ValleyIndependence.net 

 

November 5, 2002, vote yes for Valley Independence from Los Angeles!  

Earl Howard for San Fernando Valley City Council
Another Democrat for Valley Independence 
 North Hollywood Area District 12

Click to Make Selection
   

BENEFITS OF A NEW VALLEY CITY

The More Truth You Know About It, The More You'll Like It!

Now that the question of Valley Independence is cleared for the November 5, 2002 ballot, its time to focus on the benefits of a new Valley City. We encourage everyone to read the actual LAFCO Resolution, which is what you, as voters will be voting on in November. The resolution spells out all the terms and condition for the creation of the new city and the allocation of assets, revenues, services and personnel. If approved it becomes the Law that the new and old city must comply with and it provides. We also encourage you to read the final executive officer’s report and budget for the new City. The LAFCO final resolution and reports can be found at http://valleyvote.org/LAFCOStudydocs.htm. If you read these reports you will find that NONE of the doom and gloom claims made by the anti-Valley campaign of Larry Levine, Jeff Daar or Mayor Hahn are valid. In fact, the more “truth” you know about Valley Cityhood, the more you will like it. 

A vote for an independent Valley City is a vote for: 

  • Local Control – local priorities such as public safety, traffic, gangs, graffiti, planning, better
    schools, creating a more inviting business environment, and solving neighborhood problems can be met. 

  • Keeping Valley Taxes in the Valley – As an independent city the Valley will get to keep an extra 1.3 billion dollars it already pays in just the first 20 years. LAFCO has determined that the Valley currently pays $128 million more in taxes than we get back in services each year. Over 20 years if we stay with LA that will be $2.6 billion dollars. The LAFCO resolution provides that if we become a city the $128 million per year will be reduced by 5% per year over 20 years until it is zero. This gives LA City Hall 20 years to adjust its budget by 2%. (This year they had one year to adjust their budget by 5% due to revenue shortfalls and did so without raising taxes or reducing services so 2% over 20 years is certainly doable) If the Valley becomes a city, Valley residents will have an additional 1.3 Billion dollars to work with. It is money we currently pay, but don’t get to keep. $1.3 Billion is a lot of money that can pay for increased police protection, cleaner streets, paramedics, increase services for the needy, attract business and jobs back, or address other important Valley priorities.

  • Smaller more efficient and accountable government – research shows that smaller cities are more efficient. San Diego, Phoenix, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio all large southwest cities closer in size to the Valley on average operate for 80% of what LA costs to operate. Smaller Cities like Burbank, Glendale, West Hollywood, etc. operate for about half of what LA costs to operate.

  • Smaller Council Districts –Valley Council districts will be small and compact with only 95,000 residents in each. This will allow your councilperson to focus on your local problems. Los Angeles City Councilpersons represent 250,000 people.

  • Lower Taxes – LAFCO has confirmed that taxes in the new Valley City will be reduced by $30 million per year through the discontinuation of the City of LA documentary transfer tax. Even after this tax cut LAFCO has confirmed that the Valley City will have a healthy 5% annual reserve.

  • Better Neighborhood Police Protection – the Valley currently receives only half the police protection on a per capita basis than the rest of Los Angeles. We have 1.1 officers per thousand residents; they have 2.2 officers per thousand residents. Furthermore, there are only 5 police stations in the Valley half of LA, but 13 police stations in the other half. More than ten years ago Valley residents approved a bond to fund construction of a sixth Valley police station yet construction still has not even begun. Meanwhile, violent crime this year in the Valley is up 80%!!!

  • A Valley City will lead to better schools – Opponents are wrong when they say a new City will not have anything to do with improving education. LAUSD is created under the LA City Charter yet the council members and Mayor disavow any ability to address the quality of education in Los Angeles. As our own Valley City our Mayor and Council will be outspoken on reforms and improvements for the Valley Schools. If reforms do not materialize then as a separate City we will be in a much stronger position to create a separate Valley School District. We will protect the teachers and employees just as we did the City employees. Mayor Hahn opposes breaking up the school district too, so as long as we belong to Los Angeles City we will never have our own school District.

  • Improved Housing and Economic Development – The City of Los Angeles spends only 1% of the City’s budget for the poor and needy. That is why the problem is getting worse not better. Other cities spend much more – Glendale 20%, Burbank 13%. A Valley City will make more money available so that Valley residents have decent housing, better jobs, and job training other programs to help those in need. Remember, if we create our own city we will get to keep an additional 1.3 Billion dollars that we already pay, some of which could pay for housing programs and toward economic development.

  • Reduced cost of doing business – A Valley City will work to create a more vibrant healthy business environment. The Los Angeles City oppressive gross receipts tax is chasing good business and jobs out of the LA and the Valley to other cities. There are virtually no Fortune 500 companies left. Mayor after Mayor talk about fixing this, but nothing ever happens. VICA and other Valley business groups have complained for years. As a Valley City we have an opportunity to cut this business tax.

  • More Federal and State Grants for Valley Communities and Organizations – As a Valley City we can go to the Federal and State government for our own grants that stay in the Valley. Currently, only a small portion of grants that come to Los Angeles City flow to the Valley. Many times none come to the Valley because of guidelines that require areas within a city to be contiguous. San Diego and Phoenix, both the size of the Valley get more money in grants per capital than L.A. does. A Valley City will mean more total dollars in grants will come to the Region.

  • A better Quality of Life – All of the above will result in a substantial improvement in the lives of Valley residents. Residents of a smaller Los Angeles will reap all of these same benefits. Over the coming weeks and months we will continue to provide more information through a series of white papers address each of the areas residents have asked about including rent control and the job and benefit protections for city employees.