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Southern Arizonans Seek Own State

'Baja Arizona' could be 51st state

By AstroDude, Newser User

Posted Feb 24, 2011 9:48 PM CST | Promoted on Newser Feb 25, 2011 1:20 AM CST

(User Submitted) – More weird news brewing in the Ol' West: A political committee called "Start Our State" has officially registered in Arizona, seeking statehood for Pima Country in the southern part of the state. Organizers in Tucson are apparently so frustrated with disagreements in policy that they want to break away from Phoenix completely. Start Our State's mission is to "restore our region's credibility as a place welcoming to others, open to commerce, and friendly to its neighbors," a press release says.

"I think once you take a step back and think about it, it starts to make more and more sense," said co-founder of "Start Our State co-founder Peter Hormel tells ABC15. "I and some other people finally got so frustrated with what's happening in Phoenix that we felt obligated to do something about it." If the Arizona legislature approves, and the president seals the deal—probably a longshot—then the 51st state will be named Baja Arizona and its capital will be Tucson.

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(AP)

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I'm tired of hoping and praying that rationality will come to Phoenix. - Paul Eckerstrom, co-chair
of Start Our State

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Showing 3 of 26 comments

Typhon451

Feb 26, 2011 4:55 PM CST

Instead of making it a state we should give the Gadsen Purchase back to Mexico. We only bought it for the railroad route anyway. As a practical matter we can set the new border at Highway 10 (Revisited). It will make a great new border. Then extend it to the sea and give back southern Texas too. "South of the Pecos." This would be a great deal. Both for the US and for Mexico. Give back the stolen land. Which the Pope gave to Spain. And which Spain gave to Mexico.

photographer218

Feb 26, 2011 3:06 PM CST

I love living in Arizona even though i live in Flagstaff (thank god it snows here), not a big fan of hot weather, but good for them

793tango

Feb 26, 2011 11:52 AM CST

I used to dream about moving to AZ. With the recent insanity coming out of it lately I decided to give up on that. Thanks to the good citizens of Pima county my faith is restored. I'd LOVE to see a state of Southern AZ.The whole state is bigger than all of New England combined so it can handle being divided. Count me in! Now if we can only do something about Texas.......

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Southern Arizonans Seek Own State

'Baja Arizona' could be 51st state

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Arizona • Tucson, Arizona • Pima County, Ariz.

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