TOLL ALTERNATIVE COMMITTEE BEGINS WORK

The next few months are crucial in this effort to eliminate destructive tolls and maintain bridges across the State in a fair, responsible way. Those on this committee need to hear from as many people as possible, as do State leaders. Bridge maintenance is a financial issue, but laying this burden solely on East Bay residents and businesses is a political issue. Those who continue to advocate this outrageous toll scheme must know there will be a long-term political price to pay.

http://www.heraldnews.com/news/x511629730/RI-legislators-ponder-how-to-fund-efforts-to-bring-roads-bridges-up-to-snuff

Brian Medeiros
Tiverton, RI

COMMITTEE CONSIDERING TOLL ALTERNATIVES BEGINS MEETING THURSDAY

As the committee charged with exploring a statewide system to maintain bridges without tolls begins meeting this Thursday, the time for toll opponents to make their opposition heard is now. The obvious arguments of fairness and the destructive and divisive results of tolls need to continue being made loud and clear. But it must also be made clear to the State's political leadership that Sakonnet Bridge tolls, whatever the amount, will never be accepted, and those who support tolls will pay a political price.

With the top advocate of tolls, the Governor, not seeking re-election, it's the ideal time for State leaders to put this divisive issue behind them and devise a non-toll means to fund maintenance to all state bridges fairly and efficiently.

http://www.eastbayri.com/news/bridge-fundingtolls-study-panel-begins-work/

Brian Medeiros
Tiverton, RI

PROJO: GOV. CHAFEE WILL NOT RUN FOR RE-ELECTION

Governor Lincoln Chafee has decided not to run for re-election next year. Beyond all the other implications of this decision, it has the potential to drastically change the Sakonnet Toll issue. The primary supporter of tolls will not be Governor after next year, nor a candidate in the 2014 campaign. There are three ways this could benefit the united effort to eliminate destructive tolls on the Sakonnet River Bridge.

First, there is an opportunity in the 2014 primaries to support only candidates who oppose SRB tolls. This is why it's crucial to form a united electorate committed to turning out to vote in 2014 and support only anti-toll candidates.We need to get all candidates to take a clear stand on the issue, and make sure all voters know which candidates will stand with the people of the East Bay.

Second, as the committee charged with considering alternatives to tolls and a Statewide process of funding bridge maintenance begins to meet, the equation has been altered. With the primary proponent of imposing this unfair tax on East Bay residents and businesses no longer a candidate, it's time to maximize efforts to convince those on the committee, and our Senate and House leadership, that there is no upside to supporting these tolls. This committee is the ideal opportunity to correct a bad situation. and responsibly fund bridge maintenance in a way that treats all Rhode Islanders equally.

And third, this presents an opportunity to persuade Governor Chafee that however well-intentioned this toll plan might have been, it's also the most unfair, inefficient, and destructive means to address the maintenance issue. With a year left in office, surely he doesn't want this divisive and wrongheaded toll plan to be his lasting legacy with an entire region of RI, any more than State and House leaders do. Supporting a non-toll maintenance process that is uniform statewide would solve two problems and remove this contentious issue.

This Sakonnet Toll process has been a maddening and frustrating one. The absolute promise of the State not to consider tolls on the replacement bridge was simply disregarded, the unfairness of targeting only one region with tolls disregarded, the near-unanimous opposition of residents and businesses ignored.

The bridge belongs to us, the people of RI who paid for it, and we must not accept our elected representatives handing control of it over to a quasi-public agency whose primary concern is covering their operating budget. Tolls are a betrayal of the people, and a bad deal for all except the RI Turnpike & Bridge Authority. The time is now to correct course and devise a bridge-maintenance plan that will solve the problem without creating worse ones.

