We are at 8,712 signatures!
Combined total with signature sheets.
On Line signatures= 5,382
signature sheets = 2,330
LaSalle Pride signatures 1000 new total = 8,712
We are paying for this and will be for the next 30 Years????
Each and every year the Thruway Authority collects over 20 million dollars at the Grand Island Bridge tolls and each and every year close to ten million stays just to pay the toll workers and the toll booths themselves. After that the money disapperas into the black hole of the thruway authority coffers. In the 90's then Gov Pataki put 3 billion into a special account designated just for bridges. 95% of that money went to other sources as in maintaing the DMV and pork projects of our legislators in Albany.
I have been watching the Grand Island Bridges for years now and continue my work to eliminate the tolls, 74 years is too long and they must be removed as all they are is a cash cow for the Thruway Authority and Albany. Last year I was labeled as a scare monger because I pointed out structural flaws in the concrete piers, frozen and corroded bridge bearings and concrete that had been swelled and falling off exposing the steel rebar beneath.
Here are pictures I took today at 5:30 PM. First it is about time this work started as it was long past due. Second this type of work should be in the maintenance budget that supposedly the Thruway Authority has each and every year to the tune of 15 Million plus. More so since the toll increase of last year. BUT, this work being performed is not paid for, they are borrowing over 50 million to do this work. Why borrow? Where is the 100's of millions paid and collected at the toll booths? Why are we going to pay for this work for the next 30 years with the continued collection of cash that is being ripped out of our pockets each and every day?
Note the steel beams now holding up sections of the bridge, the steel is now holding up the bridge, the bearings are gone. Note the concrete that has been stripped away. These are just a couple of the piers that need work. So much for me scaring people. So much for them denying that they were in need of repair and refusing to admit that I said there was structural damage at these piers.
Biggetst issue here is the borrowing of money to do the work that the Thruway should have on hand as they have told us for years, "the dollars collected at the toll booths are to maintain the bridges". Borrowing just to keep the tolls. When is Antionne Thompson going to introduce the Bill that the Governor said he would sign to get rid of the tolls. When are our elected representatives ever going to have the guts to stand up for the people in Western New York? We are tired of waiting, we are tired of the inaction and the inability of them to stand up for us. When is it going to end???????
Say No to Grand Island Tolls
