Bridge Tolls
Advocacy Project

Bad toll positions

[This letter to the editor appeared in the Downtown Express weekly newspaper, December 4, 2000]

To The Editor:

With our city having to cope and close a $6 billion dollar deficit, explanations are due from Councilmembers Alan Gerson and Margarita Lopez as to how they can continue their irrational opposition to tolling the East River bridges (editorial, Nov. 5-11, 2002, letters, Nov. 12 -18, 2002). Both of these elected officials should represent the interests of their constituents and yet their positions favor the continued subsidies given to affluent commuters who prefer automobiles over mass transit. The bridges need $70 million a year in maintenance and a billion dollars of federal transportation money was recently used for the rehabilitation of the Manhattan and Williamsburg spans.

Does Ms. Lopez believe that children in her district can receive an education with 45 pupils in a class and libraries shuttered? Does Mr. Gerson think that the poor in his district can do without senior citizen and daycare centers? Do they believe we'll be safer with 1900 fewer police officers and fire houses closed?

In districts where an overwhelming majority of the residents don't own automobiles it's impossible to understand their positions.

In districts that suffer the worst automobile congestion and pollution in the city it's outrageous to oppose the tolls.

In districts where child asthma is endemic it's irresponsible to oppose the tolls.

At a forum concerning the tolls held last spring at the Puffin Room, with Councilmember Gerson and State Senator Duane present, a hand vote was held tallying 70 to 2 in favor of the tolls. Detailed presentations made by Charles Komanoff and Tri-State Transportation Campaign illustrated how tolls, utilizing E- ZPass technology combined with congestion pricing, will raise revenue, ease traffic, reduce pollution and actually increase productivity for commercial vehicles. It makes one wonder if their positions reflect those of a special interest or perhaps[s political ambitions require opposition. Hopefully it is just a case of being misinformed.

Beyond our city, it is this nation's gluttonous consumption of oil that has made us New Yorkers targets for fanatics. For our own self-interest, it is essential that we reduce our dependance on Middle Eastern oil. Tolls will be a good start.

Carl Rosenstein
Owner of the Puffin Room

[Source: Downtown Express, December 4, 2002]