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.”
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.