Time for NYC to become a state?

To the editor:

The passing of Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist and author Jimmy Breslin was a sad day.

It reminded me of a great idea put forward by the team of Normal Mailer for mayor and Jimmy Breslin for city council president in the 1969 New York City Democratic municipal primary. They proposed making NYC the 51st state.

Considering the historic imbalance of tax dollars going to both Albany and Washington versus how much state and federal assistance is received in return, Big Apple residents would be better off keeping funds sent to Albany. Two U.S. senators could ensure a more equitable return of federal assistance to NYC.

Imagine over the past 48 years how much financially better off NYC could have been as a state.

LARRY PENNER