You need to watch the video clip, not for my part of the interview but for the reaction and body language of Sam Hoyt. He wants this issue to go away. He claims that this is his issue and was irate when the tolls in Buffalo were removed he called Paladino and said something I will not repeat.

Instead of Mr. Fleischer answering the question about removing the tolls, Hoyt should have been answering. I don’t relly care what Fleischer’s opinion is concerning the tolls. When the Thruway Authority wanted to get rid of the tolls, it was Albany politicians that voted to keep them thus making this a political decision not Fleischer’s.

Have you signed the petition yet? Do it now at noGItolls.com We are not going away.

WKBW.com: Local News - Push continues to end Grand Island Tolls

Mar 02, 2007 - With the tolls eliminated months ago, the New York State Thruway Authority promises to remove the Ogden and Breckenridge toll barriers on the 190 by the end of the year. Could the Grand Island tolls be next? The push to remove those two tolls is moving forward.

It costs 75 cents to go to Grand Island…$1.50 if you cross the island and come back. Regular commuters get a discount…and Grand Island residents pay just 9 cents per trip. Still, Rus Thompson says the tolls have to go. “It’s a commuter tax.”

New York State Thruway Authority Executive Director Michael Fleischer had this to say Thursday about the possibility of removing the Grand Island tolls…”Those are big bridges. They’re expensive to maintain. They need work.”
“That is the biggest farce that they can put out,” said Thompson. “If they say they use the tolls to maintain the bridges, how come there isn’t a toll across every single bridge in New York State?”

Thompson launched a website…and he’s collected nearly 6 thousand signatures on a petition to get rid of the tolls. Now, he’s hoping to raise enough money to put up a couple of billboards on the 190 and 290. “We’ve gotten to the point, they’re ignoring us we got to get their attention. It’s time to embarass them.”

“We have been very aware of the uniqueness of Grand Island,” said Fleischer. Thompson blames the tolls for driving out businesses…pointing to the empty storefronts in this plaza on Grand Island Boulevard. He denounces critics who accuse him of wanting to bring in big business. “All I want to do is see business able to survive on Grand Island.” He’ll be driving that message home…until the tolls come down.