The Bristol Town Council’s unanimous decision to support a 35-cent per-person “landing fee” — aka, tax — on passengers on the Prudence Ferry in my opinion is wrong.

I believe it is our basic right to pass between cities, towns and states without having to pay for the privilege. Just because Newport, Narragansett and New Shoreham extort landing fees from tourists, that doesn’t make it right.

We should be thrilled that people want to come to Bristol and not tax them for the privilege. What’s next … charging visiting yachts? Maybe a toll booth at the Mt. Hope Bridge and the Warren town line to charge everyone who passes through Bristol?

I believe that charging a landing fee, no matter the price, is taxation without representation, and sets a bad precedent. Perhaps we could learn to manage expenses with existing revenue rather than look for ways to nickel and dime our visitors.

Robert Hamel
859 Hope St.