The City of Greater New York, both corporately and commonly now described simply as the City of New York or New York City, describes the expanded city created in 1898 by the incorporation of Richmond County, Kings County and part of Queens County into the city.

Since the enlarged city contained a large part of New York State's entire population (currently approximately 40%) and the enlargement increased the city's already enormous power within the state, the state legislature established certain oversight powers within the city. For example, some issues of taxation and changes in governmental procedures require state approval or granting of specific home rule powers.

The "Greater City" exists as a result of actions of the New York State Legislature, and, as such, could be reduced in size by the same mechanism. A non-binding referendum in the borough of Staten Island was held in 1993 to consider whether that borough should be allowed to secede from the City. The New York City government and then-Mayor David Dinkins opposed the vote, contending that the referendum should not be permitted by New York State unless the City sent a home rule message supporting it, which the City wouldn't. Then-State Governor Mario Cuomo disagreed, and the vote went forward. The vote was in favor of secession through the approval of a new city charter making Staten Island an independent city.

The Staten Island secession movement was defused, or at least deferred, by the election on the same ballot of Rudolph Giuliani as New York City mayor, who had campaigned on the promise that Staten Island's grievances would be addressed.

External link

• Staten Island Secession at the Museum of the City of New York web site