Grassroots effort comes to Chico to stump for "New California" statehood

KRCR NEWS

CHICO, Calif. — A handful of supporters for the creation of a new state out of California assembled in front of the Butte County courthouse in Chico, Tuesday.

They say their effort is on solid constitutional ground referencing Article IV Sections 3 & 4 of the U.S. Constitution.

They would like to see a 51st state called New California, which would consist of rural areas outside urban cities like San Francisco, Sacramento and Los Angeles.

Their plan is to work with the state legislature much like how West Virginia seceded from Virginia in 1861.

“Who voted to be a sanctuary state?” New California supporter Ken Boone asked rhetorically. “Who voted to let illegal immigrants come in and support them with our tax dollars? ”

“We’re going to be belly-up broke soon and crying for money, and it’s because of the poor choices made by the Governor and the legislature ,” he said.

The group said that it has formed committees in several counties but say it could take up to 18 months before they can engage with the state legislature about their hopes.