PARKS COMES OUT AGAINST SECESSION.

Byline: Mariel Garza Staff Writer

Praising the spirit of the secession movement, former Police Chief Bernard C. Parks, now a candidate for Los Angeles City Council, said Thursday that he cannot support San Fernando Valley and Hollywood independence because it might jeopardize public safety and the jobs of city workers.

Parks' view was immediately challenged by Valley mayoral candidate Mel Wilson and Hollywood council candidate Gene La Pietra, who stood outside the Leimert Park restaurant where Parks was speaking to residents and business owners.

``Secession is full of promises and projections, but no guarantees,'' said Parks, a candidate for the 8th District council seat held by Mark Ridley-Thomas who is being forced out by term limits.

Parks said that after talking with residents and reading studies on the subject, he concluded that secession is a financial risk.

``I feel strongly that we can't afford secession.''

Wilson, one of 10 Valley mayoral candidates, responded: ``I have a lot of respect for Chief Parks. But I don't agree with the chief on this subject. ... People of color will win with a new city.''

He noted a recent report that indicated African-Americans, Latinos and Asian-Americans would have more political opportunity after a breakup of Los Angeles. A separate study by the Local Agency Formation Commission found secession would not financially harm Los Angeles or the breakaway areas.

La Pietra, president of the Hollywood Independence Committee, downplayed the impact of Parks' announcement. ``When a person of his prestige comes out with statements he can't prove, it goes to the very heart of our argument. The independent new Hollywood would be safer.''

Parks offered no evidence that public safety might suffer or that jobs would be cut, but he invoked fears of the new cities contracting out for substandard police and fire service or the possibility that the Valley city might default on its alimony payments to Los Angeles.

The sentiment was echoed by the handful of business leaders at the session.

``The jobs issue is what I'm most concerned with,'' said Bertha Wellington, a travel agency owner. ``It's going to put a lot of people out of work. I don't see any other way.''

Parks and his supporters said a large percentage of city workers live in South Los Angeles and that a breakup of the city would put their jobs and the future quality of services in jeopardy.

Also on Thursday, secession played a role in a change on the City's Ethics Commission.

Uri Herscher, president and CEO of the Skirball Cultural Center, was named to the commission Thursday by City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo, replacing the Rev. Cecil ``Chip'' Murray of First AME Church.

Murray withdrew his nomination to focus on the needs of the community, police reform and anti-secession in a ``stance other than neutral,`` according to his withdrawal letter to the commission.

Murray was tapped for the seat in July to fill the spot left vacant when Valley cityhood leader David W. Fleming stepped down from the panel to take an active role in support of secession.

Also on Thursday, a new political campaign headed by City Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski, chairwoman of the council's Public Safety Committee, was formed to oppose secession, which will be Measure F on the November ballot.