Amid growing discussions on Staten Island about a potential break from New York City, the borough’s residents are rekindling calls for secession following a visit from the newly elected mayor, Zohran Mamdani.
Zohran Mamdani, who took office as the youngest mayor of New York City in more than a hundred years, began his term on New Year’s Day. Notably, he is the city’s first mayor of Muslim, South Asian, and African descent.
Running on a platform of Democratic socialism, Mamdani proposed ambitious policies such as raising the minimum wage to $30 by 2030, increasing the corporate tax rate to 11.5 percent, establishing city-run grocery stores, implementing fare-free buses, and freezing rents on rent-stabilized apartments.
In contrast, Staten Island, known as a Republican stronghold in an otherwise liberal New York City, has expressed significant opposition to Mamdani’s agenda. The island’s residents and lawmakers have been vocal about their discontent, with some even suggesting the possibility of exiting New York City’s borough system.
Vito Fossella, the president of Staten Island, highlighted the rising dissatisfaction among locals in an interview with the Daily Mail, pointing to deep-seated ideological differences and apprehensions regarding the city’s policies.
“Personally, and I believe the vast majority of Staten Islanders, do not see socialism as a viable form of government,” Fossella remarked. “Historically, it’s been shown to be detrimental, both economically and spiritually, often leading to a loss of freedom and, in some cases, life itself.”
This is not the first time Staten Island voiced the possibility of seceding from the borough system.
Staten Island previously pursued independence in the early 1990s, when voters approved a nonbinding referendum by roughly 65 percent.
Residents on Staten Island are once again discussing secession from New York City after newly elected Mayor Zohran Mamdani visited the borough
Staten Island borough president Vito Fossella has previously voiced support for secession from the five borough system
However, state lawmakers later blocked the effort, preventing it from moving forward.
‘Back then, we had lost our power in the city,’ Fossella explained, recalling the abolition of the Board of Estimate and Staten Island’s diminished influence. ‘We were dumped on – literally and figuratively – with Fresh Kills Landfill taking 100 percent of the city’s garbage while we had only five percent of its population.’
Fossella said a formal petition or referendum has not been circulated at present, though borough officials funded a new feasibility study in 2023.
‘Right now, it’s a genuine discussion, not a negotiating tool,’ he said. ‘If secession is the best and ultimate solution for the people, who are my neighbors and friends, then that’s where we’ll go. But it’s not there yet.’
If the borough chooses to become its own city, Staten Island, with a current population of 493,000 residents, would outsize major U.S. cities such as Miami and Cleveland.
‘We’d still be a very large city relative to most in the United States,’ Fossella said. ‘And one of the largest counties in New York State.’
Mamdani made his first appearance in Staten Island on December 30 at Shaw-naé’s House in Stapleton.
There, he addressed his lack of electoral support in the borough but said his administration planned to focus on local concerns.
Mamdani, 34, was sworn in as New York’s youngest mayor in more than a century on New Year’s Day
‘This is the moment to show Staten Islanders that their concerns will be front of mind in our administration and that we’re actually going to deliver on those concerns,’ Mamdani said.
He pointed to his previously mentioned campaign promises, urging Staten Island natives that they would only benefit from his changes.
‘I think of Staten Island as a critical part of New York City,’ he said. ‘You cannot tell the story of five boroughs without Staten Island.’
He also visited Staten Island’s oldest mosque, Masjid Un Noor, where he told the crowd: ‘While we speak of Staten Island as an obligation in our politics, it is in fact an opportunity in our politics.’
Assemblyman Sam Pirozzolo has been particularly outspoken about Mamdani’s election, going as far as reading his own Staten Island Independence Declaration to a crowd of 60 people.
Fossella, however, emphasized that secession faces significant hurdles.
‘It’s not totally under our control,’ he said. ‘The state legislature and other officials would have a say, and many forces oppose Staten Island secession.’
Fossella said no formal petition has circulated at present
He also pushed back on critics who argue independence would weaken services or raise taxes:
‘Nobody can say that with absolute certainty,’ Fossella said. ‘Look at the migrant crisis. New York City spent $12 billion housing migrants in hotels. A city of Staten Island would never make that decision.’
On policy differences, Fossella pointed to Mamdani’s stance on homelessness:
‘The idea of not cleaning up homeless encampments is a terrible decision,’ he said. ‘It leads to drugs, crime, and quality-of-life issues.’
While Fossella said he has not yet met Mamdani, he expressed willingness to cooperate:
‘My goal is to work with anybody who wants to do well by the people of Staten Island,’ he said. ‘But at the same time, we have a legitimate discussion going on about whether there’s a better path, and maybe secession is that path.’
Mamdani has attempted to reach out to the large number of New Yorkers who voted for Donald Trump as president and him as mayor.
He said he understood they voted for both Trump and him because of fears over the rising cost of living, with Mamdani’s laser-focus on that issue credited with his success.
