The state of New York really should be two separate states.
The views of people who live in the upstate and downstate areas are very different. While approval of both Congress and State Legislature is needed to divide NY into two states; an amendment to our New York State constitution is all that is needed to divide our state into two completely autonomous regions. The New Amsterdam Region and the New York Region; which is almost the same as being separate states! Since Congress is unlikely, in the foreseeable future, to give the Northeast two more US Senate seats a new state would require.
There are TWO methods (see below) to amend the NY State Constitution to divide our state into two completely autonomous regions, with a token state government that does not need the approval of Congress.1) The NY Legislature must pass the amendment twice with an election of Legislators, in be between, and then it is submitted to the voters.
2) Every twenty years the people of NYS get to vote on whether to hold a NY State Constitution Convention. If the Convention is approved, Delegates are elected for the Convention the following November. The Convention can then submit amendments to the NY state constitution directly to the voters. The next time the Convention vote will be held is Nov 2017.
Outline of Amendment, to NYS Constitution, to divide NY State into Upstate (New Amsterdam) and Downstate (New York) Regions.
This Amendment creates two fully autonomous regions. The token state government is needed to comply with the US constitution is kept small by limiting its taxing power to a three (3) percent sales tax, with all other taxing power to transferred to the regions. The token state laws are limited to those related to Executive (for the state only), Indian, Legislative (for the state only), National Guard, Retirement & Social Security, State Administrative Procedure & State Finance (for the state only), Civil Service(state employees only), Court of Appeals, State Court of Claims, State Judicial Conduct. All rest of the laws, which areabout 3/4 of NY laws, become regional laws of each region and are deleted from the state code. Each region can then independently modify them.
Regional Senators from both regions will also serve as the New York State Senate; Regional Assemblypersons from both regions will also serve as the New York State Assembly. The regular sessions for regional Legislatures are limited to January,
February, and March. Fiscal years of each region will be from March 1 to last day of February. The State Legislature regular session is limited to April and May; The State fiscal year, from May 1 to April 30.
Each region shall have an elected regional governor, regional lieutenant-governor, and regional secretary of state. The token state government will keep an elected-governor, lieutenant-governor, and comptroller. In order to prevent opposition the transfer of state departments/agencies/employees to regional departments/agencies/employees is explained in detail in the amendment and the pension system remains at the state level unchanged. Local Governments ownership rights are not affected by this Amendment so the City of New York retains ownership of its water system. Most of the powers of the Court of Appeals powers are transferred to each newly created Regional Superior Court which has final say on ruling on its region laws. Felonies can only be enacted under regional law. Judicial departments are adjusted so they do not cross regional boundaries.The New York Region would consist of the counties Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens, Richmond, Nassau, Rockland, Suffolk, and Westchester.The New Amsterdam Region would consist of the counties of Albany, Allegany, Broome, Cattaraugus, Cayuga, Chautauqua, Chemung, Chenango, Clinton, Columbia, Cortland, Delaware, Dutchess, Erie, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Genesee, Greene, Hamilton, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Livingston, Madison, Monroe, Montgomery, Niagara, Oneida, Onondaga, Ontario, Orange, Orleans, Oswego, Otsego, Putnam, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Schuyler, Seneca, St Lawrence, Steuben, Sullivan, Tioga, Tompkins, Ulster, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Wyoming, and Yates.
The views of people who live in the upstate and downstate areas are very different. While approval of both Congress and State Legislature is needed to divide NY into two states; an amendment to our New York State constitution is all that is needed to divide our state into two completely autonomous regions. The New Amsterdam Region and the New York Region; which is almost the same as being separate states! Since Congress is unlikely, in the foreseeable future, to give the Northeast two more US Senate seats a new state would require.
There are TWO methods (see below) to amend the NY State Constitution to divide our state into two completely autonomous regions, with a token state government that does not need the approval of Congress.1) The NY Legislature must pass the amendment twice with an election of Legislators, in be between, and then it is submitted to the voters.
2) Every twenty years the people of NYS get to vote on whether to hold a NY State Constitution Convention. If the Convention is approved, Delegates are elected for the Convention the following November. The Convention can then submit amendments to the NY state constitution directly to the voters. The next time the Convention vote will be held is Nov 2017.
Outline of Amendment, to NYS Constitution, to divide NY State into Upstate (New Amsterdam) and Downstate (New York) Regions.
