Those and other questions will be examined during a community forum on Valley secession on Wednesday, June 12, at Cal State Northridge.

The discussion will take place from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center on the east side of the campus off Zelzah Avenue. Parking is available in Lot G4 off Zelzah.

Taking part in the forum are Los Angeles City Councilwoman Wendy Greuel and Julie Butcher, general manager for Service Employees International Union Local 347, who have both publicly voiced their opposition to secession, and former state Assemblywoman Paula Boland and former state Assemblyman Richard Katz, co-chair of Valley VOTE, who support the effort.

The forum will be broadcast live on radio station KCRW's (89.9-FM) public affairs show "Which Way, LA?"

Martin Saiz, director of CSUN's Center for Southern California Studies, which is organizing the event, said it was only natural that a debate on secession take place at the university.

"It fits within the mission of the center, which is to educate the public about the issues facing Southern California," Saiz said. "The issues raised by the proposed secession of the San Fernando Valley from Los Angeles are important to the future of the area, and need to be examined."

For more information about the forum, call CSUN's Center for Southern California Studies at (818) 677-6518.