Valley Secession

Re “Keep Hitting Secession, Mr. Mayor,” editorial, Jan. 27: The editorial congratulates Mayor Richard Riordan in coming out against Valley secession.

If the mayor wants to stop the move, then the Valley needs better representation. It doesn’t make sense to give Valley council members areas to represent that are not in the Valley. The City Council should rotate meetings to give Valley residents better access to what, in effect, should be townhouse meetings where citizens can be heard. They should be able to attend these meetings, find a seat and decent parking and not have to drive miles to get there.

The mayor feels that the Valley is not shortchanged on city services, which is probably correct. But the Valley and the entire city are shortchanged on proper planning and zoning and the failure to use existing powers to enforce rather inadequate planning and zoning ordinances. In my opinion, this is the real problem.

S.W. CAPLAN

Sherman Oaks