Atlantic Beach & Neighbors and Coalition of The Civic Associations of The Barrier Island began a petition on Change.org calling for The Nassau County Bridge Authority To Make Their Financials Transparent.
“Dear Honorable Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, Dear Honorable Letitia James, Attorney General of New York, Dear Honorable Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Senator for Nassau County, New York,
Your urgent attention is needed. As we speak, a very serious problem is impacting over 45,000 residents of Atlantic Beach, the Long Beach Barrier Island, Long Island, and all those who are using the Atlantic Beach draw bridge for home or work beyond Nassau County.
Nassau County Bridge Authority has informed the public of the implementation of cashless tolling and a significant toll increase on the Atlantic Beach Bridge. Since there are limited options for access to and from the Island, residents are heavily dependent on this bridge. Mass transit options are few and many residents are elderly with mobility issues, making them vehicle-dependent. The toll increase will burden the community many of whom are retirees, living on fixed incomes and make it difficult for them especially to receive personal care aide services.
The toll increase deters healthcare healthcare providers whose salaries can not afford the extra cost of the toll.Delivery services such as for food or laundry who residents have relied on stopped serving the area due to the toll increase and others he had to double their delivery fees. Residents find the toll increase excessive and detrimental to all aspects of the daily living.
Presumably, once EZ Pass and cashless tolling are implemented, the NCBA costs will decrease due to automation and the need for fewer employees. The residents of the Village of Atlantic Beach, Atlantic Beach Estates, East Atlantic Beach, Long Beach, Lido Beach, the Five Towns, Long Island, The Edgemere Civic Association for Far Rockaway, and The Long Beach Latino Civic Association respectfully request an investigation and audit by the Office of the State Comptroller to determine if the toll increase is necessary. The residents demand full transparency on how the NCBA Board spends the funds collected through tolls. Also, we would like to understand why The Nassau County Bridge Authority operates as a private corporation for profit when the bridge should be a public service. The residents already pay taxes which pays for the other Nassau County bridges which are toll-less. Please look for our second Petition demanding that the toll increase be rescinded
Your prompt attention would be greatly appreciated. Please contact the community of Atlantic Beach and neighbors, with The Long Beach Latino Civic Association, Edgemere Civic Association for Far Rockaway, and others at [email protected] with an update.
Thank you kindly you for your consideration and we look forward to hearing from you.”
JOIN PETITION BY CLICKING HERE
Remember that BRUCE BLAKEMAN — who many of us were duped into voting for — fired the AB Bridge Board and put his own cronies in their place who raised the bridge tolls at his direction. This is BLAKEMAN’s fault!
Corrupt Bruce!!!! Shame on him!!! He expects our votes but raises our tolls!!
Bruce always claims our community owes him “hakarat hatov” but how about some hakaras hatov for our votes for him! This is how he repays us-by raising our tolls? It’s a shondah as Bruce would say.
There are no more full time toll collectors only part time no benefits. Therefore the tolls should be decreased or eliminated, preferably the latter.
Bruce doesn’t do anything for part time civil service workers either – he has the power to work on the conscience and the pockets of the Nassau County Civil Service in Hempstead – headed by a woman – no experience for her job.
I think bruce blakman was supposed to try and lower property taxes in the county of nassau when he was running for county executive no?
Bruce made all these promises – lower red light camera tickets (I’m sorry but $180 is highway robbery), “fix” the assessment system and lower property taxes, end cashless bail. He hasn’t done ANYTHING!! He is a liar and fraud.
Thanks for the story! It is a big problem whose attention is long overdue. Let’s see what the regulators the petitions are sent to will do. It was not sent to Blakemen.
Blakeman caused the problem – he isnt a regulator
Blakeman lives in Atlantic Beach. Coincidence? The man never held a real job, a good friend of George Santos, and his first wife left him. Nu?
He also appointed a real estate developer from neighborhood to the bridge athority
His wife is being made a judge. Enough said
Shame on Bruce Blakeman — the most corrupt County Exec Nassau has ever seen!!!
I am never voting for Bruce again
wow the anger is it from the left or the right. i hope the next county executive will be super liberal so we can have a 6t
I was wondering why Bruce Blakeman wasn’t addressed in this petition, and I’m guessing it’s because it would be futile and only fall on deaf ears. He was all too happy to run onto national Fox News and gloat about how he directed Nassau County to defy the state mask mandate, but totally ignores all of us here at home. He just wants attention for his right wing cred. He said all the right things to get elected but foesnt care to make things better.
I am a lifelong Republican. But you gotta use common sense. Todd Kaminsky and Kathleen Rice, for instance, showed up for our community and delivered. Rice voted no on the Iron Dome. Kaminsky championed yeshiva funding. Bruce has done zilch other than have R next to his name. Worse, he’s raising the bridge toll to fund patronage jobs. Sorry but I am never voting for Bruce again
Surprise … now his wife is becoming a judge
Bruce is so corrupt!!!!!!
VOTE BRUCE OUT!!!
Bruce is the worst County Exec ever