The 1990 Elections:
Staten Island Votes a Resounding Yes on Taking Step Toward
Separation
Staten Island voted overwhelmingly yesterday to begin a
process that could lead the borough to secede from New York
City. 82 percent of the voters were in favor of taking the
first step toward secession; 18 percent were against it. Staten
Island voted overwhelmingly to begin a process that could lead
the borough to secede from New York City. 82 percent of the
voters were in favor of taking the first step toward secession;
18 percent were against it. The referendum did not call for an
immediate withdrawal; it asked whether a charter commission
should be formed to explore means of secession.
Staten Island has questioned its relationship to the rest of New
York City for almost as long as ferryboats have twined them
together. It is the smallest borough, and it regularly refers to
itself as the forgotten one. The island's 400,000 citizens
bemoan their having the world's largest garbage dump, the Fresh
Kills landfill; they complain about the toll on the
Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, and they criticize city services as
inadequate.
That was in 1990, what has changed? NOTHING, costs have gone up,
services have gone down. Where is the City's promises of making
Staten Island a bigger part of New York?
Staten Islander's voted overwhelmingly for Secession from
the City of New York.
Our choice was taken away from us by Albany politicians. One man
made a decision to over turn the voice of 400,000. It is time to
Free Staten Island from the burdensome rules of New York City.
Why should we pay surcharges on our Gas bills, Gasoline and
Tolls to support the citizens of other counties, boroughs and
cities. Why do Staten Islanders pay a premium for Gasoline. Why
do Staten Islands Pay outrageous tolls to travel to the rest of
the city when the city charter tells us we should have free
access to the other boroughs. Sure it is free to drive to
Brooklyn but, you have to pay and pay and
WAIT to get home. Why do
the bridge tolls keep going up with no regard for the citizens
of Staten Island? When will the government in Albany take charge
of the MTA and the Port Authority. Why do they get to hide their
books, hold sham hearings on increases and pay themselves huge
salaries. They are our employees, they work for us, if it were a
real business they would have been fired long ago.
Citizens of the City of Staten Island wake up. Your taxes are
supporting the rest of the New York City. Your tolls are
supporting the states of NY and NJ. Your fares on the buses and
trains are supporting those who live in Manhattan. Were not
getting more public transportation. The West Shore rail will
never come. The buffoons in borough hall can only study it, they
will never commit to building it. Why must we study things for
ten years before deciding we should have done this fifteen years
ago.
Citizens of the City of Staten Island, stand up for what is
yours. Demand the services we all deserve and have paid for time
and time again. It is time to demand our freedom, freedom from
high taxes, freedom from endless delays, freedom from the burden
of supporting the rest of NYC. We need and want our FREEDOM.
WHY ?
Some Times you just have to stop and say "ENOUGH" We live in NYC,
yet no one ever expresses Staten Island as part of the "City". There
are maps that don't even have Staten Island on it. Let's face it the
only one who cares about Staten Island is YOU! Take charge, do
something, don't let City Hall run your life, Don't let City Hall
tell you what is good for YOUR home. The Mayor was put in office by
Us, it is time he listens to Us.