Newcomers: Tremblay's = El Parque.

Your right Tamori, El Parque as well....

Forgot newport and portsmouth Jeanne ;-}

Also forgot Stop and Shop I think allows anyone to do Petitions out side the Store ( I know they allow politicians, save the bay etc) if you could get someone to hang around a few hours a couple days a week, Just a thought.

How about just paying the toll and having the maintenance performed and life goes on? To be truly useful how about a signature to stop the crazyness going on with funding the fix for the the windmill.

If putting a reasonable ($.83) toll on the bridge allows the life expectancy to be as long as the Mount Hope has been, I'm for the toll.

It's ridiculous that the original bridge only lasted 56 years, even less if you consider that there's been a weight restriction for 13 years.

Obviously state and local governments can't be relied upon to spend the necessary money on maintenance, whether that be bridges, roads, or wind turbines. Better to pay a private company and hold them accountable (and hope they dont go bankrupt)!

Flo's clam shack should collect signatures because as soon as the toll goes up that business is gone with the wind

What you pro toll fools are forgetting is that the several mass residents that spend good money on the island will not pay the eight dollars. Four each way. Add eight bucks to any local trip by a mass resident and the damage is done to the island AND ri taxesxcoming in. Don't forget about the meals tax the towns will lose.

I agree with all the Ye sayers. If we don't pay for it, who will. I want a good bridge capable of standing for more than a few years. If a buck each time I go over will ensure that, it's for a good cause. With all this other ridiculous spending going on, you'd think less people would be up in arms over a charge that almost everyone else in America that uses a bridge has to endure. If you pay more than 50 bucks a month minimum for your iphones, you can certainly afford a few extra bucks a week to keep these bridges up and running.

Jon Sisson, you should do your home work . The federal gas tax was put in place to fund transportation improvements . We pay close to the highest gas tax in the nation . Tolls impede commerce and create a hazard . If you owned a business on the Island you might feel different since the price of every thing transported to the island will increase . Tolls will decrease retail sales on the island causing more businesses to close their doors. Governor Gump is a clueless idiot and so are the legislators who voted for this . If the Legislature had been funding DOT road maintenance instead of billion in welfare programs our roads would be fine The tolls are not only suppose to fund bridge maintenance . The plan is to fund all of the transportation Improvements in Newport and Bristol County . That mean the RITBA will be floating hundreds of millions in bonds in just a few years to catch up with the back log. If anyone think the toll will not go up to three or four dollars in just a few years your fooling yourself . It's time to revolt !

If you want in state rates($0.89) you will need a RITBA ez pass. I don't know why RI does this no other state I know of has different rates for different users. Back when they had tokens everybody that used tokens paid the same rate ($0.89) no matter what state they lived in. Why are we charging Mass. residents who work on the islad a higher rate everyone shoud pay the same and if nothing else the rate should be lower in the beginning as a new bridge shoud not require as much maintence. The Dot has funds to build train stations nobody uses it has money to replace private mailboxes that not only do not need to be replaced but that the owners don't want replaced. They waste so much money on stupid stuff but claim to have no money for things we need.

The Senate vote
N ALGIERE
Y BATES
Y CICCONE
Y COTE
Y CROWLEY
Y DaPONTE
Y DeVALL
Y DiPALMA
Y DOYLE
N FELAG
Y FOGARTY
Y GALLO
Y GOODWIN
N HODGSON
Y JABOUR
N KETTLE
Y LANZI
Y LOMBARDO
Y LYNCH
N MAHER
Y McCAFFREY
NV METTS
Y MILLER
N MOURA
Y NESSELBUSH
Y O'NEILL, E.
Y OTTIANO
Y PERRY
Y PICARD
Y PICHARDO
Y PINGA
Y RUGGERIO
Y SHEEHAN
N SHIBLEY
Y SOSNOWSKI
Y TASSONI
Y WALASKA
Y PAIVA WEED

The House vote
Y AJELLO
Y AZZINARO
Y BALDELLI-HUNT
Y BENNETT
Y BLAZEJEWSKI
Y BRIEN
Y CARNEVALE
Y CHIPPENDALE
Y CIMINI
Y CODERRE
Y CORVESE
Y COSTA
Y DASILVA
Y DESIMONE
Y DIAZ
N DICKINSON
N EDWARDS
Y EHRHARDT
Y FELLELA
Y FERRI
NV FLAHERTY
N GALLISON
N GORDON
N GUTHRIE
Y HANDY
Y HEARN
Y HULL
Y JACKSON
Y JACQUARD
Y JOHNSTON
Y KEABLE
Y KENNEDY
Y LALLY
Y LIMA
Y MACBETH
Y MALIK
Y MARCELLO
Y MARTIN
Y MATTIELLO
Y MCCAULEY
Y MCLAUGHLIN
Y MCNAMARA
Y MEDINA
Y MELO
Y MENARD
NV MESSIER
Y MORGAN
N MORRISON
Y NAUGHTON
Y NEWBERRY
Y NUNES
NV O'GRADY
Y O'NEILL
Y PALUMBO
Y PETRARCA
Y PHILLIPS
N REILLY
Y RUGGIERO
Y SAN BENTO
Y SAVAGE
NV SCHADONE
Y SERPA
Y SILVA
Y SLATER
Y TANZI
Y TARRO
Y TOMASSO
Y TRILLO
Y UCCI
Y VALENCIA
Y WALSH
N WATSON
Y WILLIAMS
NV WINFIELD
Y MR SPEAKER

The United States federal excise tax on gasoline is 18.4 cents per gallon and 24.4 cents per gallon for diesel fuel
Rhode Island 51.4 Gas 57.4 Diesel There is also a fuel tax on Propane and BioDiesel.

no tolls at the least your property taxes will raise because the schools with cross the bridges for sports etc, just one reason for NO TOLLS

The facts are it was just my opinion. No need for hate. I'm 23 and even I know If ya'll want changes, petitions usually aren't the most aggressive form of protest. (again just opinion) and buying a boat is always an option. :) all I was saying wad there are bigger things to worry about, my friends.

Also please don't label people when they haven't done so themselves. I'm not pro toll, just pro not whining about another couple bucks.

Tell us Jon , what do you think about the job situation or the growing State debt ? You better take a side before they ruin this State. Get informed, and involved. It's your future.

I'm perfectly fine with bridges being taxed to help with upkeep but I believe they should collect the money to support state wide bridges in another area. They are also looking to toll the Mt. Hope Bridge. This means that every single avenue to travel to Aquidneck Island will require a toll. I don't think it's right to hurt the residents, workers and businesses in this area of the state. There are many other areas that can be taxed in some form. It should be more evenly dispersed.

(Jon, I'm 22. Your age shouldn't have anything to do with the value of your opinion. I have a hunch that anyone that may have an opinion here of a higher age will use that to their advantage. )

However, what needs to be considered is that for many it will not be just a couple of bucks. Should you only be in the area on a rare occasion that's certainly an understandable expense. But it's covering the entirety of the island. As a resident of Bristol and an employee in Newport all my life, the island is a second home for me. I'd rather not have to spend $8 every day of my working career there. There isn't an exact toll amount yet to my knowledge, but that is the cost of the Newport bridge already in place at one outlet of the island.

Props to the Patch for having these articles to inform people. But feuding with other residents won't help anything either. Name using aside, opinions are opinions and the FACT is that people will vote or take action however they want.
If you want it to be one way, take action in a productive fashion and go out and do something.
Power doesn't come from turning the Patch into a flame forum.
Neither does singling people out. Go roid rage somewhere else.
I'm sure Craigslist rant and rave could use some entertainment.

as a Ma. Resident it will be a cold day in He__ before i pay that toll. I will go through Bristol first

Jon I don't have an issue paying the toll. I just won't pay it! Easier to get to work by going through Fall River anyway it's just that I enjoy the ride and spend my money in RI. The issue here is that there will be a substantial toll (no pun intended - seriously) on the businesses on the Island and even Bristol and Warren. I know several people that travel to many of the east bay towns from Tiverton and LC that just won't go. Some because of the $1.66 round trip and others because they live in nearby Mass and it makes no sense for them to pay the extra $8.

The point is that RI WILL suffer even greater then it does now. The towns that got that extra 1% meals tax WILL suffer. How does that help anything?

Danielle - NO toll on Mt. Hope now that the Sakonnet has been turned over. But on another note I find it interesting that a toll is needed so badly on the Sakonnet to begin to maintain it when the authority ALSO TOOK POSSESSION OF THE JAMESTOWN BRIDGE. They can't toll that bridge but guess who is paying to maintain it? You got it...the locals here in Tiv/LC/Ports/Bris, etc

I mean no disrespect to the originator of the petition to block tolls -- but will it do anything? Once the General Assembly passes a law and the Governor signs, can a petition overturn it?