Brian Medeiros
Tiverton, RI

http://www.providencejournal.com/breaking-news/content/20130904-r.i.-governor-chafee-will-not-seek-re-election-poll.ece

TOLL CIRCUS: 10-CENT "TRAINING TOLLS" START AUG 19, RITBA SAYS DRIVERS MUST CONTACT RITBA TO PAY

Once again, you can't make this stuff up. 10-cent "training tolls" are set to start Aug. 19, but RITBA has yet to figure out how to collect the toll from non EZ-pass drivers. Even better, RITBA Director Darlington says it will be the legal responsibility of the driver to contact RITBA and pay the toll, not for RITBA to have a system to collect them. Honestly, this is the organization some want to turn OUR bridge over to? The Committee set up to consider toll-alternatives needs to come up with a fair, non-destructive means of maintaining ALL bridges in RI and end this toll circus.

http://www.eastbayri.com/news/tolls-to-start-aug-19-collection-issues-remain/

Brian Medeiros
Tiverton, RI

RIDEM SUES TIVERTON TO BLOCK ORDINANCE DESIGNED TO PROTECT DRINKING WATER

You can't make this stuff up. RI Department of Environmental Management, the State agency charged with safeguarding the environment, is now suing Tiverton. Our offense? Our Town Council passed an ordinance regulating fishing tournaments on Stafford Pond, a major source of drinking water. That's right, RIDEM is fighting a community trying to protect its environment! Why? No doubt these tournaments are a source of revenue for RIDEM, so instead of putting in place sensible regulations themselves, they sue a community for trying to do so. After all, what could possibly go wrong with unregulated boats and fuel on an area's drinking water supply?

The next time someone asks you how far beyond rational RI State government has gotten, you need only point them to the Sakonnet River Bridge tolls and RIDEM suing to stop a town from protecting its envirnonment. Hard to believe we have State (or quasi-State) agencies putting their financial needs above the good of the people they serve.


http://www.heraldnews.com/newsnow/x273440789/DEM-files-suit-against-Tiverton-to-overturn-Stafford-Pond-ordinance

Brian Medeiros
Tiverton, RI

LEGAL BATTLE TO STOP TOLLS CONTINUES

The legal battle against tolls continues, and hopefully a court will step up and stop SRB tolls. But these tolls were put in place by our State officials, and whether to remove or increase them is a political decision. We need as many people as possible to get involved, to call and/or write the Governor, leaders of the House and Senate, and members of the Committee studying alternatives to tolls. The committee report is due in January, and our State leaders must be encouraged to do the right thing and create a fair, non-destructive means of funding bridge maintenance across RI.

http://www.heraldnews.com/newsnow/x273439155/U-S-Court-of-Appeals-OKs-withdrawal-of-Sakonnet-toll-appeal-sends-case-back-to-District-Court

Brian Medeiros
Tiverton, RI

STATE BRIDGE-MAINTENANCE COMMISSION FORMS

Good to see local elected officials (Representative Jay Edwards, Senator Lou DiPalma, and Senator Christopher Ottiano) appointed to this Commission, which will explore alternatives to tolls as a means of funding state bridges. The outcome of this Commission is key to eliminating the 10-cent "training toll" set to begin in August for good, and putting into place a responsible, fair, non-destructive means of funding bridge maintenance across RI.

The 10-cent toll was enacted with the idea that it would keep the toll option open until this Commission's work is done early next year (a lawsuit making the obvious claim that the bridge was "substantially completed" last year when it opened to traffic is still pending). Our State leaders now have an opportunity to come up with a statewide means of funding bridge maintenance, which treats all taxpayers equally and fairly, and that doesn't require economically-destructive tolls.

And the people of Rhode Island, especially those in the East Bay most affected, have an opportunity to stay informed and get involved in pushing our State leadership to do the right thing for all Rhode Islanders. Spread the word to all you know across RI. Call or email not only your Representative and Senator, but the Senate and House leadership, the Governor, and leaders of RIDOT and RI Bridge & Turnpike Authority. The system only works when the people step up and make it work.

http://www.eastbayri.com/news/house-senate-leaders-appoint-lawmakers-to-commission-to-study-funding-for-state-bridge-maintenance/

Brian Medeiros
Tiverton, RI