MARKOWITZ SAYS MORE TOLLS WOULD BE UNFAIR
Here's a statement that was just released by Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz in response to the MTA's proposal to toll all East River bridges:
BROOKLYN BOROUGH PRESIDENT MARTY MARKOWITZ STATEMENT ON EAST RIVER TOLLS
"Haven't we been down this road before? I have said it before and will say it again: East River tolls are discriminatory, impractical, and impose an unfair 'tax' on the outer boroughs--especially
It is, of course, imperative to find ways to close the City's growing budget gap in these tough economic times--but placing the burden unfairly on the backs of hard-working Brooklynites is not one of them."
UPDATE
In a press release dated November 12, 2008, the BP has taken the following stance on the issue:
"Let's do it the right way, and bring back a commuter tax, with proceeds to fund mass transit projects in the five boroughs. And, regarding any possible gas tax at the state level, I have long believed that a modest gas tax used to fund public transit by region would a much more equitable funding strategy than tolls. If Governor Paterson is indeed considering increasing the state's gas tax, this increase should be should be used to fund public transit--period!
Scrap the tolls. Dedicate the tax. And let's keep the wheels of New York City's economy turning."
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Comments
Hey Marty: You are against the prospect of tolls on East River bridges, but you want to build a $64 million dollar "Marty Markowitz Amphitheater" at Asser Levy Park, while our city crumbles. Cuts in the Fire Dept. ( you would rather see a Fire House close than give up this much needed money for much more important projects other than another music concert)Police Dept. cuts, Education Cuts etc. etc. ect. Marty get your priorities straight & give up that money to what is really needed by the Communities of Brooklyn. You phony, fake & fraud.
Posted by: jerry | November 12, 2008 9:17 AM
Markowitz, as usual, is wrong on so many levels. The electronic toll collection that would surely be used (as opposed to old-fashioned toll booths) would not cause any new traffic at all. And, by charging for the bridges that were free, you'd redirect a lot of people to the tolled facilities (e.g. Midtown Tunnel & Battery Tunnel) who currently go out of their way to take the free bridges. So it would actually result in significantly LESS traffic in Brooklyn (and western Queens) neighborhoods. But that doesn't make a good populist soundbite, does it?
Posted by: BrooklynJim | November 12, 2008 10:53 AM