Supporters of secession undeterred by loss

Propositions F and H, meant to break the San Fernando Valley and
Hollywood from Los Angeles, may have failed to pass in
Tuesday’s elections, but do not expect proponents of
secession to start singing Randy Newman’s “I Love
L.A.” just yet.

Many secessionists, while discouraged by the outcome at the
polls, maintain that their fight to separate from Los Angeles. is
far from over.

The measures lost in Tuesday’s elections by large margins
in the city. The valley measure barely won support within its own
boundaries by securing only 51 percent approval. The Hollywood
measure failed with Hollywood voters.

“We have to realize that this movement does not end with
this election,” said Carlos Ferreyra, co-chair of the San
Fernando Valley Independence Committee, the organization which put
the measures on the ballot.

While the options of how to act next are still being discussed,
at least one secession supporter, Richard Close, plans to file a
lawsuit in order to have non-Valley and Hollywood votes discounted
from the election.

Others are also expected to file suits, and some advocates are
considering requesting state legislature change current laws to
make seceding easier in future elections, should the lawsuits be
unsuccessful.

Meanwhile, Los Angeles Mayor James Hahn has already suggested he
will propose legislation to make secession harder to achieve in
future elections.

He said Wednesday that in order to better integrate leaders in
the Valley and Hollywood in the future he will meet with them in
December.

Many secession leaders remain undeterred by the poll results,
believing that their movement was damaged by insufficient funds and
Hahn’s fight to keep Los Angeles together ““ which
Ferreyra dubs a “campaign of fear” ““ rather than
by unreceptive voters.

Ferreyra argued money was the main reason secession did not
pass, as the campaign was heavily out-spent ““ $5 million for
secession to $750 million against it ““ and they could not
afford any television commercials to counterbalance claims made in
advertisements for the opposition.

“It is not a case of people not voting (to secede), but
how a campaign of lies and fear can defeat a movement,” he
said.

Yet, legal wrangling with the city and a general lack of
interest in the campaign may mean some secessionist coalitions and
alliances will ultimately abandon their current plans and instead
focus on garnering more money, social projects and attention from
City Hall.

Coupled with the fact that the measures barely passed among
Valley voters and failed among those in Hollywood, gaining citywide
support in future secession measures could be unlikely.

“There was no point in us seceding because it would have
cost too much and there wouldn’t have been any real
benefits,” said Nisreen Habbal, a first-year undeclared
student from the Valley.

Instead, some residents believe the campaign should consider a
new approach that would not require a complete break with the
city.

“I would really like them to investigate coming at the
issue in a different way; possibly the idea of boroughs, wherein
there is more localized control,” said Ellen Hazeltine, a
Valley resident for nearly 20 years who voted for secession.

The candidates vying for various positions within the proposed
Valley and Hollywood governments are also reexamining their
futures.

Some, such as Scott Svonkin, a Valley city council candidate,
are hoping the election will provide them the exposure to pursue
candidacy in future local and state elections.

In fact, the secession movement seemed to begin fading even
before elections were held.

Many of the campaigns aimed at attracting voters towards
secession were marred by a lack of interest among voters and
lackluster participation among proponents of the measures and
volunteers.

Rallies planned for the final weekend before elections were
canceled and few events aimed at attracting voters were held
outside the Valley and Hollywood.

Some leaders believe that the campaign lost momentum when it
became media-heavy and moved away from its grassroots base,
alienating some voters.

Most proponents believe, however, that irrespective of whether
or not secession does take place, changes must be made in how the
Valley and Hollywood are represented and these measures, though
unsuccessful, will be catalysts for such change.

“Los Angeles will never be the same after this, regardless
of what happens in the election,” said Ferreyra.