Media in the East Bay has done a good job of covering the Sakonnet Bridge toll debate. However, the major TV stations, Providence Journal, talk radio, etc has fallen down on the job in terms of the coverage. The average person in Providence doesn't spend much time in Portsmouth or Tiverton, so it's a non issue and doesn't get much coverage. But it's a major economic issue for the entire state, even if people in Providence think it doesn't affect them.
Newport County is a cash cow for the state of Rhode Island. We give a lot and ask for little. The average Rhode Islander outside of the East Bay doesn't understand what a detriment this toll would be. If they did, political pressure on legislators in other parts of the state could have prevented this bill from passing.

Jeanne, I would love to talk to you about working on this project! A few of us met on Tuesday in Tiverton to discuss possible actions. Someone at the meeting mentioned your name and I was going to try and make contact. I will call tomorrow.
It is my understanding that this has to pass through the legislature one more time and that we still have time to act..

How could Theresa Paiva Reed vote for this , does she not think this will have an impact on Newport ?

Theresa Paiva Reed needs to go anyway. Here's one more reason.

Thinking back to my days as a commuter student at Salve Regina (from Fall River), I can't imagine having to pay this type of toll. I used to drive to Newport to for my 8:00 A.M. class, drive back to Fall River to work as a bank teller, then head back to Newport for evening classes. If I had day classes, more often than not, I would
drive back home to eat, change, etc., then head back to Newport again to go out. A $4.00 toll for MA residents would have resulted in a daily commuting cost of $16.00 plus gas!

Glad I'm buying a house in Tiverton instead of Newport or Bristol. At least I won't have to go over the bridge. Was really looking forward to enjoying Newport and Bristol again (as well as Tiverton), but I will definitely think twice about that. Sucks for me. And I won't even be able to vote :(

Dipalma from Middletown voted for this also ?

The Gas tax was put in place to keep our roads maintained . Also to fund transportation improvements. As I stated earlier the tax is close to the highest in the nation. What has happened over the years is the Legislature took the money from DOT and put in to the social service budget. They told us we can fund new programs and not raise major taxes. We now see the result of their misguided endeavors. The DOT needs to be funded and revamped to fix the internal problems . This issue has been plaguing us for decades. We have been sued and lost cases that caused the State to pay about a half a billion to companies who do work for the State. The Barrington Bridge was the last as I remember we payed millions to that construction company because DOT engineers made mistakes. The Engineering dept should be privatized . The union member Legislators seem to block every reform, and the Law suites are the result.
It is time to stand up and be counted . We need to demand reforms to the DOT. We need to demand that the Legislature put the gas tax back in DOT budget and lock it there as it used to be . They unlocked the box and picked it clean The pick pocket Legislature has broken the state.

Everyone will hate my opinion, but read the whole thing.

If there is to be a toll on the new bridge then there should be a toll on the Mt. Hope bridge. Why? Because those avoiding tolls will use the Mt Hope, no other choice. That said, other than bridge maintenance paid for by the tolls, which are or will be under RI Bridge and turnpike (do we have any?) then the bridge maintenance is covered and they do a nice job keeping up the bridges, although, I am tired of the one lane closures on the Mt. Hope. The BIG problem is the traffic leading to and from the Mt. Hope will be increased, as it has been with the weight restriction. Now that is good for businesses along the route, to a point, but it is killing the roads through additional traffic and the residents of the state have to pay to keep up these roads, which I don't believe would be covered by any toll.

At the end of the day, the consumer always pays for any increase in business costs, such as tolls or higher gas prices. The trucking companies don't eat this, nor do the retail and restaurants, it gets pasted on to the consumer. The only benefit for the residents of the State of RI, will be the fact that out of state residents will have to pay to go on and off the island, as the locals will be paying the toll through increased goods prices, although that may be already being paid as the trucks have a longer trip onto the island by going via Mt Hope or Newport bridges.

As for the out of state residents, did the toll increase on the Newport bridge cut visits or cars over the bridge? I don't know, but based on Newport traffic, no. Out of state workers? If RI has such a high unemployment rate, why should we provide good paying jobs for out of state residents? Why should our property values suffer from foreclosures because people can't get jobs and they lose their houses, of course, driving up property tax rates because of a decreased tax payer base.

Let us also consider this, if tolls go in place, RI residents will pay less than neighboring states, on a bridge and route (24) that only goes really to 2 RI towns (Tiverton and Little Compton), otherwise, it is on a route that leads directly from Boston.

So in my opinion, out of state visitors/workers should contribute to the use of the roads and bridges in some way. Every comment section I read, someone always says, buy in MA because it is cheaper, well, that doesn't help RI, that doesn't help the local business, and that doesn't help the residents of RI in the long run. If gas is cheaper in MA then RI doesn't get its road money from the gas tax, etc..

Simple...vote for republicans next time.

Spoke with Linda Slavin yesterday. Is on the Agenda for Portsmouth meeting August 14th... I will bring the petitions and speak then.....Get the word out....Thank You

Mark says "You could get every person in Newport county and Bristol County to sign a petition and it still wouldn't be successful. The tolls are going up because the rest of the state realizes this as of right now is the only course of action available. Unless anyone knows of another. "

Agree Mark. While it may make everyone "feel" good and it gives all the local politicians something to make it look like they are doing something for their re-elections, nothing will change until there is another way to PAY for it. I too think there are bigger issues in the state and in our own communities (in my opinion of course).

I do not understand people with this defeatist attitude. You are hiding your head in the sand as so many have for so long now. That is how this State and Country got the way it is and that is your fault if you never screamed to the high heavens to your representatives about anything.

There are bigger things to worry about? Really you say that and do not even put out what they are. But you know what, it does not matter, because you also do not realize that the small things add up. A 5% tax becomes a 7% temporary tax, that becomes a permanent tax. Anyone who believes what Mark D is saying about where the funds will go on anything is either blind or has not lived in this State or Country for that matter very long. In this State you cannot name a single instant that funds have gone to exactly what was said before they got the money. They are thieves and evil people period.

How many times have any of you “defeatist” gone to Council meetings, committee meetings, wrote your legislators, State and Federal. Talked to them face to face. Why anyone would tell someone else to not make a petition because it is an exercise in futility is just plain ignorant of what this Country was founded on and what the damn 1st Amendment says.

Think about this 6% of the population of the Colonist, fought and made this a Country, they Started the end of an Empire. If they followed those here who say it is worthless to petition we would still be under King George the tyrant. geeze

Mark they did request the tolls on 95 CT border, they were turned down for now there is still an effort to do it in the State House.

Updated: Saturday, 18 Feb 2012, 8:20 AM EST
Published : Friday, 17 Feb 2012, 2:12 PM EST

By Ted Nesi, WPRI.com Reporter

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - The Federal Highway Administration has turned down the Chafee administration’s request to place tolls on Interstate 95 near the Connecticut border, but the state is still hoping to eventually receive permission.

Link for the whole story.

http://www.wpri.com/dpp/news/local_news/us-rejects-ri-push-to-put-tolls-in-i-95

I agree with that anology, but I am confused on the State still saying they still hoping to eventually receive permission.

I have searched high and low to try and figure out that angle. The only thing I come up with that is a possibilty is bribery, which is our States most valuable resource lol.
...

Unfortunately the majority of people in this State are not going to lift a hand. They may grumble a little ,but will not take the time to get involved. The State Budget is $8 Billion Dollars this year . There is no reason for this other than incompetence , and apathy .

If the politicians upstate wanted to raise funds for transportation and be fair to the entire state, they should place tolls on the new 195 bridge and the new 95 bridge they are building in Pawtucket. Let them give those bridges to the RIBTA and start taxing a larger portion of Rhode Islanders. Fair is fair.

Tolls are not the answer. A better legislature is the cure. The current group has no clue how to fix this State. Till we change the make up of the General Assembly we are Bankruptcy bound. We have lost over one hundred and thirty thousand manufacturing jobs since the 80's. The Progressive Liberal Legislature has raised taxes each and every year. Mandates have forced the cities and towns to do the same. The cure is well know to most. We just don't seem to be able to get there.

Dan D, you say our state reps in washington Did not apply, can you furnish proof of this please???

What makes anyone think that if RI were successful in getting the waiver and then toll 95, that the state budget would then allocate the necessary funds to maintain the new bridge, especially after it is sold to RITBA?

