Staten Island (SI), New York City Councilman Joe Borelli (R-51st District, SI South Shore) will formally introduce Legislation in the City Council that would put together a Task Force to Study whether Staten Island could Secede from New York City.
The Bill is being Co-Sponsored by Councilman Minority Leader Steven Matteo (R-50th District, SI Mid Island) and other SI Leaders like SI Borough President James Oddo (R) also support the legislation.
But the Legislation is moving forward Without the Support of Fellow Island City Councilmember Debi Rose (D-49th District, SI North Shore), whose Office says was Not contacted by Borelli to Sign on as a Co-Sponsor of the bill and does Not support his Legislation nor the Prospect of Staten Island Seceding.
Under Borelli's Legislation, the Secession Task Force would be Comprised of: the Borough Presidents of each of the Five Boroughs; the Chair of the City's Planning Commission; the NYC Comptroller; the School's Chancellor; the Commissioner of the Office of Emergency Management; the Staten Island Borough Commissioner for the Department of Transportation; and Representatives from All of the SI's Community Boards.
Borelli said the Commission would then have 18 months to put together Data showing the 'impact and viability' of Secession and then pitch their Findings to the City Council.
“I am introducing this legislation (Tuesday) to get the process started and take the first step toward a true, thorough, and open assessment that the people of Staten Island and New York City can use as a blueprint for making an informed decision on any future ballot proposals for Staten Island to become an independent city,” Borelli said.
“With nearly 500,000 residents, Staten Island would be the second largest city in New York, at about double the size of the third largest, Buffalo. We are on the short end of any net positives coming out of city hall like major infrastructure, transportation infrastructure, fast ferries, and subways, and we almost always represent a disproportionate share of generating revenue for New York City. Maybe it’s time that we make a serious effort to distance ourselves from city hall and to put Staten Island first,” Borelli continued.
SI tried to Secede from New York City in 1989. That year, the State Legislature Passed a Measure Signed by then Gov. Mario Cuomo Authorizing a Study and Initiating the Process for SI to Secede from New York City on the Last day of its Legislative Session. SI Voters Voted Overwhelmingly in Favor, 83%, of a Secession Study and by 1991, Cuomo Swore In a New York State Charter Commission for Staten Island.
Two years later, in 1993, Staten Islanders Approved, 65%, a Non-Binding Referendum to Secede from New York City and the State Senate also Approved a Secession Bill.
But those efforts came to a Halt when former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D) Refused to allow a similar Measure to be Voted on in the Assembly without a “Home Rule Message” from New York City. The City never held a Secession Vote and the Measure for SI to Secede Died in Committee.
It’s still unclear whether Borelli’s Secession Push today will get anywhere. Similar to the Decades-old Fight, Borelli said Seceding would Require a Home Rule Approval from the City and the State would need to be On Board too because Only the State Legislature can Form or Abolish a County.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) is Vehemently Opposed to SI Seceding from the Rest of the City and City Council Speaker Corey Johnson (D-3rd District) has left little doubt that he would Oppose Secession Efforts.
“Secession is a complicated undertaking and any talk of moving forward must first begin with the need to fully understand the costs and consequences. Empaneling a task force to study this issue can help inform us whether this is feasible and give us a more comprehensive picture of what an independent Staten Island may look like,” said Matteo.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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