Secession in New York

This article is about the separation of New York State into two or more states. For the proposed separation of Staten Island from the rest of New York City, see City of Greater New York.

There are and have been several secession movements in New York state. The most prominent amongst these have been the movements for a state of New York City, a state of Long Island, a state of Niagara (Western New York), and a state of Upstate New York.

New York City secession

Proposed map of an independent New York City.

New York City secession, the secession of New York City (and possibly neighboring areas) from New York State and/or the United States, has been proposed several times in history. These movements have been in some ways just extreme manifestations of the ordinary tensions between the city area and the government based in the economically and politically distinct Upstate New York region at Albany.

Post-Revolution Era

In the battle over the ratification of the United States Constitution in 1787–1788, Governor George Clinton in Albany, wishing to preserve his independent power, led the local Anti-Federalists in opposition, with support for the Constitution coming from Alexander Hamilton and the Federalists, largely urbanites who saw opportunity in a stronger national union, and famously published as their manifesto the Federalist Papers in New York City newspapers. There was a real divide, and with the recent independence of Vermont, a real threat of secession of New York City and the southern counties to join the new Federal government. The leaders of Richmond County, which always had a somewhat ambiguous position, threatened to join New Jersey. With secession threatening to marginalize Governor Clinton and a lightly developed upstate, ratification was finally agreed and the divisional crisis passed.

Civil War Era

In the period of national crisis immediately preceding the American Civil War, Democratic Mayor Fernando Wood, widely considered the most corrupt in the city's history, proposed the secession of the city as a sovereign city-state to be called the Free City of Tri-Insula (Tri-Insula meaning "three islands" in Latin), and incorporating Manhattan, Long Island and Staten Island. In an address to the city's Common Council on January 6, 1861, Mayor Wood expressed a Copperhead sympathy with the threatened seceding states and a desire to maintain profitable cotton shipping, confidence that the city state would prosper on the import tariffs that then supplied 2/3 of the Federal revenues, and especially dissatisfaction with the state government at Albany. But the idea of leaving the United States proved too radical even in the turmoil of 1861 and was poorly received, especially after the Southern bombardment of Fort Sumter starting on April 12. The war, and especially conscription, was nevertheless often unpopular in the city, sparking the deadly New York Draft Riots.

Coincidentally, the upstate locale of Town Line, New York did vote to secede from the Union, contributing several troops to the Confederacy. Town Line did not rejoin the union until 1946; its residents paid taxes during its time "out of the union," which amounted to 85 years.^[1]

1969

Main article: New York City: the 51st State

In 1969, writer Norman Mailer and columnist Jimmy Breslin ran together on an independent ticket seeking the mayoralty and City Council Presidentship, challenging Mayor John Lindsay with an agenda to make New York City the 51st state. When questioned as to the name of the new state, Breslin said the city deserved to keep "New York" and that upstate should be renamed "Buffalo", after its largest city.

2000s

A 51-star flag.

On February 26, 2003, a bill was introduced by Astoria, Queens, Council Member Peter Vallone, Jr., and sponsored by 20 of 51 City Council members, reviving the idea of referendum for secession from New York State in the context of the red state vs. blue state divide and opposition to the policies of Governor George Pataki. A committee report was written but otherwise little action was taken, and the bill was reintroduced with one additional sponsor on the same date in 2004. Like Mayor Wood, Council Member Vallone has emphasized the fiscal benefits of secession, with revenue now derived not from tariffs, but from Wall Street. Council Member Vallone has reintroduced the bill in 2006.

In January 2008, City Council member Vallone again offered a bill for the secession of New York City from New York state. After Mayor Michael Bloomberg testified to New York state legislators that New York City gives the state $11 billion more than it gets back, Vallone stated: "If not secession, somebody please tell me what other options we have if the state is going to continue to take billions from us and give us back pennies. Should we raise taxes some more? Should we cut services some more? Or should we consider seriously going out on our own?" The New York City council planned to hold a meeting on the topic.^[2]

Long Island secession

Meanwhile, on Long Island, there have been calls for Nassau and Suffolk Counties to separate from New York State as well. Suffolk County comptroller and former state assemblyman Joseph Sawicki (a Republican) has called for a separation of Long Island from the rest of the state, saying that the region, one of the wealthiest in the state, receives only $5.2 billion in state payments and pays $8.1 billion in taxes to the state.^[3] Nassau County executive Ed Mangano came out in support of such a proposal in April 2010 and will be commissioning a study on it.^[4] Long Island even has a movement pushing for secession of the entire geographic island (Kings, Queens, Nassau, and Suffolk counties) from the United States.^[5]

Upstate secession

Areas in Western New York and the Southern Tier, such as those in this map in the contiguous red area (the red areas illustrate the counties that voted for Carl Paladino in the New York gubernatorial election, 2010), have seen the most support for an independent upstate.