This Amendment creates two fully autonomous regions. The token state government is needed to comply with the US constitution is kept small by limiting its taxing power to a three (3) percent sales tax, with all other taxing power to transferred to the regions. The token state laws are limited to those related to Executive (for the state only), Indian, Legislative (for the state only), National Guard, Retirement & Social Security, State Administrative Procedure & State Finance (for the state only), Civil Service(state employees only), Court of Appeals, State Court of Claims, State Judicial Conduct. All rest of the laws, which areabout 3/4 of NY laws, become regional laws of each region and are deleted from the state code. Each region can then independently modify them.
Regional Senators from both regions will also serve as the New York State Senate; Regional Assemblypersons from both regions will also serve as the New York State Assembly. The regular sessions for regional Legislatures are limited to January,
February, and March. Fiscal years of each region will be from March 1 to last day of February. The State Legislature regular session is limited to April and May; The State fiscal year, from May 1 to April 30.
Each region shall have an elected regional governor, regional lieutenant-governor, and regional secretary of state. The token state government will keep an elected-governor, lieutenant-governor, and comptroller. In order to prevent opposition the transfer of state departments/agencies/employees to regional departments/agencies/employees is explained in detail in the amendment and the pension system remains at the state level unchanged. Local Governments ownership rights are not affected by this Amendment so the City of New York retains ownership of its water system. Most of the powers of the Court of Appeals powers are transferred to each newly created Regional Superior Court which has final say on ruling on its region laws. Felonies can only be enacted under regional law. Judicial departments are adjusted so they do not cross regional boundaries.The New York Region would consist of the counties Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens, Richmond, Nassau, Rockland, Suffolk, and Westchester.The New Amsterdam Region would consist of the counties of Albany, Allegany, Broome, Cattaraugus, Cayuga, Chautauqua, Chemung, Chenango, Clinton, Columbia, Cortland, Delaware, Dutchess, Erie, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Genesee, Greene, Hamilton, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Livingston, Madison, Monroe, Montgomery, Niagara, Oneida, Onondaga, Ontario, Orange, Orleans, Oswego, Otsego, Putnam, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Schuyler, Seneca, St Lawrence, Steuben, Sullivan, Tioga, Tompkins, Ulster, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Wyoming, and Yates.
TalesAlongTheWay 
Being from Long Island originally, I spent a lot of time in NYC and upstate with friends during my childhood. Upstate is another world! I used to ALWAYS say, even as a tot, if I was from there – I’d vote to separate!!!
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I made note of your vote, my friend! lol We remain today. . . .another world up here !
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So VERY happy to hear THAT!!!!
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Ah. not so easy as that!
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This is an insane proposition.
Upstate New Yorkers constantly complain about how the City negatively affects them but overlook the many benefits reaped from being in the same state as the most important city in the World.
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I have traveled pretty extensively and New York City is my number two destination of favorites! First being Venice! So for sure we have taken advantage of having the place in the world most thought of as “The City” has to offer. But I know many people from here that have never gone or go rarely yet they pay such terrible taxes. I am not sure if Upstate benefits financially from being in New York by money spent by visitors or events in the city. Is that what you mean?
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The revenue collected from residents and businesses living and operating in NYC doesn’t only stay in NYC. A good deal of it is sent to Albany, where it is dispersed throughout the rest of the Empire State. This alone is enough to justify NYC existence and then some. Ask Mississippi, New Mexico, and Alabama if they would like to have an NYC within their borders.
Aside from the economic windfall the Empire State realized from its presence, NYC raises the profile of the entire region, not just the state. There has to be a cost when such gains are realized.
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You make a pretty convincing debate, but I think there is a very real stirring of people to have more control over their tax money, schools,and transportation. . . .. just life in general opposed to a very powerful central government. I think that was a message from the voters last week.
Thanks for stopping by and commenting !
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In the words of They Might Be Giants, “Even old New York, was once New Amsterdam, why they changed, I just can’t say, maybe they just liked it better that way!”
I love the idea. A friend of mine here in Utah had moved to upstate New York for a job. It would have been great for him and his family– they loved the woods and the hills and the beauty of the place, but even with the higher income, the taxes made it unbearable and they have now moved back to Utah, despite taking a pay cut, they are now better off.
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The taxes are unbelievable, David. My son lives in Central New York and it is an amazing place with so many wonderful attractions. But the property and school taxes are breathtaking. But Utah is wonderful as I visited it from the Phoenix area and you are not strangled with the taxes! Thanks for your comment. Always enlightening.
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