I just got off the phone with Betsy L. Graham’s office. I was calling to ask why we received this canned letter from their office. Per usual she was not at her desk.. Happens all to often with this type of bureaucracy, the person you wish to speak to is not there. Anyway, I digress… The woman that answered said that whenever letters are sent to the legislature and the governor’s office they are automatically forwarded to them…..

So to take any and all pressure off of the Lawmakers, they shift the responsibility to the thruway authority. Who by the way are unaccountable to the voters and taxpayers of New York. I want to hear from the Legislature and the Governor. I do not want canned responses from the Thruway Authority. What is needed here is a response as to why NY State continues to violate the Law (Federal) that says it is illegal to charge people to get to their homes. I suppose this would turn them on their heads.

I received this response to the canned letter the Thruway Authority sent to the people that sent an e-mail letter to the Governors office. Dan, I couldn’t agree with you more. Your letter stands alone and well said.

Don’s letter starts here..

A Petition Signers Response to Thruway Authority Letter

I’m sorry but I have to respond to this! I am responding to things quoted out of Betsy’s wonderfully pompous letter. You can send this to whomever you have to…

“The Thruway Authority has a responsibility to maintain and operate the Thruway system in a safe and efficient manner for the millions of motorists that use it each year. Simply removing the tolls at the North and South Grand Island Bridges would not eliminate the need to maintain, operate and invest in this section of highway, or the system statewide.”

Reply: THE PUBLIC IS NOT AS STUPID AS YOU LETTER INSISTS! WE ALREADY PAY NYS TAXES TO FIX THE ROADS!!! IT IS A “NEW YORK STATE THRUWAY” ISN’T IT? Is it safe to have civilians in cars backed up for a mile or two with oncoming 65 mile an hour traffic behind them while they are scraping their 75 cents out of their consoles or dash boards while their eyes aren’t on the road? She also states their are “millions of motorists that use it each year” - I’m sorry did we miss something - What is a million times 75 cents? Let me guess, she’s going to say they spend $75,000 a year to paint the bridges every other month or she’ll say most of these “million” are Grand Island residents only paying 18 cents a day. Ludicrous!

“For example, over the next five years, the Authority plans to invest more than $62 million in the Grand island area, in addition to the future rehabilitation or possible replacement of the Grand Island Bridges. The Authority estimates that the replacement of these four bridges alone (two North Grand Island Bridges, two South Grand Island Bridges) would cost approximately $500 million.”


Reply: The government has been saying this since the 70’s and nothing’s ever happened. Here’s why: Grand Island is proud of it’s PRESERVATION of the territory and their residents don’t want it “changed” or even “modified” for that matter, I know because I lived on Grand Island for 2 years. If the Authority states (as per Betsy) that they plan to invest more than $62 million dollars in the G. Island area why aren’t the public and the residents of Grand Island aware of this money or this plan? Aside from that $500 million minus $62 million equals Betsy is totally aware that she can keep making excuses to keep the tolls (and her job) by offering this ridiculouosly impossible pipe dream of a goal!

If replacing these bridges would cost approx. $500 million dollars that is proof right there that it’s never going to happen even with toll money! IT’S A LAME EXCUSE! Betsy statement as per “the Authority” clearly admits that nothing is going to change and the toll money will just keep going into someone’s pocket! She ought to be ashamed of herself making that kind of statement and sounding so proud about blatantly misleading the truth to us as American citizens of The United States of America. She certainly should not represent any government with those horrible lies. I hope she realizes how bad a role model and how bad an example she is setting for the future, and our children.

“That being said, the Authority recognizes the uniqueness of the highway networks in and around the Buffalo/Niagara area, specifically the impact on Grand Island residents and commuters. Prior to the first toll adjustment in approximately 17 years, the Authority adjusted the toll structure accordingly. in fact, for those taking part in the E-Z Pass Grand Island Resident Plan, the 9~ toll did not change, holding residents harmless and has remained the same as when the plan was first established in 1980. Also through E-Z .Pass, Grand Island commuters are offered a monthly minimum usage charge of $5.00 — 20 trips at 25~ per trip vs. the full toll of 75~ per trip.”

Reply: RESIDENTS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING!!! AAAAUUUGGGHHHH!!!! - holding residents harmless? Who are you trying to impress Betsy?! Or are you just using legal “jargon” to try to make yourself and the BS that’s pouring out of this letter sound legitimate when you know it isn’t?

“Taking into account the uniqueness of the area, the Authority is having Vollmer Associates, an engineering firm that specializes in traffic and transportation planning, conduct a study to examine the costs, benefits and impacts of alternatives to the way the Authority currently collects tolls across the Thruway System, including Western New York. The framework for this study is expected to be completed in early 2007.”

Reply: So in other words our toll money is being spent on hiring an expensive corporation to “examine the costs” when in reality that means to decide how many more tolls they can create and how much more money they can put in their pocket. THIS NEEDS TO STOP!

“Should you have additional concerns regarding this matter, please feel free to contact my office at (518) 436-2983.”

Reply: I bet she won’t be available to comment on any of my statements.
I’m sorry but that just made me so mad to read that. Rus, let me know how you feel about my opinions stated here. Did you receive my information about the 103.3 radio show that helped get rid of the Buffalo Tolls?
Thanks,
Dan