“Good morning everyone and welcome to the heart of the valley,” said Councilmember Imelda Padilla (CD6). “I’m very proud to have delivered on this pledge to bring back government to the 1.8 million residents who call the San Fernando Valley home and make local government more accessible to the people.”
On Friday, Jan. 26, the Los Angeles City Council meetings returned to the Van Nuys City Hall for the first time in four years, since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The motion to bring the council back to the San Fernando Valley was Padilla’s first piece of legislation, which she introduced on her first day in office alongside Council President Paul Krekorian (CD2).
“I want to thank Imelda Padilla for bringing this motion into place,” said Raymond Duran, president of the Arleta Neighborhood Council. “A lot of our constituents in our community think this is important. They have a hard time getting to [downtown] LA … and this will be a great opportunity for them to attend these meetings and get more involved.”
The celebration honored presidents and officers from neighborhood councils, leaders of local neighborhood watch groups and community organizations from the 6th District – who expressed their gratitude for bringing recognition to the valley.
“This will be a very tangible way of bringing people and having them know that their issues can be heard if they come here on a Friday morning periodically, so we really appreciate it,” said Kathy Shreiner, president of the Van Nuys Neighborhood Council.
Multiple councilmembers weighed in, congratulating Padilla on her efforts to make government accessible for her constituents.
“A slogan that I always say is, ‘We should be bringing government to the people.’ Because you should feel like you’re part of it, that you should have a voice, that we care about you,” said Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez (CD13). “And I know oftentimes, that is not felt here in the Valley.”
In the past, many valley residents have felt underrepresented in the city of LA. In 2002, there was even a campaign to secede from LA and make the San Fernando Valley its own incorporated city. With around 1.8 million residents, if the San Fernando Valley were a city, it would be the fifth largest in the U.S.
Today, the majority, around 80%, of the valley remains part of the city of LA.
“Everyone forgets the San Fernando Valley represents nearly half the population of the city of Los Angeles. And it is absolutely imperative that we make government more accessible here in the San Fernando Valley,” said Councilmember Monica Rodriguez (CD7).
Nearly 40% of all LA residents reside in the San Fernando Valley.
“Thank you all very much for your partnership and collaboration, to ensuring that we make sure that the Valley continues to have a very strong voice,” said Rodriguez.
The celebration concluded by honoring Robert Sharp, a 100-year-old World War II veteran and resident of Arleta.
“I know you’re here not to honor me, but to honor 100 years of this country’s growth,” said Sharp modestly.
Padilla closed her remarks by directly addressing the other councilmembers in the chamber.
“When you look at the individuals behind me I hope you see who motivates me, what motivates me, how I get my work done, how I get inspired,” said Padilla about the various representatives of the San Fernando Valley surrounding her.
“We are a very diverse district. We look like all of Los Angeles.”