NoGItolls gains more momentum as a Niagara Falls community group called LaSalle Pride joins in with the Toll fight. We will be having a joint Press Concerence tomorrow 11-21-07 at 10:30 AM to announce the coalition and they will add 1000 signatures to our Petition. Our total now is more than 7500 signatures and growing. Carl Paladino will be joining us tomorrow and at the rally on Saturday.
With the newest talk of raising our tolls 20% in two years the demand for an audit has come from Congressman Brian Higgins and others have followed suit. I called for an audit two months ago and have been relentless emailing all our representatives in demanding it and the removal of the Grand Island Tolls.
Governor Spitzer was in town Monday and he claims that there is nothing he can do about the toll increase except try to keep it to a minimum. Once again they are either not hearing us or he is bowing to the Thruway Authority. It has come to a time for real citizen action and a protest. Please read below and be there Saturday as we walk across the North Grand Island Bridge.
I will make sure the media coverage is there and some of the Western New York delegation will be there. Senator Maziarz, Thompson, Assemblywoman Delmonte have already committed. I have not heard back from anyone on the Erie County side as of yet.
If there was ever a time to show frustration toward the thruway authority and the tolls, it is now, lets be there in force.
See you Saturday!
Thank you
Rus Thompson
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Coalition Announces Saturday Walk Against the Toll Increase & Removal of Grand Island Toll Barriers
LaSalle PRIDE and No GI Tolls will hold a press conference tomorrow, Wednesday, November 21st, 10:30 AM, to announce plans for Saturday’s protest demonstration. The 10:30 AM press conference will be at the pedestrian walkway to the North Grand Island Bridge at 63rd Street & Buffalo Avenue, Niagara Falls.
La Salle PRIDE of Niagara Falls and NoGITollscom of Grand Island have “invited local, county & state elected leaders to a protest rally and walk against the proposed increase to tolls at the I 190 Grand Island toll barriers,” said Walter Kendzia, spokesperson for LaSalle PRIDE. “We have collected over 1000 signatures for the removal of the toll barriers and plan to deliver them to our State representatives this Saturday,” he concluded.
“We are proud to join with LaSalle PRIDE in the fight against the toll increase and for the removal of the toll barriers,” said Rus Thompson of NoGI Tolls.com “Our website has received 6500 signatures supporting the removal of the toll barriers. We will also file our petitions with the State officials present on Saturday,” concluded Mr. Thompson. Petitions can be signed online at http://noGItolls.com
Carl Paladino plans to join Wednesday’s press conference and will also speak at Saturday’s rally. Mr. Paladino advocacy around toll barrier issues were instrumental in the removal of the two toll barriers in Buffalo (at Breckenridge and South Ogden.) In a recent letter to Governor Eliot Spitzer he asked, “Why does the State punish residents of Grand island and Niagara County above the operating cost across its entire system? This question deserves an answer,” he said.
Saturday’s, November 24th, protest event will begin with a 11 AM rally at 63rd Street and Buffalo Avenue in Niagara Falls. The rally participants will be joined by several public officials in the walk across the North Grand Island Bridge (east side) to an area near the Toll Barrier. There the presentation of petitions will be made to several States’ elected officials. The offices of NYS Senators Antoine Thompson, George Maziarz and Assemblywoman Francine Del Monte have indicated they will be present.
The LaSalle PRIDE petition states that “New York State has received sufficient funds to date from the collection of tolls to honor all commitments agreed to in its initial construction agreements. The removal of the toll barrier will end the continuing economic discrimination faced to those of us who must work, shop or attend school in Erie County. The savings, upwards of $7.50 weekly to the daily commuter, will pump more dollars not only back into the local economy but the State economy as well. In addition their removal will eliminate the idling of trucks, cars and buses that generates additional air pollution to our area.”
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Join the Saturday, Nov. 24, 11 AM march across the north Grand Island bridge. Demonstrate to the NYS Thruway Authority that our tolls are too high and the proposed increases are not acceptable. The toll barriers must be removed.
Join LaSalle PRIDE, the Grand Island “http://noGItolls.com ” group, and invited local, county & state legislators at the rally / walk. MEET AT BUFFALO AVENUE AT 63RD STREET. There is plenty of parking in the empty lots there.
We have over 7,500 signatures for the removal of the I 190 toll barriers which will be presented to our elected leaders. You can sign a petition at http://noGItolls.com or circulate the one attached and bring it to the rally.
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