A parallel Upstate New York statehood movement seeks separation due to taxation and economic concerns.^[6][7] Such proposals often include excising Albany (and presumably the Hudson River Valley) along with New York City, due to a perception that Albany is primarily controlled by politicians from the New York City area. A separate but related movement only includes Western New York (as well as sometimes portions of Central New York and the Southern Tier) in the secession efforts as an independent state or commonwealth entitled "Niagara."^[8][9]

Former State Senator and U.S. Congressman Randy Kuhl, from rural upstate Hammondsport, advocated splitting the state into "New York" and "West New York" and introduced several bills to that effect during his time in the state senate.^[6] State senators Joseph Robach, Dale Volker, and Michael Ranzenhofer, all Republicans from Western New York, proposed a nonbinding referendum to gauge support for dividing the state in November 2009.^[10] Fred Smerlas, in discussing a potential platform for a Congressional run from Western New York, stated that he would make the separation of New York City and upstate a top priority: "My first act if I ever got elected would be to take a big saw and cut New York City off."^[11]

The Public Policy Institute of New York State said in May 2004 of a potential secession: "Secession would be impossible, and the last thing New York needs is some kind of destructive Upstate-Downstate showdown. But given the prolonged lag in Upstate’s economy, it is time to think seriously about whether there is a way of restructuring the relationship to give Upstate the opportunity—indeed, the freedom—to reduce some of the disadvantages that are smothering its economy."^[7]

Counties

Peconic County

See also: Peconic County, New York

The proposed Peconic County flag showed the two forks at the east end of Long Island separated by Peconic Bay. The star on the north represents Southold. The stars on the South Fork represent Southampton and East Hampton. Riverhead is at the fork mouth and Shelter Island is between the forks.

Peconic County is a proposed new county in New York that would secede the five easternmost towns of Suffolk County: East Hampton, Riverhead, Shelter Island, Southampton and Southold, plus the Shinnecock Indian Reservation.

71 percent of the east end voters in 1997 approved a nonbinding resolution to secede. However the New York State Assembly has never approved the enabling legislation. East End newspapers speculate the Assembly is afraid it would encourage a tidal wave of secessions in the state including Staten Island seceding from New York City^[12] and perhaps even causing the division of upstate and downstate New York.

The current move to secede has not been active since 1998.

A map showing the location of Peconic County.

Cities

Staten Island secession

Main article: City of Greater New York#Staten Island secession

In 1993, Staten Island held a non-binding plebiscite on the issue of seceding from New York City to become an independent city, which was approved by the electorate.

See also

• Long Island (state)
• Urban secession
• Peconic County - proposed county for the secession of the five easternmost towns in Suffolk County, New York.
• List of U.S. state secession proposals

Notes

1. ^ Tucker, John (2011-01-18). New York town that belonged to the Confederate States of America.. WGRZ. Retrieved 2011-04-01.
2. ^ Benjamin Sarlin, A Secession Plan Is Floated for New York City, New York Sun, January 30, 2008.
3. ^ Longing for a Long Island State NY Times
4. ^ Casesse, Sid and William Murphy (2010-05-01). Nassau executive Magnano supports Long Island as 51st state. Newsday. Retrieved 2010-05-01.
5. ^ Kilgannon, Corey (2007-09-22). "What Has the Hamptons, 4 Airports and a Hankering for Independence?". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/22/nyregion/22secede.html. Retrieved 2008-08-09. 
6. ^ ^{a b} "The Big City; The Moochers From Upstate? Cut 'Em Loose", John Tierney, The New York Times, May 24, 1999
7. ^ ^{a b} "Could New York Let Upstate Be Upstate?", The Public Policy Institute of New York State, May 2004
8. ^ Thompson, Rus (2009-05). T-shirts for 51st WNY state. Albany's Insanity. Retrieved 2010-09-22.
9. ^ Marshall, Lloyd (2011-01-09). It's time for the Commonwealth of Niagara to rise. Steuben Courier. Retrieved 2011-01-09.
10. ^ Terreri, Jill (2009-11-28). Split New York state? Robach wants to know what counties think. Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. Retrieved 2009-11-30.
11. ^ George, Eli (2010-03-30). Will former Bill make a run for office? WIVB-TV. Retrieved 2010-03-30.
12. ^ Voters Vs. Politicians On Peconic County - East Hampton Star - March 5, 1998

External links and references

• Politics in New York State: Federal Period to 1800
  • Mayor Wood’s Recommendation of the Secession of New York City
• The Independent Republic of New York - New York Magazine
• Long Live the Free Republic of Gotham - New York Press
• Throwback or FutureWorld? New York City As The 51st State - Southeast Queens Press
  • Text of Vallone's bill of February 26, 2003; as reintroduced February 26, 2004; as reintroduced May 10, 2006.
  • Committee Report of May 1, 2003