Letters from Staten Island politicians calling for secession from New York City
The Issue: Staten Island politicians renewing calls for the borough to secede from New York City.
Secession is not the best option for Staten Island (“NYC-Ya!” Aug. 31).
As an independent county, we would lose the NYPD, FDNY, Department of Education and many other services from New York City.
The migrant issues we’re facing most likely will affect the borough in years to come, but jumping ship and being independent of the services needed here isn’t going to remedy our current situation.
Robert Deutchman
Staten Island
The last person Staten Islanders want to see representing us on the front page of The Post is liberal elitist Pete Davidson.
We are the New York City home of cops, firemen, sanitation workers and conservative teachers who believe in America first.
On 9/11, we are the borough that suffered the largest percentage of deaths in the FDNY.
Our streets are safer than the other four boroughs’, our schools are safer than the other four boroughs’, and our neighborhoods are still that — neighborhoods, where you know and like your neighbors. In short, a place people want live and raise a family.
Joe Nugent
Staten Island
“Staten cry for SI-onara!” (Aug. 31) is old news.
The secession of Staten Island has been advocated by Richmond County elected officials going back generations, even before Rep. Nicole Malliotakis was born.
A favorable home rule message from Albany is needed. This requires the support of Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie. He and his predecessors, for decades, have consistently denied this request for liberty.
Heastie controls 104 or more of 150 votes in the Assembly, of which only four come from Richmond County.
Staten Island will never achieve political independence without the removal of Heastie as Assembly speaker. It can only be accomplished by Republicans regaining control of the Assembly and the state Senate.
The last GOP Assembly speaker was Perry Duryea, who served from 1969 to 1973. The resignation of President Richard Nixon as a result of Watergate created a tidal wave in the 1974 election, which resulted in Democrats gaining control of the Assembly, going on 48 years.
Larry Penner
Great Neck
Staten Island is the Texas of New York — whining that they should secede.
Proponents of the idea talk big, but when the reality of the financial burden of not being in the United States (or New York City in this case) is brought to light, they tuck their tails and shut up about it — right up until the next time they get frustrated by being a part of such a liberal country/city, raise their hackles again, then get beaten down again by objective reality.
If Staten Island does secede, Malliotakis will then wonder why all the infrastructure that is maintained by being part of New York City suddenly starts falling apart.
Fredrick Beondo
Richmond Hill
I fully support Staten Island’s call for a separation from the Big Apple.
The progressive liberal sickness that has taken over the city is not consistent with the more conservative leanings of Staten Island residents.
The moronic (non)-immigration policy of the White House, and the city’s mishandling of that policy, should not be imposed on the residents of Staten Island.
In fact, Nassau and Suffolk counties should follow suit — along with upstate New York.
Robert Mangi
Westbury
Who can blame Staten Island for wanting to secede from liberal New York City?
Sanctuary cities are looking more like refugee camps with tent cities and people sleeping, urinating and defecating in the streets. And it must stink to high heaven.
The United States simply doesn’t have the resources to handle the continuous flow of migrants. It’s costing taxpayers billions.
Sheer lunacy is keeping our border open. And another four years of our current regime will put our country into further decline.
JoAnn Lee Frank
Clearwater, Fla.
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