Jack, I completely agree with you, except you're more hopeful than i that cleaning out the GA would fix the problems. The state is mired in financial misery, and will be for a long time, even with the best outcome at the election.

A toll on 95 would either go to fund the general budget, or MAYBE help pay for road repair (doubtful). RIBTA will be forced to either raise tolls on Pell, or add a toll to the new bridge.

It's unavoidable people! The best we can hope for is that the rates are <$1.00

This broken turbine has turned me into a raging cynic! I hate it.

Mark D , thanks for posting the right info on the toll apps, this is not a done deal by all means, the state must still that the bridge crew can and tolls and the govenor must then sign the bill, to say this is a done deal is like saying 'we can never beat the British, lets give up" i b elieve we can stop them period.

We'd be fighting our own countrymen too: RIBTA will either increase tolls on the Pell or add tolls in Portsmouth. If we win, Newport loses.

Newport WILL lose alot with the new tolls, every single thing crossing the sakoneet bridge will see an increase, tourist will be spending $8.00 dollars before the get on the island, unlees i buy a new transponder it will cost me 8 bucks to go to the comic store, maybe a shop downtown, stop at ashway for a sandwich and cruise the drive, nevermind going to see bands downtown, the chowda feast, the state just took in a bunch of money (20 million?) and now they wanna kill that?for folks just to teke the kids for a ride foe icecream $8.00 bucks, surf first or second? 8 bucks tour the mansions 8 bucks, go to island park 8 bucksschool bus to play middletown 8 bucks, ambulance run to fall river 8 bucks pay for this on the part of schools and fire dept, raise in property taxes this is not just a simply toll , it spreads itself into just about ever facet of life in Newport County, jobs , drinks, food gas, schools ccri students. it is nothing more than the state trying to make tourust pay for ri mistakes and casting Newport county out with the bath water, stupid, foolish and maybe not legal, any polictaian who votet for this from Newport County should be voted out, Newport county i its entirety will suffer the effects of this

The answer is to turn the Mount Hope and the Newport Bridge over to the State . Then abolish the RITBA. Put the Gas tax back where it belongs and fund the DOT. A simple answer for the problem.

I am willing to bet you could go through the State Budget and easily find 30% to 40% or more that can be cut or done away with to fund everything this State needs to do infastruture wise. The pet projects alone probably would. Havn't looked at in the last few years, just focusing on certain projects and expendatures. But I bet that could be done.

The problem here in the end is after all fiscal misimanagement by the GA and special interest. Whether it was State of Federal funds, these people have raped the taxpayer for decades with their policy of a never ending money tree known as the RI taxpayers.

33%. WOW.

yes Mark BUT that tractor trailer will be raiseing his rates to cover the tolls what about the NUsc folks who live in Tiverton and and fall river, how about the kids going to ccri, and working 2 jobs, what about the little compton kids bussing to tiverton, I for one refuse to except the burdon of paying for the states failure by raises taxes on every resident of newport county every taxpayer in the form of higher school money to pay for busses crossing a bridge, every bar raiseing the price of a beer, every family NOt coming to see the kites on ocean drive because it costs them $8.00 bucks to come and go open your eyes dude, this is not just a simple toll

no tolls petition is at stone bridge pkgy, goulart pky in little comptoni, and if you want to have a copy let me know

It's quite obvious some don't understand the economics devastation this State is experiencing or the hardship people have to endure. Governor Gump could care less about the people in the East bay . He has never worked a day in his life or experienced the hardship of poverty. As he passes by the working fools with a smile on his face thinking " If I only had a brain. "

Mark, I've been on the Legislature since they moved the gas tax out of a restricted account and in to the General fund. They used it to fund Rite Care . You have to do some research before you can talk me down .

3.4 billion is spent on social programs . I read the Budget too.

Mark, how often do you cross the sakonnet river bridge? How many of you that are for the toll have to cross it multiple times a day?

People like Mark are the reason our State has lost more jobs than any other. He has no vision or economic sense. Just pay it and watch more commercial property become vacant.
I will never pay this toll. I'll buy and amphibious car and cross the river before I give this corrupt State another dime.

Save it for the meeting of the Clueless Progressive Liberals . They have ruined our infrastructure and chased businesses out. Now they think their ideas to fix what they broke is the answer. We are last for a reason .We let the Progressive Liberals run the State for way too long.

You clearly are if you support this plan to ruin more businesses on the island . I heard all these talking points before. The fact is it will kill businesses . That is what this legislature is good at and you support it.

1 Lower the gas tax so people come to RI,and stay in RI to buy gas . That will create more jobs and tax revenue.
2 Lower the sales tax .That will create more jobs and tax revenue.
3 Cut the welfare budget so we are not a magnet .
4 Put E verify in place so we are not spending million to educate illegals.
5 Move forward with a county system for Fire Police and DPW .
These are just a few of the things that we need to do to fix RI.

Welcome to the Tiverton Patch, Mark. You'll find that the Joe's regular blather is long on wind and short on facts. If you engage him you'll find him talking in circles until he calls you a liar, shill or liberal (or combination thereof) and then goes away because he claims he won't respond to anonymous posters. He then starts all over the next day (like in the Groundhog Day movie). Unfortunately for Tivertonians the current town council's style is as effective as Joe's. It's too bad we can't harness some of that hot air as an alternative energy source.

The simple facts are that if tolls are put in place everyone will lose money in more ways than 1, if you work or got to school on the island then you will have tp pay a daily fee, anything delivered to the island will see an increase in costs to pay for the tolls, your property taxes will be going up to pay for the school busses that cross the bridge, also with fire and police, so not only will you bepaying tolls you will also pay more for everything you buy, food, gas,ETC, if you need to go to a doctor in Fall River from portsmouth you are going to pay extra just to get there. This is just a new tax placed on everyone in Newport county, no where else in the state, Newport county alone

high gas taxes, RI - least business friendly(forbes), $20/thousand tiverton property tax(for marginal school system and run down infrastructure).... anyone think we have a wasteful spending problem? btw - the tolls go to the general fund, they are not earmarked for bridges.

I would suggest you drive just over the border and count the RI cars filling their tanks. As I stated, the clueless Lib's have no clue how to fix our State. Till the people stand up and kick them out of office we will continue to suffer . Lowering Taxes has been a proven way to raise revenue. The problem is they continue to increase spending. I would suggest you learn how a free market economy works before you post these senseless arguments.

To fix our State we need to change the way we do business. these items are on the top of the list for many small businesses who struggle to just keep their doors open.
1 Lower the gas tax so people come to RI,and stay in RI to buy gas . That will create more jobs and tax revenue.
2 Lower the sales tax .That will create more jobs and tax revenue.
3 Cut the welfare budget so we are not a magnet .
4 Put E verify in place so we are not spending million to educate illegals.
5 Move forward with a county system for Fire Police and DPW .
These are just a few of the things that we need to do to fix RI.

I do feel if enough signatures are collected it would send a mesage to the statehouse. the folks i have talked with and dealt with are looking to get as many folks on and off the island as possible, i know of 7 or 8 little grass roots movements that were out there and they/ we are hopefully all getting in the room togetherif all you can lend is your signature that is more than enough, if you live in mass and work on the island sign the petition and say why

yes it's simple math. a large percentage of the customers I see going to IP are Mass plates. (who knows what the number is). but you add $8 for each trip and your $10 Flo's clamshack meal is now ridiculous and you'll go to Tiverton or New Bedford from now on, maybe Wickford, I dunno.

living in Newport I crossed the bridge maybe once a month. Now I live in Portsmouth and cross whenever I want. Not because of the cost itself but because of the penalty of crossing - I avoid doing it unless it's absolutely necessary (no other alternative to crossing the toll bridge exists). Currently I will go towards Tiverton / Dartmouth, Westport, etc maybe once eveyr 2 weeks and Bristol probably once every 2 weeks. GONE. Any of those businesses over there won't see me again.

First off, having to pay a toll on the new bridge is another example of the GA being out of touch with the public. With that said, where was all this outrage when the matter was being discussed at the State House? Unfortunately the horse has left the barn. The tolls will not be rescinded.

Mark, again you have no clue how to fix our State . Retail jobs are good jobs for many who need part time work to feed their kids . The manager positions are better paying and give full time employment . I worked years back pumping gas at night for extra money . Many would jump at a local job rather than drive out of town everyday. The road to recovery start with ideas that create jobs. With jobs comes revenue. Revenue fixes our roads and bridges.

