Rumor has it the state of California is considering splitting the large state in two. According to the Los Angeles Times, an idea to create a 51st state out of 13 Southern California counties is becoming quite the hot topic. Many believe that this crazy idea just might happen.
Jeff Stone, a Republican member of the Riverside Board of Supervisors is credited as the idea’s sponsor. According to Stone’s calculations, the new geographic divide would contain approximately 13 million residents. Even after separating from the North, the new state would still be the fifth most populous state in America.
According to Time, the idea of splitting the state isn’t necessarily a new idea. In fact there have been nearly 220 separate proposals to split the giant state. Stone and his supporters allege that Democratic Governor Jerry Brown is engaged in policies that do not reflect the ideals of half of his state. Stone’s proposal calls California an “ungovernable,” state in financial crisis.
Stone wishes to take the 13 conservative inland counties and form “South California.” Counties to be located in the “South California,” would include Riverside, Fresno, Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Mono, Orange, San Bernardino, San Diego and Tulare.
According to the Washington Post, Stone and his colleagues will meet with the Riverside County Board of Supervisors today to consider Stone’s proposal. His proposal asks for a statewide summit for city and county leaders to sketch out a plan to split the state.
Stone realizes that there have been a multitude of past attempts at the split, yet he believes now is the time as California faces the most brutal economic slump since the Great Depression. Republicans would account for most of “South California,” minus the counties of San Bernardino and Imperial. Supporters of the idea to split the state believe that it would allow the state to be governed easier and for the opinions of all to be heard more clearly.
