Federal power grows, but so can states’

Clifton Springs, N.Y.: The July banner stunt on the Empire State Building saw a message that sparked conversation across New York City: “When the power of love beats the love of power, the world knows peace.” Whether one agreed with the stunt or not, the message highlighted an issue that affects every New Yorker. When too much power is concentrated in too few hands, conflict becomes inevitable.

NYC increasingly finds itself caught between local priorities and federal authority. From immigration and transportation to housing, public safety and energy policy, decisions made in Washington often have immediate consequences here. As administrations change, priorities change. Communities are left to adapt.

The problem is not that political leaders disagree. It’s that Washington has accumulated so much power that each election can dramatically alter the rules governing states, cities, businesses and families. When authority becomes concentrated at the federal level, every election becomes a fight for that power. The Founders anticipated this danger and included a constitutional remedy. An Article V Convention of States allows state legislatures, including New York’s in Albany, not Congress, to propose amendments that can impose fiscal restraints, limit federal power and restore balance between Washington and the states. This would reduce the stakes of national political battles and allow communities to pursue solutions that better reflect their own needs. If New Yorkers want less conflict and greater stability, limiting the concentration of power is a good place to start.

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