NEW YORK -- Queens City Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. says he's "deadly serious'' about making New York City the 51st state.

Vallone reintroduced legislation last week that calls for secession from the Empire State. He first proposed it in 2003.

It's not likely to happen anytime soon -- making secession a reality would require the approval of voters, the Legislature, the governor, Congress and even the president.

Former mayor Ed Koch is calling the bill "a waste of time and money.'' He says the city doesn't have the right to secede.

But Vallone says the split would be good for the city's economy. He blames Albany for what he calls the city's "bad financial condition'' -- and he cites the $3.5 billion in taxes the city pays to Albany but isn't returned in funding.