Just Another Taxpayer, The General Assembly has to take a second vote to make it happen . Many of us have been fighting to block this proposal . The Tea party has been leading the opposition , and the numbers are growing. People are becoming aware and responding to the call for action . It aint over till the fat lady sings .

So, what I hear is that no one will cross the bridge if there is a toll (is that like the troll under the bridge). That would be amazing!

First if you live on the mainland, why do you work on the island? That said if you work on the island, why do you not live on it? My belief on these questions, is that it is cheaper to live off and work on, maybe because the pay scale is higher, or more jobs?

If you live out of state and use our roads why shouldn't help pay for the maintenance? I know when I go to Logan airport I have to pay a toll, or to long island I have to pay a toll or pay for a ferry trip. I know if I drive thru NH on 93 I have to pay a toll.

So here's what I think. Don't drive over the bridge, therefore you have no toll to pay. If you work on the other side, ask yourself, is this job worth it financially? Or is that clam really worth it?

Methinks "Bristol blonde" would have a different viewpoint if the toll was on the Mt. Hope.

Part of the deal here is that you do not have to use the Newport bridge, if you choose to you can go around, with the toll on the new bridge that will no longer be practical, which will drive up the cost of transpotation for everything that is sent to newport county, so you are not just paying a toll you are having your property taxes raised for the schools, fire and police fees to be be paid to bridge authority, cost of food to vendors goes up so then does the price you pau for your meal, drinks etc, so in no way is this just a toll paying issue, it's about raiseing the price and taxes in Newport county alone, no where else in the state, if you are from out of state then you got a pay cut

Oh great Mark, so i get to pay an extra $500 a year just to go to work? Thats awesome. Even though i live less than 20 minutes to work. With the gas taxes in this state this is completely ridiculous. Get a clue Mark.

Plus my wife who also works on the island. So thats an extra $1,000 a year out of our pockets just to go to work to make a living.

Mark D . why are you so negitive, nothing is written in stone here, NOTHING , if you choose not to sing the petition then so be it, but if a majority of Newport County residents do the i believe changes will be made, I wonder do the island folks realize that 8 bucks will be added to them going to a red sox game?

With thinking like mark's it's no wonder we are the worst place in the nation to do business. The fight has only started . Studies show that when you raise taxes and fees you receive less revenue . Look at the cigarette tax at $350 a pack . There is a growing black market ,and out of state sale have sky rocketed. No sales tax on boats and it is the No#1 growing business in RI. Till we fix the over tax problem this will not be resolved. The only answer is to change the General Assembly

Mark D,

since you have dominated the conversation, i am reluctant to get you started again... but i still don't understand your resolve.... i would love ri to re-enact the texas program, bit seem's ambitious and without the funds for investment for seeder programs.... no money! .any ideas for cuts? or only more taxes or loans? the state is on the brink of collapse...construction/retail works for now as we build towards sustainability. you seem to have it all figured out. you only assume the ga is guided in the best interest of the people and economy.
where are your numbers. show us your freakonomics! please educate us and show us the way!

Look at the revenue reports presented to the house finance committee. Cigarette tax revenue down for the fourth year . They raised the tax and sales in the state went down . Take off the blinders . When you raise taxes, you get less revenue. People by gas in Mass because it is 10 cent cheaper. We also lose the income tax because the stations don't need the help

Sorry but you are wrong . I live on the State line and see people from Portsmouth all the time . They fill up off the island because it is much cheaper. People coming from Little Compton drive past three gas stations in Tiverton to get to the Station in Fall River. They would stop in Tiverton if the price was less.

Those same people would shop for other items as well if the sales tax ,Cigarette tax ,and liquor tax was lower.

At least the boat business is producing revenue for the State . No sales tax, but the income taxes are rolling in. To bad the Tax and Spend Liberals don't understand how that works.

I know a guy who drives tractor trailers. He buys cartons of cigarettes in NC. for $24 dollars a carton and sells them for $40 dollars a carton. He made about thirty grand last year selling them. He started of just doing it for friends and it has grown. He works the bars and private clubs. People put in orders and pay in advance. This is what RI has become . People cheat on taxes and black market. When Government becomes the oppressor people fight the system . I'm thinking about becoming a distributor for Super Blocker Spray
Super Blocker Spray has been formulated to protect your license plates from being identified by photo enforcement or open road tolling cameras. This is the only spray available which works fully against all cameras. Our proprietary formula will stay on your plate forever and cannot be detected by law enforcement . Do not let them get away with your hard earn money. A quick 30 second application will protect your plates and your wallet for life.
Contact Info
SuperBlocker Spray

I have to agree John C. Trying to explain the falicy of gassing up in mass pointless, has become an excercise in futility. Unles you are going that way, it matters not. The only time it counts is if you have a large truck, orsome of these 2 tank pickups, then you may save sme to make it worth while. But in the end with a car, the trip to just get it cheaper, may make you feel good, but you actually didn't.

Robert E, I'm only blowing of steam .

We all need to come together to fight this proposal regardless of our political views . An oppressive Government can not be allowed to continue hurting it's citizens. The condition of this State is deplorable. It's time to organize and fight for our right's .

seems to me the silence of are State reps and Senators is awfully loud on here

Dave Nelson, Rob Coulter, and Joan Chabot should have spent less time trying to take money from the schools and spent more time on issues that matter like the tolls on the bridge we might have been able to stop this.

question: how come there were no robo calls, or mailings about the bridge tolls?

answer: because the TCC was so focused on beating the schools they forget to pay attention to what the general assembly was doing.

Leave it to Tom, to post the wackiest statement on the board.

Does the Tiverton Town Democratic Commitee have Anything to say about the tolls
?

John C. - I agree with your math, but Joe is referring to human behavior, it doesn't need to make sense! Seriously, Freakonmics, is an fun read that shows examples of this behavior.

One example of not doing business on the island - My wife and I each work out on the island. When tolls are in place we will cancel the memberships. The tolls will double our monthly memberships... no thanks.

Folks on limited income will be hurt with this, , Everything on the island has always cost more period, living in portsmouth for years you got your gas there because newport was more money, drinks cost more, food cost more and now it's all going up for just one section of the state, I hear the Newport Bridge arguement, but you do not have to use that bridge if you don't want to, i myself do if i'm headed south but how many folks use it to see and care for famiy members, does the Newport school system send busses over it daily?Also if you check out the new bridge design it was made to be matenaince friendly much more so than any other bridge in this state, something that seems to been over looked,

Don't blame me, I voted for Dan Gordon!

John Coccio, what you fail to mention is the folks who get their groceries at stop and shop, cheaper than Clements same or less than Middletown s n s' and 10 cents of a gallon of gas per $100.00 of dollars spent . I paid $2.60 to fill up my chevy pickup with 31 gallons saved18.00 bucks or so, i think that kills your gas arguement

Thank you for all your help on this seriuos topic RI teabagger always willing to not lend a hand

I have a question....everyone keeps saying the tolls are $4 each way, but with the easy pass, isn't it less than a dollar?

If you are from out of state it cost the full amount. If you don't have easy pass they send you a bill for the full amount plus a service charge. This is why it will hurt businesses on the island

I think the gas price scenario’s are beating a dead horse in my opinion. With the price per gallon now, unless you have very good gas mileage, it is a waste of time to travel a long why, unless you need to be there for other reasons. This is all dependent on the types of vehicle, cars, trucks, tractor trailers, type of gas, diesel etc. some benefit some don't. My opinion on it anyway.

To the rest, I think there are many great idea's here and explanations of it all, surprisingly many facts people put out I never saw or even thought about. So that has been enlightening. I for one am glad to see so many interested and thinking about all this, because the future holds a lot more of these situations besides tolls.
That you can count on!

The government never runs out of ways to figure how to get our money, and come hell or high water they will continue this money tree game. That is what it is to them, a taxpayer money tree; under the guise of we are here to help.

This thread and many others now, are proving that there are voices who get it, and we may be reaching a pinnacle, where the government will again fear the people and not the other way around, that the founders feared so much. That is the power of a Republic, and that is America. So keep it up people. Great to see this locally.

It seems DSilva didn't read the Legislation . It say's all improvements to roads and bridges in Newport and Bristol county will be paid for with bridge tolls. Once the RIBTA starts floating bonds for road and bridge repairs there is no way the tolls will be less than a dollar each way . With the repairs needed in these counties the tolls will be more like two to three dollars with easy pass out of state eight dollars in just a few years. Any one who thinks other wise has not read and understood the legislation.

Here's what our State Legislature has accomplished for RI.
The number of employed residents was 495,000, down 400. The size of the labor force was down 1,600, to 555,200, in May and down 8,200 from a year ago.

