Dividing Los Angeles into Two Pieces

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There are two propositions on November Ballot to secede San Fernando Valley and Hollywood from City of Los Angeles.

The proponents of cessation argue that City officials have failed to provide adequate services for these two areas despite of collecting taxes. It seems that these groups have a valid argument. Indeed the City Officials have failed in many areas of Los Angeles and neglect is quite obvious.

But is chopping up the 2nd largest city in the nation the solution? Perhaps not. Does one cut off his/her hand when it is broken? No! he/she will seek treatment for the hand. The same argument could be applied to the city situation. Instead of chopping the city into pieces, perhaps we should repair the city government by removing the incompetent and useless city officials who have failed so miserably to provide services and make the entire city a better place for all.

Los Angeles city is a powerhouse city. It is the 2nd largest city in the nation and with that comes a lot of prestige, financial benefits and employment. If San Fernando Valley secedes and becomes an incorporated city, Los Angeles becomes the 3rd largest city and new San Fernando City will become the 6th largest city.

Now then take into consideration the cessation of Hollywood, which will make city of Los Angeles smaller. Of course, other areas of Los Angeles such as East Los Angeles, West Los Angeles, Hancock Park, Watts, San Pedro, etc. may decide to do the same. As more areas decide to secede from Los Angeles, the city of Los Angeles becomes smaller and smaller and less important.

The corporation will either move their headquarters out of Los Angeles or will not move in at all. Corporations moving out means loss of jobs. Corporations not moving in means loss of opportunity to increase employment in Los Angeles. Of course there are other financial losses beside employment such as loss of revenue for the city and so on.

Would the cessation help San Fernando or Hollywood? Probably not. These two areas lack infrastructures in order to be able to provide adequate services to their residents. It will cost substantial amount to either create or contract out these services.

As to the police and law enforcement, as it is, the City of Los Angeles suffers from shortage of police officers, she cannot hire enough police officers. How could the new city do? City of Los Angeles cannot provide security for these newly incorporated cities and Los Angeles Sheriff Department does not have enough resources to provide law enforcement services. Besides the Los Angeles Sheriff department has over $50 million budget deficit and had to release some criminals from jail sooner than they were supposed to.

The city officials have voted to revamp 19 blocks near Staple Centers by building a new football stadium, hotels, restaurants and other shopping and entertainment centers. This is insane, given the traffic problem in downtown LA. All we need is another stadium to make the downtown freeways twenty-four hour a day parking lots. Cessation may sounds good, but may not work.

A better idea would be to build the football stadium in San Fernando Valley along with the hotels, restaurant, etc. to create more jobs and increase the financial base for the area, which will bring the services, San Fernando Valley has been asking for.

What downtown LA needs a good clean up, not more stadiums. The project will only push the homelessness a few blocks away. It seems special interests and some city officials are in cahoots for this project.

Let’s keep the city together and instead get rid of the incompetent city officials. Togetherness is the key to success, not division.