Press release:
Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) today criticized the Legislature for focusing its efforts on aid to New York City and disregarding the needs of Upstate New York.
Throughout his time in the Assembly, Hawley has been an outspoken proponent of “Two New Yorks” legislation, which would allow for a ballot referendum on the question, “Do you support the division of New York into two separate states?”
“The longer I serve the people of Western New York, the more apparent the growing divide between Upstate and Downstate becomes,” Hawley said. “Things like unfunded mandates and property taxes do not matter to many New York City residents, and they reflect those views through their votes and the bills they introduce and sponsor.
"I have introduced legislation, A.4167, with Sen. Joseph Robach (R,C,I-Rochester) to give New Yorkers a choice. It is well past time for the Legislature to put this measure up for a vote.”
Blatant and crass appeal for
Blatant and crass appeal for votes in the next election. The fine Assemblyman conveniently forgets to leave out the fact that THE CITIZENS OF THE OTHER 49 STATES HAVE A SAY IN WHETHER A STATE SPLITS. (sorry 'bout the screaming - kinda let loose when extreme stupidity from a politician hits).
California and probably 4 or 12 other states have sections that feel they are poorly represented, and quite frankly many of them probably are. But the reality is that no single group can declare "we're our own state now!"
Mr. Hawley should spend his time on useful activities - such as trying to convince his downstate colleagues that they do not represent the only folks in New York.
I suggested this very issue
I suggested this very issue to Mike R over three years ago. He wrote me back and said it was an interesting idea. Two completely different areas with completely different needs and Government. We do not care about 2 liter bottles of pop, and I am sure NYC could care less about a stadium in Buffalo. We really need two different Budgets. Many States divide their State Police into areas. Why should we be funding the Tapanzee Bridge?? Do we get any of the outrageous Tolls for crossing it?? NO !! of course not. So yes Mr Hawley I agree with you, but I am afraid the votes from NYC would almost overwhelmingly be against it, and again we will suffer.
This is a completely asinine
This is a completely asinine proposal by someone pandering to his constituency. I really see no need for this Steve....you know you're going to be re-elected next time you run simply by virtue of the fact that you're a republican.
At least you should be honest when you propose something as idiotic as this. Anyone who knows ANYTHING about this issue knows full well that the state derives MUCH more benefit from the NYC area than the other way around.
Why don't you simply be honest? This is about guns and fracking.
As to the former...we all have plenty of guns and no one is coming to take them from us.
As to the latter, I don't see the need to pollute our ground water in the pursuit of more natural gas that we don't currently need. If the natural gas supply were to diminish to the point where additional exploration would be required, that could be revisited but at the moment it's completely unnecessary.
So just keep collecting your $85K salary for doing what you do and don't waste our time with ridiculous crap such as this proposal.
How much will this proposed
How much will this proposed "tilting at windmills" ballot effort COST, Mr. Hawley? Perhaps you can convince yourself and all the rest of your party's delegation to kick in their full salaries for the next twenty years or so to pay for it? I want to secede from your district!
This will happen.
This will happen.
Not in our lifetime, but someday, it will happen.
Will we have to pay royalties
Will we have to pay royalties to Futurama when we become New New York?
@Raymond Richardson. You are
@Raymond Richardson. You are dreaming if you think that will EVER happen.
Stop drinking Steve's Kool-Ade.
Apparently, some of you don't
Apparently, some of you don't quite get what Raymond was saying.
He very carefully covered himself by saying "not in our lifetime".
That way, it doesn't matter whether you're 76, 52, or even 6 years-old - Until your death, you won't know if it'll ever happen.
I certainly wouldn't rule out EVER. Who knows what might happen in 50, or 100, or 500 years?
While I like the idea, as do
While I like the idea, as do many around here, I doubt it will happen. Congress is not likely to approve it, even if Albany didn't. Too many other states, like California and New Jersey have the same issues we do and have areas that want to break away. Congress is not likely to approve just one State splitting. To allow all areas that want to become their own states could add a minimum of 3-4 more states. Just not going to happen.
This is not about if it
This is not about if it happens, this is another tool to make downstate state aware that the rest of New York isn't going stand for this anymore.
" Anyone who knows ANYTHING about this issue knows full well that the state derives MUCH more benefit from the NYC area than the other way around", Dave, can you share some links from NON-PARTISAN reputable sources ?
Educate me.
Speaking to the whether the other 49 states would vote for upstate as our 51st state ... don't be so sure they won't. A split New York is on the minds of Americans who also want fair representation.
The problem I have is we may
The problem I have is we may fix this or not with splitting the state. But then what we are still governed by a system where fair representation is still not common. We might have a bigger voice in things, but the system will still be broken.
It does no good to put a band-aid on a broken leg. I'm not going any farther than that as I don't have any ideas on how to FIX the system as of now but we do need to acknowledge it's very broken, before we can fix it.
Steve that should have been
Steve that should have been done 50 years ago!
A readable take on the idea
A readable take on the idea of two New Yorks: http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/08/29/3000-tea-partiers-and-oath-keep…
Actually, that's a rather
Actually, that's a rather simplistic strawman take on New York secessionists, which have been a part of the upstate landscape for a lot longer than Cuomo has been in office.