Commentary/16″/dt1st/mark2nd By BRUCE L. BIALOSKY The city of Los Angeles made major progress toward improving the governmental operations for all Angelenos by the approval of a new charter. While the charter heads toward a more responsive government, we in the Valley need to continue toward determining our own future. The charter that was passed answered some of the questions that we need for better operation of our city. It was passed with a significant majority of the voters, but remember, it was the only alternative on the ballot. The biggest question was not answered should the Valley continue toward the path of cityhood? The answer remains a resounding yes. Let us recall that charter reform would not have existed without the cityhood movement in the Valley and other parts of the city. That gave Mayor Riordan the ability to coalesce support for revising a charter that was a hindrance to good government. Unfortunately, because of the forces against change he was only able to get a document that very marginally improved operations. Those improvements still have to get through a City Council and bureaucracy more interested in self-preservation than service to their customers. Most of all, it did not deal with the major concerns of the Valley and the businesses that support our residents. The Valley business community is in direct competition with many businesses sitting just outside its borders. Those businesses have significantly lower business taxes. They have better paved streets. They have amenities such as parks and libraries that offer better services without the bonded indebtedness that Valley business has incurred of late. They have council members they can get on the telephone when they have a problem they must address. The best way to battle these inequities is to support the study to be done by the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO). More than 200,000 Valley residents signed a petition that requires LAFCO to perform a study of the viability of Valley cityhood. This study will unlock some of the answers to the great inefficiencies of Los Angeles municipal government. To provide a preview of what may be found in this study, let us just look at the initial phase. LAFCO requested a report to establish the criteria, procedures and costs of performing this study. The report came back with an astronomical cost. The main cost factor was that the city has no inventory of its assets. We are not speaking of brooms and rakes we are talking about trucks and buildings. Just think how many of these could be sold once we find out how many are dormant, and have been for ages. The study will provide a comprehensive audit of the city’s assets, liabilities and costs. It will provide detailed knowledge of many aspects of the city’s operations that have been kept behind closed doors. We may even be able to determine why the city has the highest tax rates in the local area with the lowest level of basic services. The study will determine the viability of Valley cityhood from an economic and governmental viewpoint. What is clear is that if the study gives a go ahead to an election for Valley cityhood, then the Valley will be ready to take on the challenge. The Valley, which used to be a bedroom community, has now grown up and is ready to control its own destiny. It has one of the strongest business communities in the country with a diverse resident base. If the time comes, the Valley will be ready, willing and able to establish a government that is less costly and more responsive. The business community in the Valley and all residents can only win as this process moves forward. We will have a municipal government more concerned with our needs than that of the bureaucrats. Bruce L. Bialosky, CPA is on the board of directors of Valley Voters Organized Toward Empowerment, the group spearheading the drive to study Valley secession.
