Justice
One More Reason Why Everyone Should Support D.C. Statehood
State preemption is noxious for cities, whether it happens to D.C., Charlotte, or Birmingham.
On Friday afternoon, Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser called for a citywide vote on statehood for the District. She’s angling for admission into the Union under the same terms given to Tennessee, as The Washington Post reports. A referendum won’t secure congressional representation for D.C. residents, of course, and Mayor Bowser knows so. District politicians make gestures toward statehood all the time.
While it’s clear that this vote won’t change anything, it’s just as plain that change has got to come. The proof is everywhere: in Charlotte, Atlanta, Nashville, and other cities across the nation, citizens who are used to enjoying autonomy are getting a taste of preemption—something District residents live with every day.