It worked that one time
Noted: The only successful attempt at secession from the State of New York was the split by Vermont in 1777. The Green Mountain state's exit from New York put in an odd spot given all that was going on at the time (you know, the Revolutionary War and all that) -- and during the state during that period has come to be known as the Vermont Republic. [via @JonCampbellGAN] Earlier: What if Upstate New York and Downstate New York were separate states?
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Maybe someone can answer this for me... has there been a successful succession attempt in the entire US at the city-or-higher level in the last... 100 years? Is it any wonder that the threats of succession are usually met with eye rolling? A quick scan of Wikipedia would make it look like the answer is 'no'.
This is pretty interesting though:
There was an attempt by Staten Island to break away from New York City in the late 1980s and early 1990s, leading to a 1993 referendum, in which 65% voted to secede. Implementation was blocked in the State Assembly by assertions that the state's constitution required a "home rule message" from New York City.
Soooooooo... good luck, Southern Tier.
... said Paul on Mar 2, 2015 at 3:01 PM | link
North New York and South New York. Put it on a public poll, and a public vote, no Districts or Representatives involved, just residents as constituents. I would bet over 75% population of every county above and west of Duchess would secede!!
... said Sue on Mar 2, 2015 at 5:10 PM | link
Sounds good in theory, but...every time folks move to a low tax town from a neighboring high tax town, taxes swell over time because people can get enough of those amenities that account for the taxes (just look at Clifton Park, a low tax heaven in the late '90's into the 2000's whose now modernizing the school, has a library, starting to pour funding into parks and rec--and in the not too distant future will have high taxes like Colonie). Counties north of Westchester also seem to discount the amount of $$ downstate pours into the system and doesn't necessarily get back. They'd have to make it up somehow and don't think a little fracking will be the answer.
... said Rich on Mar 3, 2015 at 9:04 AM | link