Assemblyman Proposes Upstate Split from NYC Following Passing of SAFE Act
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The recent debate over the New York Safe Act has a Western New York Assemblyman reviving a proposal to split New York into two states.
Republican Assemblyman Stephen Hawley of Batavia has drafted legislation that would allow residents in each of the state's 62 counties to decide whether or not New York City and Upstate New York should be divided.
Appearing on Capital Tonight, Hawley said if the state was ultimately split he'd prefer downstate New York to continue to be called "New York" and Upstate be called "New New York."
"I think we would operate under a business model. We would not be spending more than we take in. Last year a $10 billion deficit; this year a $1.5 billion deficit. We have to live within our means, and I think I New New York would do that.
Hawley is not the first the State lawmaker to propose such an idea... Rochester area state Senator Joe Robach proposed a similar measure two years ago.