Fed up with their county, the cities of the north are considering secession
MARILLA, NY (AP) — Some upstate New York cities opposed to mask mandates and other public health measures put in place during the pandemic are considering voting with their feet and switching counties.
The Buffalo News reported that representatives from Marilla, Wales, Holland and Grand Island were part of a group that met last week to discuss moving from Erie County to Wyoming counties. or Niagara.
Marilla supervisor Earl Gingerich Jr., whose town is about eight miles from downtown Buffalo and who hosted the meeting, said the effort was serious and the Erie County government was leading more its resources towards Buffalo and its inner suburbs to the detriment of small towns.
“Our opinion here is that it’s ‘we the people’, not ‘me the king’ or ‘the tyrant,'” he told the News.
Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz said cities would lose sales tax and other shared revenue if they left, and said the county was the only one in New York to share revenue from sales tax with its municipalities and school districts.
“Erie County always works better when we work together, and my administration will always strive to find ways to unite our community rather than divide it,” Poloncarz said in a statement.
Secession is a rare decision in New York and involves a complicated process. A lawyer working with the cities on a preliminary study, the News reported. Then, 20% of voters in those communities would have to sign a petition that would launch a formal feasibility study.
The move would then have to be approved by voters in each city and governing bodies in both counties. If Erie County objects, a judge will have to decide if it’s in the public interest, the News reported.