Has no one seen the design of the new bridge? take a ride under them both, maintainance is going to be needed much less on be much easier to do on the new bridge. much , much easier, not hundreds of griders and angles, welds etc, to even apply a toll equal to the Pell bridge would be out right thieftm ! the tolls should not be put in place or the gates should be placed where locals can get around, or the toll fee's placed at a very very low rate, to do otherwise is to make Newport county subject to unfair taxation

"Cameras positioned on the plaza’s overhead gantry take photographs of license plates of the vehicles using the E-ZPass lanes without valid transponders. The first-notice fee will be $5/axle, due in 14 calendar days." RITBA
forget about paying $4.00 each way it's going to cost $10.00 each way thats $20.00 for someone comming from Mass. to do buisness on the island tell me now that this will not effect the economy on the island.

Robert E, that is part of my promlem with this, We pay for all the state dot projects, upkeep on the iway bridge? the new train station, the patucket bridge? you are right about this is viewed as a cash cow, out of newport county residents and the tourists who come to put money into newport county and thus into the state coffers and that was all the was looked at, thats why no other county in the state cares, to bad huh? slap a toll on the iway or to go into wickford then you will hear some outcry

John a mileage tax is complete bs. What if I drive to NH each month? Am I supposed to pay RI for all my miles driven in MA & NH? I m not in favor of the tolls but at least I can decide if I cross the bridge or not. You put a mileage tax on drivers and watch how many leave the state permanently.

I don't believe that would ever fly in this state John, there should be a way for locals to buypass the toll booths or have the fee set very low, given the fact that in the summer hundreds of tourists cross the Bridge to get on the island, everything takes a hit here, polo soccer, ruggby, the Colleges NUSC, but come the winter the bridge will be supported by the folks who work, or go to school or have relitives on the island, elderly folks will be payng extra to go to medical appointment in fall river, none of this took place when the newport bridge was built, for most folks useing that bridge is a convinance mostly to go to james town or to URI I don't know the answer but i do know to enforce a toll larger than 50 cents is robbery the best thing no tolls or a mrthod to get by them

Toll booth past fish road would allow for folks to exit to sousa road and get on the bridge past the tolls. leaving the islan a booth before the hummocks exit would work to, I not happy that Rep Edwards has said that the Petition is just a waste of time, he could be more helpfull

Mark D DSilva Neither can show me where I am wrong in my statement so of cause they turn to insults
It seems DSilva didn't read the Legislation . It say's all improvements to roads and bridges in Newport and Bristol county will be paid for with bridge tolls. Once the RIBTA starts floating bonds for road and bridge repairs there is no way the tolls will be less than a dollar each way . With the repairs needed in these counties the tolls will be more like two to three dollars with easy pass out of state eight dollars in just a few years. Any one who thinks other wise has not read and understood the legislation.

The perpose of the RITBA is to raise funds to maintain the bridges under it control it does not receive any state or federal funds. Now it is also partially funding the State DOT through the enterprise fund. That was never ment to be the purpose of the RIBTA. If it is collecting $10 to $15 million more then they need to maintain the bridges under their control then the toll should be lowered. Using RITBA funds to fund RIDOT is a bad move as time goes on you will see higher and higher tolls as more and more of RIDOT's budget becomes dependant on money from the RITBA. Look out Newport County it won't be long before we are funding road maintence for the entire state.

I never said road maintenance. I said improvements like the new bridge or the removal of the rotary in Newport. These tolls are suppose to pay for all of it. That's Newport , and Bristol County.

We know Mark is not your real name . Are you one of the fool Rep's who voted for this misguided plan ?

The majority agrees with me . Tolls will kill businesses in Portsmouth causing more short falls to the towns tax base and the state as well.

Just make it up as you go along Mark ,or who ever you are. The removal of the old 195 and the new I district they want to build will suck every dollars of Federal money for years to come. You are truly naive .

Dave, do you support this because you believe it will improve the roads in Bristol ? I understand you desire for better roads with you disability. You know how this State works, all money seems to head North

Is the bid process for RIBTA subject to the State open records laws?

Last night as i was picking up copies of the NO tolls petition i ended up talking to a man who owns 3 tire stores and was or is in the process of anding a fourth down by the rotary in Newport, he tatd that to have his trucks pay everytime they crossed the bridge would possible make this project cost prohibitive so guess that tax money and toll money might be gone, this toll is just a hidden tax on newport county, nothing more or less

I was looking around at bridge projects in other States, and came across this:
http://www.dot.state.mn.us/stcroixcrossing/
there's a really cool computer animation of the project:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWoHRDqhDuU&feature=player_embedded
You will note that there are no Tolls mentioned.

If any one does not know. On August 14, Tuesday we will be meeting at the Portsmouth Town Hall at 7:00P.M. . The cost of every buisness, your grocierys, your meals, a hot dog, a beer, will go up. The toll gets our prices way up. On EVERYRHING.. Why should we bear the brunt of goverment over spending?It isn't just the toll, it is our lively hood here and the quality of it for residents. The revanue they think they will make they will lose in buisness taxes as places close and we have alot of people out of work. This will kill Aquidneck island and alot of buisness. Please show at the meeting and pass the word around. It is our money. It is our right. Fall River beat a big LNG Co. becasue people stood together we can too. . You have a voice and a right. . See you at the meeting. Tell every one. Also I talk with Mr Robiches(?) president and he told me then I should shop off the island. What an insult on the small buisness or any one living here. Put a toll elsewhere.elsewhere.

to those who think whats the big deal of a toll. Let me ytell you that the toll coming from every delivery to this island gets passed on to the consumer. We will be paying a lot for everything. The toll goes two ways and truck axels who deliver pay more. This will kill this island. On Auguat 14, Tuesday at 7:00 P.M. there will be a meeting atthe Portsmouth town Hallat 7:ooP.M. Let's show up and have a say. It is our right. This will also put alot of peopole out odf work. Things are hard, we dont need the burden the state put on it's self by over spending put on us. We've had enough. See you at the meeting. Please pass theword around. Fall River fought the big LNG becasue they stuck togethr, Let's do it.

Elizabeth, is this a town council meeting or just a meeting at the town hall?

What I don't see on here that NOBODY is talking about are the lawsuits that are currently occurring regarding this bridge. It wasn't built correctly. They used the wrong grade concrete in the pours for several support columns and on some of the columns didn't even have solidified concrete. Forget the tolls, that thing is a hazard. If you don't believe me, go look it up. RIDOT is being sued for hiring someone who has never worked on a bridge design in their life, along with the fact the person didn't even have the correct grade of concrete to be used for the column supports and all of you are worried about tolls. Yeah, lets give RIDOT toll money so they can fix roads. These morons cant even hire the right person to design a bridge, yet we'll just continue funding their idiocy.

Dan tell your Rep. Many of us have been calling for changes in DOT for decades.

I don't know of any law suits i know or have seen that the company is $200,000.00 behind the shedule with daily fines imposed

They want the people of Aqudineck Island to pay to fix our own roads bridges With this toll We still pay Rhode Island income taxes, sales taxes, gas taxes... The rest of the State bridges and roadways are paid for by the RIDOT. Discriminating tax policy in this state tolls are a tax on local residents and business. We need to STOP this TOLL NOW!!!!

We could save millions yearly by ending the Rhode Island Bridge and Turnpike Authority. We have no need for more government entities. Put a toll on the Northern part of the State. Smith hill is an option...

Let's not forget our share of federal highway dollars that we're not getting our fair share like the rest of the state.

Please pass the word around. August 14, Tuesday at 7:00 P,M.Portsmouth town hall. Let us show up and let them hear from us, the taxpayer. How did it come to this? No one thought it out well, did they? I wonder why our reps have been so quiet. This is wrong.......we are not the only place to have bridges in R.I. A little buisness like Flo's will surely close. We will not be better off and the goverment will never be satisfied. They always want to spend more of our money. Seems to me they don't know how to do what is right for the pople , only for them selves. They spend and spend, well, we are out of money, also. Are they aware of the problems in the economy? Please remember who voted Yes on this bridge and vote people like that out. Please attend the meeting .There was an error in the Newport Paper. it is Tuesday August 14 2012. 7:00P.M. PLEASE show and take a stand. It is your civil right. How much can they bleed us dry? Enough already. Show up.......

There are approximately 625 bridges in the State and only 1 has a toll with only 1 or 2 others being considered for a toll and they are all in the East Bay.

