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LI secession: How would it work?
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Say the improbable happens, and Albany goes along with the plan to create a Long Island secession feasibility commission. What happens next?
A 24-person bicounty commission, chaired by the Nassau and Suffolk county executives, would develop a report to be presented to the state Legislature by July 1, 2010, according to the legislation. A statewide referendum on Long Island secession, whose result would be nonbinding on the Legislature, would be on the ballot that November.
If, convinced of the merits of Long Island secession by the findings of the commission and the opinion of residents, Albany agrees to divorce the Island, the plan then goes before Congress, according to Dowling College economist Martin Cantor, a standard bearer for the secession movement.
And if gaining Albany's support is "an uphill battle," as proponent county Comptroller Joe Sawicki Jr. says, the trek to win Uncle Sam's approval may become nearly vertical.
Federal lawmakers have long battled over offering the District of Columbia a single voting U.S. representative. While the number of Congressmen and women, based on population, is unlikely to change if New York subdivides, Washington would have to acquiesce to expanding the number of significantly more powerful senators by two, to 102.
Plus, given Island voting demographics, those senators would be perceived as likely to both be Democrats, meaning across-the-board Republican opposition to Long Island as state number 51 is virtually guaranteed.
But, assuming a GOP still in the minority, let's say Washington agrees. Long Island would be the 19th largest state in terms of population, and 10th in economic production.
Proponents expect that, at minimum, Nassau and Suffolk governments would fold into a single state system and county level officials and services would be abolished. The counties already duplicate many state governments and agencies, but Long Island would still need to create a few, including a state courts system and department of motor vehicles. Plus, any secession deal would likely have the Island buy the numerous parks, roads, bridges and buildings New York owns within its borders.
But Long Islanders would have their $3 billion lost to Albany back. Is it worth it?
Yes, Cantor argues. "There's plenty of good information to suggest that savings will be significant and taxes will be lowered," he said.
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