51st state? New California declares ‘independence’

The founders of New California took an early step toward statehood Monday by reading their own Declaration of Independence from California, a state they describe as “ungovernable.”

Their solution: Take over most of California — including many rural counties — and leave the coastal urban areas to themselves.

“The current state of California has become governed by a tyranny,” the group, led in part by vice chairman Robert Paul Preston, declared in a document published online. The group cited “years of over taxation, regulation, and mono-party politics” and a “decline in essential basic services,” including education, law enforcement, infrastructure and health care.

New California was organized with a council of county representatives and various committees. CBS’ Sacramento affiliate filmed the reading of the declaration in a sparsely filled conference room.

Claiming the authority of Article 4, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution, the aspiring 51st state plans to persuade California’s Legislature to split the state before submitting the resolution to

Congress.

The effort is a long shot.

Tim Draper, a venture capitalist in California, sought in 2014 to split the Golden State into six parts, including the “State of Silicon Valley.” His plan failed to make the ballot.

New California’s work with regular California’s state Legislature probably won’t start in earnest until this year or early next year, organizers told CBS.

“We have to demonstrate that we can govern ourselves before we are allowed to govern,” Tom Reed, a founder, told the network.