The other sucking sound you hear is the East Bay school districts having their State funding taken away in massive amounts.

It would help if people send Emails to the Rep's and Sen. who voted in favor of this. If they get hundreds of emails they may take notice.

Sorry to hear they have beat you into submission Robert. The rest of us will fight this till the idea is dismissed .

Still dwelling in the past BD? Give it up, move forward as always your comment helped nothing

Robert Crane. i do not believe it is to late, But you are right about Piava Weed, she could have killed this herself

Shame on her for hurting all of us with her vote for it. BOO!!!!!!!!! They just can't relate to the common wprking class. All idiots !!!!!!!!!!

Remember a meeting at Clements market Aug 10, from 3 to 6. please be there and bring your sign. Also an update: Portsmouth town hall August 14, Tuesday at 7:00 P. M. for the meeting to be heard on this matter. Please show some support. Thank you.

The lady who put the nail in the coffin for this island is one of our own from Newport..
Write to: President of the senate
Sen Teresa Paiva Weed 318 State house Providence, R.i. 02903
e-mail: sen-paivaweed@rilin.state.ri.us It is your civil right to do so.

Hi guys:
Good news. Channel 10 responded to me. They are going to interview me near the brdige tonight....They will also be at Clements market....

Wish me luck

Hi guys: good news. Channel 10 has responded to me. I will be interviewed tonght.. They will also be at Clements market..

If you have a child who go's to school or work and you do also you will have to by 2 or 3 transponders to try to keep the money being stonlen from you at the cheapest rate possible! also how many of you have seen the new bridge? looked at the strucure it's self It was built for very low upkeep costs and ease of repair workThis bridge will not need much work show where's the money going

There was a study done that said the bridge spilt was 60% tourists 40% locals, when this was taken was every Ma. plate counted as a tourist, how did they determine which out of state plate works at Rathoen? the Boatyards , the war college, etc. Nothing but a money grab upstate money changers. I wish the local state reps had More to say, besides "we are trying to get the lowest toll we can, they should be saying, this is a bad deal, Newport county and the folks who voted me in won't take it, Where are these folks???

The vote was posted above . The local Rep's and Sen. who voted for this need to hear from all of us. The ones who voted against it are not the ones we are made at.

One of the main problems Jim L is “Paiva Weed”, has never cared about the locals. She has stepped on them a lot, but never cares. She is also in bed with “Gordon Fox” though not literally I think( I will check with Harry Reid and see if he has a source ;-}). With people like that at the helm upstate the East Bay will always be screwed as usual in my opinion.

Please guys be at Clements Market on the 10th between 3-6 on Friday...Channel 10 will be there.. Make your signs....IMPORTANT...need to show WE THE PEOPLE ARE THERE.....Jeanne

Please guys be at Clements Market on Friday the10th between 3-6. Channel 10 will be there . Buddy Cianci will be there speaking about this...Make your signs...IMPORTANT.. need to show WE THE PEOPLE WILL BE THERE
Thanks
Jeanne Smithj

Don't forget, the toll is only .89 cents if you by a transponder for your car, you kids car so he can go to school in Prov, your wife's car so she can go to the mall,and while your buying and paying for that the price of goods coming onto the island with be taking money out of your pocket also

Okay has anyone looked into the website change.org? This might be something we should do as a community?

Meghan, I don't know that anyone has, the town council has voted against it, just about all the bussiness in Tiverton and portsmouth have the petition in the house, salve and CCRI have them, some in Middletown This started as a little grass roots movement but it is growing, the number of folks signing the petition is growing into the thousands both in state and out of state, it's seems that folks upstate don't wanna pay to go to Newport or LC, and to me the folks who live in fall river or MA. and work or go to school on the island have a right to sign this also

Please come to Clements Market Friday from 3 pm to 6 pm, Buddy Cianca is broadcasting from there and and show of force against this will be helpfull

Could someone from middletown put this on the council agenda, We need all the help we can get and having the council going along will help!!

What we need is Businesses on the Island BIG and small to tell the Gov. If the toll goes on the bridge we will move to Mass. That should be said loud and clear .Threats so Gov. Gump will understand.

Dad D tolls .89 cents deposit on transponder to activate transponder, start up costs $35.00, got that muct kicking around you don't need for school ,cloths or food or tuiton, i would say i do, But i just came from my Doctors office and was talking about this with the nurse, first she really heard of it, BUt her son lives in Somerset and works in Newport, he just bought a house and doesn't have alot of spare money , $ 40.00 bucks a week to go to work? and theres no way to get a transponder because he lives in mass? How many fall into this catagory, maybe mass will stick tolls up on 24 past the harbour mall to get back the money being drained from mass Workers in RI

oh dan i'm not a democrat, vote the man. not the ticket, nice use of that word, but i have no idea what it means, this is a taxpayer household family bussiness issue i believe, not a one party issue, but i will say one party dumped it on us

Summary Voting Results By Party for Senate and House
------------------------------------------------
DEM 82Y 7N
REP 9Y 8N
IND 1Y 0N
LIB 0Y 1N

Those who voted NO (16 of 113)
-------------------------------------------------
DICKINSON (D) HOUSE
EDWARDS (D) HOUSE
GALLISON (D) HOUSE
GORDON (L) HOUSE
GUTHRIE (D) HOUSE
MORRISON (D) HOUSE
REILLY (R) HOUSE
WATSON (R) HOUSE
ALGIERE (R) SENATE
FELAG (D) SENATE
HODGSON (R) SENATE
KETTLE (R) SENATE
MAHER (R) SENATE
METTS (D) SENATE
MOURA (R) SENATE
SHIBLEY (R) SENATE

Yes article 20 of the budget. How you sent some emails.

The vote was to turn the new bridge over to the turnpike ( i don't think we have one) and bridge authority and to allow them to implament tools if nessasary, which means a few guys who's family's need jons and don't give a sht about Newport County, meet in a room and with no study of the effects of the bridge tolls on the economics off Newport county and it's citizens, said Well of course we need tolls, Has any one on here seen such a study?guess maybe we are on the hook for curt shilling to maybe, BUT wher are the studies? where are the reports from the studies, as i said i saw one study that said the local / tourist traffic looked like a 40/60 split, how do you know if a car with Mass plates is crossing the bridge for work or play? riddle me up that one

Jim I hope you get to Clement's market Friday with some friends. I have been working on my sign. We need to get a large crowd there to show how angry we are with this misguided idea. Gov. Gump needs to hear us loud and clear.

i will be there JOE

What do we do with the petitions, Jeanne?

To my Fellow Bloggers: I heard that our Governor responds at times, when you sand him a letter. Not an e-mail, Ive tried and get the r0b0-mail back...No the OLD FASHION kind...So as I am writing him a letter today, to put into words why the toll would be bad..
If he hears from hundreds of people maybe his mind would perk up a bit...so please get to writing to....Governor Lincoln Chafee 82 Smith St Providence RI 02903
Thanks
Jeanne Smith

To Business Owners on Aquideck Island
Our Governor is coming to Portsmouth on the 23rd. He wants to know how he can help the Businesses on Aquidneck Island...I think there should be many owners there, so we can sure tell HIM....In our own words...lol
Jeanne Smith

If the RIBTA and the State go ahead with the toll on the Sakonnet River Bridge, We the people of Aquidneck Island and Newport County should file suit against the State Of Rhode Island and seek an immediate court injunction to stop the toll for Unfair taxes and discrimination. I feel this toll is uncontitutional and illegal based on southern Rhode Island residents paying a higher tax rate than central and northern Rhode Island communities.

To Fellow Bloggers
The names of the Senate and House members who voted Yes for the tolls and who are the representatives of Aquidneck Island and Tiverton need to have their names published in the Newport Daily News and since they do not Represent their constituents here on the island need to be voted out. All in favor?

The bridge toll is just the latest symptom of a very serious cancer plaguing the state and our small towns.

I looked at my recent property tax bill and saw that my house was re-assessed and my property value went down. I'm thinking, that stinks....but at least my property taxes will go down considering they are based on the assessment. I was wrong...when I looked at my tax liability I noticed that Middletown just magically raised the mil rate by over 10% so that their budget is not affected. The result...my taxes actually went up.

The fact is that when times get tough, our politician's first answer is to raise taxes and continue to spend freely. Need proof?

