Talk of Staten Island secession is back in the news. Nicole Malliotakis, the Republican congresswoman representing the borough and parts of southern Brooklyn, said that the migrant crisis should prompt Staten Islanders to break away from New York City entirely.
“If you’re not gonna do your job, mayor, then let Staten Island secede,” she said at a rally last week opposing a small shelter for asylum-seekers that city officials opened on the island. “We didn’t vote for your policies. We should not be subjected to your policies, and we’re gonna keep on turning out. Let Staten Island secede.”
We didn’t vote for your policies. We should not be subjected to your policies
Yeah, that’s not how democracy works.
While true, self determination is important to a degree. I’d wager there would be some brexit-like regret here if SI left NYC, I can see why a sophomoric analysis could be that being lumped with the other boroughs removes there self determination.
While the island wasn’t part of some gerrandering plot to be watered down democratically by NYC, I can see why they might feel the same way a city in a red state, split into two red districts might feel.
It’s similar to the Texans calling for secession. They want all of the benefits of independence, without any of the burdens.
To be clear, I think they’re just talking abour seceding from New York state, not the USA which is what Texas was talking about. I think Staten Island is advocating to become their own state, although I might be wrong.
You are wrong, this is about seceding from New York City. NYC is currently composed of five boroughs, and Staten Island is one of them. So they want to separate from the city (and all that sweet Wall St. Tax revenue) and pay for their local government themselves.
Although I wouldn’t be surprised if they thought about leaving New York State, too. Maybe New Jersey would take them. Not sure if they would consider that an improvement though. Perhaps they should become an exclave of Florida, most of them will retire there anyway so it saves a step.
New Jersey would never take them, trust me.
OK, so this is even less like Texas. There’s a pretty big difference between “We should secede from the US” and “We should be our own city outside this other cities jurisdiction”.
It’s obviously a difference of scale, but the point I was trying to make is that both groups talk about secession because they don’t like specific policies that are affecting them in ways they don’t like, while seemingly ignoring the broader macro-scale problems that they would cause for themselves if they actually went through with it. (The article is specifically about these problems as they relate to Staten Island seceding from NYC.)
They want to secede from NYC and become their own city with their own mayor.
As a transplant from Brooklyn, I’d much rather stay a part of NYC. Maybe the racists can just like…leave?
I doubt it would happen but as someone with no connection to Staten Island it would be fun to watch it play out.
I can’t imagine that working out well for Staten Island.
You listening Huston?
