Clarifying Secession

Re “Panel Studying Valley Split Abruptly Scales Back Plan” (Oct. 6) and “Valley City Would Be Reliant on L.A.” (Oct. 7):

It appears that the Valley secessionists have taken a few pages from the Quebec separatists’ playbook. In 1980, the Quebec government tried to sell independence as “sovereignty-association” with Canada. In 1995, independence was sold as “a new economic partnership between Quebec and Canada.” The Quebec government knew it could never sell full, complete independence. That is why it asked a less-than-clear question at the ballot box. L.A. Councilman Hal Bernson is correct in saying that the current plan proposed by the Local Agency Formation Commission may be very confusing and difficult for the voter to understand.

John Franta

Huntington Beach