DAVID ARKIN: How to help take down Grand Island tolls

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November 26, 2006

By David Arkin The Niagara Gazette Sun Nov 26, 2006, 10:00 PM EST

NIAGARA FALLS — A few notes as I’m happy to report that our kitchen is finally finding some sort of normalcy after our Thanksgiving feast.

n TAKE DOWN THOSE TOLLS: There’s no doubt that the closing of two tolls in Buffalo have folks fired up on this side of the region.

But before we start throwing the confetti in the air — and believing that the Grand Island tolls will be coming down soon — we should all be reminded just how long it took the state’s Thruway Authority to no longer require

75-cent tolls at the Black Rock and City Line barriers.

And it took a gigantic effort to make it happen — one that included a huge media and political blitz.

Will the same be needed for the Grand Island tolls?

Likely.

And that’s why it’s good to see a Web site started by political hopeful Rus Thompson that’s asking folks to sign a petition to take down the tolls.

The site says that those who sign the petition offer the governor these three options:

n Build another bridge to Grand Island.

n Expand or widen the bridges.

n Remove the tolls to allow the free flow of traffic.

The site says while options No. 1 and No. 2 are OK, the petitioners really want choice No. 3.

If you want to sign the petition go to http://www.petitiononline.com/GItoll06/petition-sign.html. You can find a link to the site on the Gazette’s homepage — www.niagara-gazette.com.

Almost 2,000 people have already put their John Hancock on the petition. You can actually check out who has signed the petition through the Web site. Some pretty interesting names are on there. But honestly, what politician or WNY heavyweight at this point wouldn’t support taking down the tolls? You would be pretty foolish to go against that movement.

While the petition is well and good, it’s unfortunately going to take much more than 2,000 signatures to have it torn down. The same full-court press that was used to take down Buffalo’s, will once again be necessary for the Grand Island. It’s sad, but true.

n NIAGARA LIVING: In happier news, be sure to check out Niagara Living inside today’s paper.

The section is once again loaded with tons of goodies.

The cover story this month is on a local antique trail that spans Niagara and Orleans counties. There’s a map to go with the story, which details where you can find the different shops.

Also, check out a story on the upcoming Lewiston Christmas Walk activities and a feature piece on Cayuga Island.

Niagara Living is a project we’re very proud of here at the Gazette and one that’s very popular in our community. It’s refreshing, we hear from readers, to see a product that’s uplifting and makes you happy to call this place home.

n MALL PROJECT: In today’s Gazette, you hopefully read Day 1 of our two-part series called the Summit’s Climb.

The project examines what is needed to attract more tenants and visitors to the Wheatfield mall.

It’s no secret that the mall isn’t exactly enjoying the hustle and bustle of mall goers that it once did. The project hopefully answers why that is the case and what can or should be done to save it.

Day 2 of the project will focus on Eastern Hills Mall, which is going through a major makeover, one that the Summit may need to consider as it weighs its future.

Let us know what you think of the series.

Contact Gazette Managing Editor David Arkin at 282-2311, Ext. 2241, or by e-mail at arkind@gnnewspaper.com.

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