VAN NUYS — The tone was gentle, there were no threats, but the message from Mayor Richard Riordan Friday was clear: Don't split the city, fix it.
Riordan told several dozen of the the 80 commissioners he has selected from the San Fernando Valley that they should drop "disruptive" talk of political secession and focus on reforming the city charter.
That has been Riordan's public position for years, but despite the uniqueness of the forum, and Riordan's obliquely-stated efforts to rein them in, Valley secession leaders were, for the most part, undaunted.
"I don't think he picked us to be a bunch of yes-men," said Riordan's planning commission vice president Bob Scott. "So it should come as no surprise to him that we should serve the city and at the same time reserve the right to be active on behalf of our local communities."
The group, meeting at Valley Presbyterian Hospital, included a few of the most vocal supporters of efforts to split the Valley from L.A. and establish an independent city. Scott, a West Hills lawyer, is among them.
Scott, who is also a committee chairman with the secession-minded group Valley VOTE, argues there is no contradiction in his roles of commissioner and a backer of efforts to move the Valley toward secession.
But Riordan begged to differ. "Work for charter reform, not for secession," the mayor said, summing up his message to reporters after the closed meeting.
"My main message is, make the city better...and stop doing things to tear the city apart."
Standing at the mayor's elbow, Community Redevelopment Agency commissioner Keith Richman, made the point more succinctly: "You can't be on both sides of the table at the same time. I honestly look at it as insubordination."
Richman's comments underscored the mayor's view, said press secretary Noelia Rodriguez, adding that the mayor wanted to get across the message that, "there needs to be caution about speaking out of both sides of one mouth. How can you talk about charter reform and try to split up the city?"
Added Rodriguez: "As appointed city commissioners the mayor expects his city commissioners to perform in the best interest of the city of Los Angeles. Breaking up the city is something that's not in the best interest of the city."
But Rodriguez downplayed the mayor's displeasure at the secession-related activities of some commissioners, saying Riordan intended Friday's meeting as "gentle reinforcement" not threats--a reminder that commissioners should devote their talents to serving the whole city, not just the Valley.
