Assemblyman David DiPietro (R,C,I-East Aurora) has introduced legislation that would create a constitutional amendment to split New York State into three separate autonomous regions. The three regions are New York, which includes Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens and Richmond counties, Montauk, which includes Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland and Westchester counties, and New Amsterdam, which would include every county north of Westchester.

The goal of the bill is to finally unshackle the regions of New York that are subjected to decisions and rule from New York City with a different value structure and way of life. Each region would elect its own governor, Legislature and judicial wing and be responsible for its own management. This would allow local rule to return to the state which has been so ideologically and politically dominated by the city for decades.

“It’s time to let people go their own way,” DiPietro said. “Upstate New Yorkers and Long Islanders have long been subjected to the whim of New York City politicians who don’t understand our way of life, our value, and simply don’t care about us. This bill would once again let the people of New York decide their fate. We should not be burdened with laws and regulations that have no thought to our economic situation or how we live our lives. Main Street in East Aurora is a totally different world than the center of Manhattan, and our people have the right to make their own decisions. The time is past due, we deserve to govern ourselves as is our God-given right. Split the state, the people deserve and demand it.”