1.   He said he is aware of the secession issue but is not sure what to make of it.

2.   He said he is neutral on the secession issue.

3.   LAFCO is the county agency charged with studying the secession issue, helping to shape a cityhood proposal and ultimately deciding whether it should be on the ballot.

4.   Middlebrook said Hahn remains steadfastly committed to a November vote on the secession issue.

5.   Some experts and community leaders have described the secession issue as a sign that socioeconomic differences now exert more influence over how Hispanics vote than mere ethnic identity.

6.   The amendments call for lifting the veto statewide and for the formation of a commission to study secession issues or any proposal for detaching territory from a city.

7.   The San Fernando Valley secession issue is ripe for litigation, legal experts say.

8.   The backlash over the secession issue hit a top League figure, Irene Pivetti, who is president of the Chamber of Deputies and a fervent Church supporter.