Subject: The Fight against the Sakonnet Bridge tolls is still on and nothing has changed.
The Friday, March 8 story in the Providence Journal Story about the Thursday House Finance Committee hearings has given many the wrong impression about our effort to reverse the decision to toll the Sakonnet Bridge. The decision has not been made, and the efforts of the STOP Committee to stop the toll continues unabated. It has been a long hard campaign, one that began in October of last year, but we have made substantial progress and our campaign is going very well. We have a very good chance to reverse last year’s law establishing the tolls. We must not lose heart.
There are presently FIVE bills in the Assembly to reverse the decision to toll the Sakonnet
Bridge and those opposed to the tolls remain fully engaged. Our success critically depends upon citizen turnout at the Assembly for the House Finance Committee Hearing in late March or early April. The brutal fact of life in the Assembly is that numbers count for everything. If we get a big crowd we have a chance. We need everyone’s continued support.
Now with 31,000 + signatures on a petition opposing the tolls, a successful media campaign and the remarkably successful DOT hearings in Portsmouth and Tiverton, we in East Bay have been able to turn this situation around. I would like to remind everyone that the State asked to toll route 95, but because it was a Federal Highway, they were turned down. But rout 146 is not.
When our Representatives inform us when the Finance Committee in the House of Representatives hearing is set, usually starts between 1:00 and 4:00 PM in the RI Statehouse in Providence, we must move quickly. We will let you know through the news papers, radio, fliers and personal e-mails. If you are willing and able, please come and show your opposition and support those who will testify.
Buses or vans will be provided, and will leave the Stop and Shop in Middletown, Clements Market on East Main Road Portsmouth, and the Park and Ride parking lot on Fish Road inTiverton. Times will be announced when we know them.
IF WE ARE TO BE HEARD, WE NEED NUMBERS TO STAND OUR GROUND ON THIS
ISSUE…..NO TOLL….
Please call Jeanne Smith at 401-683-1764 or e-mail at notolljeanne@cox.net, to let us know your
coming.We have come a long way; lets’ get this thing done!
Jeanne Smith, STOP Committee
Antone Viveiros, Chairman
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