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Graphic shows the divisions of a proposed initiative to split California into three states
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POLITICS

Bold push to split California into three states

By Jordi Bou

June 14, 2018 - Californians will vote in November’s general election on the “Cal 3” initiative -- a bid to divide America’s most populous state into Northern California, California and Southern California.

The “Cal 3” initiative is driven by venture capitalist Tim Draper, who argues that California has become “ungovernable” because of its economic and geographic diversity as well as its population approaching 40 million people.

Election officials say this year’s effort gathered the roughly 365,000 signatures it needed to land on the general election ballot. It will be officially certified later this month. Even if it wins passage from voters, the measure would face significant hurdles.

California would break into three states — Northern California, California and Southern California. The measure aims to create states with relatively equal populations and economic strengths.

The new Northern California would include 40 counties, including Sacramento, San Jose and San Francisco as well as the state’s wine country and rural northern areas.

Keeping the name California would be a group of six counties centered around Los Angeles, with a total population of 12.3 million people.

Southern California, meanwhile, would include Orange and San Diego Counties as well what’s now known as California’s Central Valley and Inland Empire.

Turning one state into three would create four new U.S. senators, a move that would significantly boost Californians’ influence in Washington.


Passing at the ballot box is just the first hurdle. That would require support from a simple majority of voters.

The measure then directs the governor to ask Congress for the ultimate OK — likely a tall order. If Congress gave a green light, it would then be up the Legislature to determine exactly how the split would happen, including how the state’s debts would be divided. Each of the three states would determine their own governance structure.

Lawmakers would only have 12 months after congressional approval to set the new rules; otherwise the state’s debts would automatically split between the three new ones.

Sources
PUBLISHED: 14/06/2018; STORY: Graphic News; PICTURES: Web Summit
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