Just take a look at the Approved 2013 Middletown Budget.

http://www.middletownri.com/government/3/287/Budgets

Here are some Highlights:
- School Budget: +8.88%
- Finance Department: +1%
- Town Clerk: +8%
- Boards and Committees: +74%
- Building Department: +2%
- Planning Department: +165%
- Public Works: +6%
- Library: +2%
- Senior Center: +5%
- "Non-Specific": +26%
- Refuse/Recycling Program: +9%
- Parks and Rec: +336%

And here's the best part:
- Police Department : -2%
- Fire Department: -6%

So while we're getting robbed and our houses are burning down, we can all feel at peace with the fact that our parks are well maintained.

There are a lot of petitions out there. I do not know how to reach you Jeanne Smith. What do you suggest? I lost your phone number, also............what should we do?

There are alot of petitions out there, but its the one and the same, It's the one I started in July. If you have signed thats good...Have you sent the governor a letter yet..My phone number is at the top of this blog.

Jeanne

Oh Yes I sent the governor a letter, you bet. I dont know if all petetions were collected. I will check with some places I left them, like Island park, etc. I went to the three bars knowing I would find people there. I hope I can pick them up if it is not to late. i was hoping some of them would have shown for the meeting with the petetions. I will have to check. thank you.

How about everyone pay equally to use the bridges. Not get free passes on one side. Jeanne if your gonna fight so hard for this issue why don't you also fight to get tolls removed on Newport bridge... I bet you don't use that one!!!!!

Mr Maritn raise the car registration for every one in RI by $2.00 dollars get rid off the turnpike and bridge guys, roll their maintance guys into DOT( they don't realy work on the bridge, most of the painting and repairs is subbed out) leave the bidding on contracts to the state, by doing this and dumping the Bridge authority no one in Ri or out of state would be paying tolls, but do you think anyone up state will do that, as said before all the local reps voted NO on tolls hurray!! but they voted YES on the budget, if those 7 had voted no and said we won't vote yes till the tolls are removed then we wouldn't be in this fix, I am fighting this anyway i can, and getting rid of the guys that just bagged NEWPORT county is a dmn good start and thing to do,, NO TOLLS! SIGN A PETITION WRITE A LETTER, this island is going to get hammered again, just like when Mr chaffee's dad pulled the navy, and when the tourist money drop finally settles. and what few low paying jobs are left for locals because all the work force from Ma. left because of tolls to, well the only ones left to pay them will be us ,our kids and our grandkids, Everyday I'm out doing tolls, and the amouny of MA cars i see in the Middletown indy park and portsmouth is quite surprisesing, what happens when a company decides to move because workers left because of tolls

If they don't put tolls on sakonnett they will increase he Newport toll I'm sure of it. EVERYONE SHOULD SHARE.... The only reason people are crying is because they use the sakonnett and don't give a crap about those of us who use the Newport.

Stanley Martin I agree with you 100% there are more voters in nEwport county than Jamestown will ever have Pivia weed is president of the senate, a job that holds much power and can get deals cooked and if you don't think a deal was cooked on this by our democtatic reps your crazy SO as i said tell ms piava weed that the registatons on all RI residents should be raised by $2.00 dollars, the magicical mystery tour known as bridge and turnpike crew is just folded into RIDOT and I don't have to say "stick it to the guys who pay tolls now!" and you don't have to say "hey a hole i'm not that rich" this to can be done, but only if enough voters tell her it's this way or your gone< so you work on that because i think it's a fair deal for all RI residents don't you?

Stanley Martin, The Mt Hope bridge should have been turned over to the State when the toll came off. The RITBA said they could maintain both so the State said keep it . Now they are crying the blues. They should turn the Mt Hope over , and when the Np Pell bridge is paid for ,take the toll off and eliminate the RITBA. That is what was promised and should be what happens.

Mark D should be shining Gov Gumps shoes .

The powers that be will just pocket the money. This state is the crookedest state I have ever been in and I'm glad I'm not staying long.Vote out the people you voted in and take back your state and stand up and get a backbone or quit bitchin!

Jack the Gas Tax should not have been funding RIPTA. It was put in place for the roads and bridges. The legislature has failed to fund the maintenance while giving free and reduced price rides on half empty buses. It always comes back to a legislature that cant seem to get things right.

Tolls on RT 24are just a rip off, stupid beyond belief, are we as the people of Newport county going to be force to fork up $24 million dollars a year to the Turnpike semi private company, and that is just an estimate of all the tolls, that figure doesn't include one red cent of the money they will get in transponder sales, will we be held responable for paying off all the holes this state has dug for itself?It is time For the citizens of newport county and the folks who commute here everyday to say enough! NO TOLLS

Excellent news fellow residents of Newport county, Dot is replacing that bridge in Wickford, I believe a Dollar toll each way should be fair for the toll on those residents, don't you??? NO TOLLS

TOLLS? GOOD NEWS!!!!!! that little bridge in the nice town of Wickford Ri is going to be replaced, just like the Sakonnett River Bridge it was never kept up and the DOT is going to build a new one, I think that a toll of $1.00 each way would be more than fair on that bridge, that way we won't see the income taxes and sales taxes that Newport county sends upstate being used to fix a bridge that only tourist's use, Does anyone thing we should start a petition on that? or should we ask the Reps that bagged us on this to submit a bill for the Wickford bridge tolls?but then again i just remembered, we can't mess up the transponder fee's so i guess that bridge will have the same tolls as rt 24, sorry Wickford your bagged and tagged also

Jeannie,

Are any of these petitions being brought to Bristol for signatures? We believe that this negatively impacts us too, as traffic will self divert over the Mt Hope bridge for the free pass.

Then, I can only imagine how much the state will want from us to pay to rebuild rt 136 from the Warren line to Portsmouth, INCLUDING the Mt Hope bridge, as they will see that this route is now "woefully obsolete" to handle the traffic.

Big surprise there.

Oh yea the Bristol people need to get involved also because they pay a ton of tolls on Newport bridge. Give me a break. Everyone pays or no one pays it should be that simple.....

Jeanne, What is the plan for the Governor meeting tomorrow at Portsmouth town hall?
Will a petition be submitted? Any ability to speak at the meeting about the toll?
Will there be any citizens standing with signs in the vicinity.
Thanks for all you did. Janice L Gump

How much do you want to bet the area around town hall will be swarming with state police who will not let anyone not already cleared anywhere near town hall. The Governor does not go anywhere without his storm troopers.

I am willing to bet he offers a tax break to buisness's. With out customers, your buisness can't run. So that again is not a good plan. The one and only thing to do if he sincerly wants to help us, is stop the tolls. When he sees the signitures he will be looking at votes lost. It will be interesting to see what he has to say, to say the least. How can he make it better by having tolls? Impossible. I will be there. I am interested in what he is going to say. He will offer low cost loans, tax breaks, which will do no good. At all. No clients, no work, no money. Simple. Why should we be the sacrifical lamb for the whole state of R.I.? It's wrong. So wrong.............

Drinking the koolaid are you mark? there are many ways to stop this and they are all being explored but i gues you don't mind the price of home heating oil riseing for anyone in Newport county, talk about sold out!

Is it even legal for the state to give a bridge worth hunderds of millions of dollars paid for by the taxpayer to a semi private corpatation without competitive bidding. I would think you can't just give away state property. If you have to put the bonds to build a bridge on the ballot for voter aprovial you would think you could not give it away without that same aprovial.

I hope people have been emailing or writing their congressional leaders. We have a chance to stop this at the federal level. We need hundreds to write or call to make them take notice.

I will be at town hall in the morning with my sign. Governor Gump will here us loud and clear.

Mark D, i think you have stepped up as somekind of pro tolls dude , there are many ways to stop this, i am pouring my very being into this, it's wrong wrong wrong, I'm sorry that some folks in Newport and jamestown pay tolls daily, but was it a big surprize ? NO hey give them a break, lower their fees and suck more money out of tourist,I go all over this island putting no tolls petitions in as many places as i can, and i have been told flat out, by folks with 2 businesess on the island that if this happens they are gone!!Nevermind all the small folks who serve locals all year but thirve during the summer and use that money to survive the winter will just wither away, this is real sht. I talk to these people everyday and it upsets and scares me. the GOLDEN goose is being killed for it's eggs, but once you kill it there are no eggs just insane

Want proof? all you need do is drive downtown go by the beaches, then wander thru the indy park in middletown, look at al the Ma plates in there, it's easier for a company to move now and retain good empolyees than lose them to a stupid toll that sucks money to cover the rest of ri a

Mark you are so wrong it makes me believe you work for the RITBA. The pot of money that will be created called the infrastructure bank will be siphoned off by the legislature . It will never be used for transportation improvements. They will use it to fill holes in the budget like the Under ground tank fund , The 911 fund , The tobacco money. and so on. You really don't have a clue.

