Staten Island Wants to Break Up With NYC After Socialist Mayor Win

Republicans Revive Secession Push

Zohran Mamdani won the New York City mayoral race in November 2025, and Staten Island Republicans are already planning their exit.

The democratic socialist captured over 50% of the citywide vote, but on Staten Island, he got just 23%. Now lawmakers are dusting off secession bills and holding rallies with independence declarations.

The borough has tried to leave before, and the last attempt got closer than most people realize.

The Borough That Rejected Mamdani

Staten Island was the only borough where Mamdani lost. Former Governor Andrew Cuomo, running as an independent, won 55% of the vote there.

Republican Curtis Sliwa took 21%. Borough President Vito Fossella says the results prove Staten Islanders feel out of step with the rest of the city.

He points to concerns about public safety, taxes, and services as reasons the secession conversation is heating up again.

Senator Lanza Plans January Push

State Senator Andrew Lanza has been trying to get Staten Island out of New York City since 2008. His secession bill has gone nowhere for nearly two decades, but he believes Mamdani’s win changes the math.

Lanza plans to reintroduce the legislation in January 2026, arguing that Democrats may be less motivated to block the effort this time since losing Staten Island would make it nearly impossible for Republicans to ever win the mayoralty again.

Independence Declaration at Historic Site

State Assemblyman Sam Pirozzolo held a rally in November where he read a “Staten Island Independence Declaration” to a crowd of supporters.

Dozens signed a petition.

The location was deliberate: the same spot where British soldiers first heard about the Declaration of Independence on July 9, 1776.

Pirozzolo says he is not declaring war on Manhattan, but elections should have consequences.

Staten Island Joined NYC in 1898

Staten Island became part of New York City on January 1, 1898, when Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Richmond County merged into the “Greater City.”

Residents voted in favor of consolidation in 1894, but regret came quickly.

By 1900, Staten Islanders were holding meetings to demand independence, complaining about higher taxes and fewer services.

The borough was officially renamed Staten Island in 1975, but the county is still called Richmond.

NYC Used It as a Garbage Dump

In 1948, the city opened the Fresh Kills Landfill on Staten Island’s western shore. It was supposed to be temporary.

Instead, it became the largest landfill in the world, accepting up to 29,000 tons of garbage per day at its peak. The mounds grew so high they were visible from space.

For decades, Staten Islanders lived with the stench and the symbolism of being treated as the city’s dumping ground.

The landfill did not close until 2001.

Two-Thirds Voted to Leave in 1993

The secession movement reached its peak in November 1993, when 65% of Staten Island voters approved a nonbinding referendum to leave New York City.

The vote followed years of frustration over the landfill, high taxes, and a restructuring of city government that reduced the borough’s political influence.

Supporters held rallies at Fort Wadsworth, handed out tea bags as a nod to the Boston Tea Party, and dreamed of becoming the “First City of the 21st Century.”

One Man Killed the Dream

The 1993 referendum passed, but secession still required approval from the New York State Assembly. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, a Manhattan Democrat, refused to let the bill come to a vote.

He argued that the city had not issued a “home rule message” supporting the measure. Without Silver’s approval, the legislation died.

Staten Islanders had voted overwhelmingly to leave, but one lawmaker from Manhattan decided they could not.

Giuliani Calmed Things Down

Rudy Giuliani won the mayoral election on the same day as the 1993 secession vote, and Staten Island’s overwhelming support helped put him over the top.

To repay the favor, Giuliani made the Staten Island Ferry free in 1997 and worked with Borough President Guy Molinari to close the Fresh Kills Landfill.

The two biggest grievances were addressed, and secession fever faded. The ferry remains free today.

It Would Be a Major City

Staten Island has about 500,000 residents, making it NYC’s smallest borough by far.

But if it became independent, it would be the second-largest city in New York State, behind only the rest of New York City.

It would also be bigger than Miami, Tampa, Oakland, and Cleveland.

The borough has the second-highest median household income of the five boroughs, trailing only Manhattan, and its homeownership rate is the highest in the city.

Frank Morano Describes Secession

A 2024 study by the city’s Independent Budget Office found that secession would not be cheap.

An independent Staten Island would face annual deficits between $171 million and $199 million, meaning residents would either pay higher taxes or receive fewer services.

City Council member Frank Morano is pushing for a full economic study before any new referendum.

He supports letting voters decide but wants them to have the data first.

The Path Forward Is Steep

For Staten Island to actually leave, a bill would need to pass both the State Assembly and the State Senate. That is the same hurdle that killed the 1993 effort.

Senator Lanza’s bill does not require approval from the New York City Council, but he would need to build support among lawmakers who have historically been skeptical. Mamdani takes office on January 1, 2026.

The secession push begins the same month.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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