On August 5, the Brooklyn Paper ran letters to the editor that supported tolls on city-owned East River bridges. The letters responded to an article on the recent Quinnipiac University poll showing that New Yorkers favor East River bridge tolls over a bus and subway fare hike by a 2 to 1 margin (MTR #375). Some highlights:

“As a Brooklyn resident, I fully support tolls on East River crossings.  With mass transit across the bridges readily available, those who choose to take cars into the city (what a terrible idea!) should pay for the privilege.  Most of my neighbors don’t own cars.” 

“I say bring on the bridge tolls! Those of us who live in the districts surrounding the East River bridges suffer greatly from the daily barrage of automobile commuters. The traffic is a nightmare at all hours, the pollution grows worse every day and the noise alone is like having an airport runway in your backyard... Thankfully, we finally have a mayor who has shown some sense on this issue. Your latest story shows that the people of Brooklyn back him up...This city is the only one in America where car owners are a minority. Drivers have been getting a free ride on the East River bridges for 50 years. It’s time for the few to stop ruining the lives of the many.” 

“Just about everyone I know feels it will finally mitigate our overwhelming traffic woes and bring back quality of life to our streets...Tolls make sense for the long-term future of Brooklyn: it’s too bad that we have some elected leaders who don’t seem to realize it. The people do, and they have spoken.” 

“Roy Vanasco of Community Board 2 repeated the canard of toll plazas causing traffic backups and pollution.  But East River tolls will be non-cash, with no toll plazas.  Traffic will actually flow more smoothly as some drivers leave their cars at home once in a while to save money.” 

“With tolls, the air will be cleaner, the streets less noisy, drivers will get to where they need to go quicker, goods will get on shelves faster, deliveries will be on time, children will have fewer health problems, families will spend more time together, and the number of pedestrians and cyclists killed an injured by cars should decline.

Poll: Two to One, New Yorkers Prefer East River Tolls Over Fare Increase (July 22, 2002)
 

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