[Argus]

As a pro-secession resident of The Valley, I wish we could separate from California as well, but unfortunately they've got us surrounded. What's worse, the Valley has become increasingly liberal over the years and is now almost (but not quite) as loony as LA itself. The real issue is local representation. When the closest elected representative is a city council member with 250,000 people in his district, most of whom don't even live in the same area, this is not a democracy, it's a collection of feudal baronies. That's why it will be so tough to break up, but it's got to be done.

[glorgau]

15 Councilmen? (sorry Council People). Chicago has 50 aldermen. While mostly crooked, they do respond to neighborhood complaints. Generally, if they are not on the ball, they will get replaced.

[Dog Gone]

Would secession save money in taxes? My guess is that it wouldn't, because the newly independent entity would just love to spend some money on local projects.

[monkeyshine]

I was born in the city, but grew up in the Valley. I moved back to the city at age 18 and only go into the valley to visit family (or to go through it). But I am pro-secession for the Valley. It is it's own place, and as you said, the political system is not very representative at all. A collection of councilmembers from the other side(s) of the hills will always screw the Valley out of it's fair share either intentionally or by lack of understanding. LA is simply too big a place to manage.