Bad Old Day Return Watch: Staten Island Secession

In a move that could push Philadelphia and Jersey City up one spot to contend for “fifth borough” bragging rights, a new secession movement is apparently brewing on Staten Island:

In a move that is certain to reignite old passions among Staten Islanders, State Senator Andrew J. Lanza is planning to introduce legislation to call again for his borough to secede from the rest of New York City.

Mr. Lanza, a Republican who represents about two-thirds of Staten Island, said in an interview on Wednesday that he was motivated to draft the bill because of residents of the island continued to feel unduly burdened by taxes and less-than-stellar city services. He said Staten Island residents have complained for years that they felt overlooked by the rest of the city, particularly on city services and mass transportation.

The 2,115-page bill, which Mr. Lanza said he would introduce in January, comes about 15 years after a spirited public debate on the issue and a referendum in which Staten Islanders voted by a 2-to-1 ratio in a referendum to split with the rest of the city.