New York – Staten Islanders to Protest Verrazano Bridge Toll Increase BY Paying 1,000 Pennies

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    New York – Protesters will take to the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge Monday at noon, for a slow drive across the span and the symbolic paying of the $10 cash toll with 1,000 pennies.

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    Organizing the effort is artist “Citizen Scott” LoBaido, who said he’s doing it because Staten Islanders need to vent after years of increasing toll costs.

    Between the economy and the fare and toll hike to take effect later this spring and summer, “we’re down to our pennies,” LoBaido said.

    He will lead the procession over the bridge’s upper level Monday from behind the wheel of his red, white and blue truck, followed by three cars behind him forming a perfect line across the lanes.
    Advance file photoArtist Scott LoBaido will lead the protest.

    When the protesters reach the toll plaza, they will slowly hand over their pennies, which toll collectors do not accept as a rule, but “it is legal tender,” LoBaido said.

    Thankfully for the toll takers, LoBaido gave up on an earlier idea to pay the toll with bags of cow manure, to symbolize that the toll hike is “B.S.”

    “If you don’t have 1,000 pennies, bring as many as you can and pay the rest in dimes and nickels,” he said.

    The protest is a “patriotic” and peaceful way for Staten Islanders to express their anger over paying such high toll rates, he said. “Staten Island has needed to vent for a very long time.”

    LoBaido said it’s too soon to say how many people will participate, but anyone interested in joining the cause should meet with their vehicle at the South Beach Zone 2 parking lot on Capodanno Boulevard at 10:45 a.m. sharp on Monday. From there, the caravan will drive across the bridge into Brooklyn, then loop around and ride back to Staten Island across the Island-bound upper level — where they’ll approach the toll plaza.

    The Verrazano cash toll will rise to $11 and the E-ZPass toll will rise to $9.14 when the MTA’s toll hike goes into effect July 12. The discounted E-ZPass toll for Staten Island residents will rise to $5.48.


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    23 Comments
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    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    You see Obama was right.The pennies left in our pockets or bank accounts are real ‘change’.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    they can come to my house and do the same. I will gladly accept how much they want to protest (give).
    in my household pennies are legal
    tender…….

    IDIOTS!!!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    am i reading this correctly 5.48 for si residents? what are they complaining about

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    It’s the only borough that has to pay a toll to go home at the end of the day. You can go to manhattan, queens, brooklyn for free but if you live in SI it costs $$$.
    It’s ridiculous… I’m glad I moved out of there.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    They should give one penny at a time

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    We should apply this method to other increases. NY is constantly raising all utilities every every year. Con edison raises every year for no reason and no one put up a fight. I think this artist is right in doing this protest.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    That’s the way to go. hats off to this artist, i’m gonna join you and pay with moldy pennies.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    How about protesting our tax increases and ticket blitz by sending in checks made out for a $1 so if you get a $115 ticket you will send in 115 checks made out to NYC. and the same goes to Con Edison we should all start sending in $1 checks.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    go to any other city. the top price toll is maybe 2-3 dollars

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    No one forced people to move to SI. It is part of their cost of living there. The same as if you live in NJ or Rockland and work in Manhattan where you also pay your tolls one way.

    And, as already mentioned, they are getting a discount for the bridge.

    yeeeeeeeeesssssssssss!
    yeeeeeeeeesssssssssss!
    14 years ago

    kudos to him, baby!!!!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    i never understood why the verazano bridge is so expensive

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    Sigh. Nice theatrical gesture, but it will amount to nothing. Take that energy and call up your local political officials and tell them that unless they roll back this charge, they and their friends are out of office.
    Just about all these fees (and, for that matter, a good portion of the latest Con Ed rate increase) are courtesy of higher taxes, which are put into place by these same elected officials.
    They just do a very good job of shirking responsibility.
    Call them on it. Remind your City Council member, and your State Senators and Assemblymen, and the Borough President, and.. the Mayor, that you’re well aware that _they_ are the ones responsible for picking your pockets.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    All TBTA bridges cost the same! If you take the Whitestone, Throggs Neck, Triboro ( I dont call it by its new name!) or Battery Tunnel, you pay both ways. On the Verrazano you pay double but only one way. The SI residents have it good because they get a discount that the residents of the other boroughs DONT get! So in the end, the Verrazano is cheaper than the rest of the bridges.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    #19 stole my point 5.48 only 1 way divide it in two comes out to nothing chill

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    The cars are 10 dollars, trucks are 54 dollars. I don’t think there is a more expensive bridge in the US

    Someone who is angry!
    Someone who is angry!
    14 years ago

    The toll is friggin’ 11 dollars now! Who has money that they can be throwing out like that. Just to cross a damn bridge. They must be kidding. It almost makes me want to not go to Brooklyn anymore. It’s to expensive to go to another friggin’ borough. That is the most ridiculous thing I’ve heard in awhile. What the hell!?