the city count.

This is the first step to getting counted. The next will take using the statistical information to help the area receive its fair share of federal, state, county and city funds.