The petition
For too long, Upstate New York has been dominated by the misguided priorities of New York City political interests. We are oppressively taxed and forced to support failed policies and programs such as Medicaid, Wicks Law and Scaffold Law, each of which do little for Upstate, other than drain our wallets through exorbitant taxes, fees and surcharges on homeowners and employers.
We have had our most valuable resources, fresh water and hydroelectric power, taken from our community and diverted Downstate. While the vast majority of hydroelectric power in New York is generated in Lewiston and Massena, two Upstate communities that Downstate legislators couldn't find with a map, those of us who reside in Upstate pay among the highest utility rates in the country. This is unconscionable.
This diversion of our hydroelectric power to businesses Downstate has deprived our region of the adequate resources needed to attract and retain employers.
The three most powerful men in the state, the infamous "three men in a room", are Malcolm Smith, leader of the State Senate, Sheldon Silver, leader of the State Assembly and David Paterson, the Governor. All three of these gentlemen hail from New York City, and all three are leading our state on a path to devastation.
If we as an Upstate region are to survive, let alone thrive, we must explore the possibility of dividing what we currently know as the State of New York into two separate entities.
Recently five Upstate Senators, Joseph Robach of Monroe County, Michael Ranzenhofer of Erie and Genesee Counties, William Larkin Jr. of Orange and Ulster Counties, James Seward of Tompkins, Cortland, Chenango, Herkimer, Ostego, Schoharie and Greene Counties & Dale Volker of Wyoming, Erie, Livingston and Ontario Counties introduced legislation to allow the people of this state the rare opportunity to have their voice heard.
The five Upstate Senators have proposed legislation in the Senate, bill S.3526 which states: An act to provide for a referendum on the question "Do you support the division of New York into two separate states?"
In order for there be a referendum, which is a statewide vote on the issue, our state elected officials must pass the Senate bill, there must be "mirror" legislation passed in the Assembly and the Governor must sign it.
We are calling on our elected leaders to support this legislation which gives the hard-working, overtaxed people of New York State the opportunity to have a voice on this issue.
With the recent passage of a state budget that will prove disastrous to Upstate, there has never been a more important time to re-visit this issue.
If you believe that we, the people, have the right to have our voice heard on this issue, please sign this petition. By signing, you are not supporting or opposing the division of the state, you are simply asking our state elected leaders to support a referendum on the issue.
We plan to present the petition to our elected officials in Albany.
Sign the petition
Fields marked * are required.