Mark D i try not to call call folks lairs so maybe you just don't tell the truth! this is far from a done deal,so why don't you just quit passing out the upstate kool aid I know because i am out everyday getting signatures placing tolls in new places and getting about 500 new names a day, I just a runner but i'm a first class one and the folks i give my petitions to are not dummy's, they talk to lawyer business boards local reps who stood up for the people getting shafted Guess what, not a soul upstate saw all this coming, it was suppose to be guys like you that shrug and say "well it's done" and the voters just lay down , NOT THIS TIME, Not if i can help it so to me you are dismissed, hey how about sticking your real full name up here for starters? I'm James C Lipe IV, a voter,and i don't stand alone, i've got right now about 12,000.00 voters covering my back and more every day, and i we are coming for the folks that just sold us out, so i say to you sir NO TOLLS on rt 24 anybody want a petition get me on here! stand up! don't let folks upstate place a toll on you, your kids and grandkids, just be cause they want the money

The yearly take onRT 24 tools is to be about 24 mil 12 of that will cover all 4 bridges , guess where the other 12 ripped out of your pockets is going? Nothing but a straight up rippoff period!

I am going to bet the Govoner proposes a tax break to buisness's or a low interest loan. I don't think he gets it. I hope this meeting this morning is fruitful.

If we can remember anything about this..........it is to vote Piava Weed OUT and the useless governor OUT, also. I knew the weasel would propose that. Trying to look like he is so concerned. What will this do to the housing sales, etc? Are we all stuck here? No man's land. What a stupid move, thoughtless and their greed is going to do the island in. Let's all move away from here, but who else would want to live here? Interesting to see what it does to real estate. I personally wanted to move long ago, this just pushes it, but wondering how this is going to effect real estate? Who will fill those empty buisness's? Would any one look here to put up a new buisness?Doubt it. They weill see thier cash cow get amnemic. We have seen the end of what used to be. How do they sleep at night knowing what they have done so much damage to so many people here for thier own greed?

I guess it's all over now !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Talk, talk, talk all those commitees do. Useless. Good for you Jim Lipe, you knew how to take the next step with getting Dotherty involved good for you and every one who protested this foolish thing. Out wiht inbumbants.......Piava weed, Rochambuea, etc.......

NO TOLLS COMMITEE now has over 15,000.00 members and rising, WE have Brendon Doherty,speaking out, Dan York on Wpro, it's even talked about in the sports section, Bristol gave us 20 signatues yesterday, All we need is MORE,n More, sneak one into the senior center, get a clipboard and take it to the football game, drop it back where you got your copy, WADK seems to remain silent on this call the right the daily news, Help yourself by helping others, once this toll ever gets there, it will be there for generations, you , your kids, their kids, and longer, This started as a maybe we can deal, and everyday more folks sign, more bussiness except the petion, The whole underground movement of this effort by private citizens and local bussinees, has become a ground swell of No, NO we do not except, we are citizens and we vote, we do not except mismanagement of money and then the burden of paying more to cover others mistakes to be paid for by NEWPORT COUNTY ALONE, sign a petition , STOP THE TOLLS

I've got the perfect solution........leave the old bridge up ( we save on demolition costs). Anybody using the old bridge passes for free, just pass at your own risk.

See which one gets used more ;)

DOT: Sakonnet Times' Sakonnet bridge to open mid-September
The bridge was supposed to be ready for traffic on May 11, 2012, but that deadline was missed because of earlier problems with bad concrete in a couple of the support pilings and substandard metal brackets used to support the piling caps.
They got caught trying to cheat . The DOT made them repair the deficiencies. That and rain are causing the delays.

Rt. 24 is a FREEWAY; Let’s keep it that way!!
Economic Harassment or is it something else? Economic Discrimination?
I am NOT a lawyer but I do KNOW Newport County as a whole has a case! I also know the more facts (data) you have, the better the case!
FACT 1: What does economic discrimination mean?
According to http://economics.about.com/library/glossary/bldef-economic-discrimination.htm states that Economic Discrimination is used in studying labor markets: it is the presence of different pay for workers of the same ability but who are in different groups, e.g. black, white; male, female.
Could this definition work for spending due to higher taxes implemented by a town, or towns, because the state in which they lay are forcing “the presence of different” costs/spending “of the same” products/services “but who are in different groups,” e.g. Newport County verses Bristol/Kent/Providence/Washington County?

FACT 2: What is the definition of Harassment?
According to http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?itemId=1073792616&type=RESOURCES states Harassment is defined as any unwanted conduct related to race, age, etc that has the purpose or effect of either:
1. violating the dignity of an individual
2. creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive atmosphere for an individual
Also according to http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/harassment
Harassment -noun- the act of systematic and/or continued unwanted and annoying actions of one party or a group, including threats and demands. The purposes may vary, including racial prejudice, personal malice, an attempt to force someone to quit a job or grant sexual favors, apply illegal pressure to collect a bill, or merely gain sadistic pleasure from making someone fearful or anxious. Such activities may be the basis for a lawsuit if due to discrimination based on race or sex, a violation on the statutory limitations on collection agencies…”
At http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Harassment
To ha•rass
tr.v. ha•rassed, ha•rass•ing, ha•rass•es
1. To irritate or torment persistently.
2. To wear out; exhaust.
3. To impede and exhaust (an enemy) by repeated attacks or raids.
I would have to say that by putting a toll on the Sakonnet River Bridge would meet most these for an entire county!
Due to the definitions of these words, is why I choose Economic Harassment.

FACT 3: Oct 1, 2011 – Tour Tax –
Where else in RI is this implemented? How about The State House?
(I know it’s a public government building, but so what!)
FACT 4: Louise White an 81-year-old Newport, R.I woman won the Powerball in Feb 2012.
The prize will pay $14.7 million in state taxes.
FREE money for the state!! Once again Newport County “bails out” state of RI.
Found at http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2012/03/81-year-old-woman-wins-3364m-powerball/1
FACT 5: Evacuation for a hurricane!
Is it even legal for the state to toll evacuation bridges?
FACT 6: Goods & Services Provided on & to Aquidneck Island
Irving’s Gas – I have pictures of the gas station in Portsmouth on East Main Rd & the gas station in Providence on Pleasant Valley Parkway on the same day within 2 hours of each other. Which one do you think was cheaper? If you said Portsmouth, you were wrong.
I am hoping that other Newport County residence will go to some of the same stores in Newport County to take pictures of prices; isle would be preferred, of other stores of different parts of our state. For instance, take pictures of isle 5 in Staples in Middletown & then isle 5 in Staples in Barrington in order to see if there is a price difference in products. Petitions are great, but where’s the proof? The county as a whole has to prove that the TOLLS make a difference in our economic overhead.

FACT 7: Who is going to pay for the 2, mostly 3, new traffic lights in Portsmouth?
Those of you who use Exit 2, North or South, or Anthony Rd will know what I’m taking about. If a toll is put on the Sakonnet River Bridge, the traffic from the Mt Hope Bridge will be unbearable!!
FACT 8: Can Bristol County handle the traffic?
1 lane roads will NOT cut it!
FACT 9: Is there any other place in the country where the “main land” is cut off from its state? Should Tiverton & Little Compton become part of MA?
Little Compton students are bussed in every school day to Aquidneck Island. Who do you think will pay the bus to travel over the bridge several times a day?
FACT 10: The Petitions!
Let’s show the people who run this state that WE WILL NOT BE TAKEN ADVANTAGE ANY MORE!! Let’s FORCE the state to petition the Federal Government to put a toll or tolls on I-95 and/or I-195. NEVER to put tolls on our bridges or taxes on our businesses without them placing the same on all other counties!
I am sure there ARE more FACTS, lets think of them!

FACT 11: RI “State gas tax of 33 cents per gallon at the pump” (found at http://www.dot.ri.gov/TollingInfo/tolling_index.asp). Why can the state not make this amount work better?
FACT 12: “RIDOT maintains more than 1,100 miles of roads and highways in Rhode Island, as well as more than 600 bridges” (also found at http://www.dot.ri.gov/TollingInfo/tolling_index.asp) why are the only roads/bridges located in Newport County?
What I am hoping to PROVE is that Newport County IS more expensive to live due to tolls on our bridges. Newport County verses the state of RI = will MAKE them put a toll somewhere else in our state and tell them we have had ENOUGH in supporting this state!! Fair IS fair!
I have to admit that I did not read everyone’s comments, so I don’t know if any of these have been mentioned, but I thought you would like to know my thoughts on the matter. Now all Newport County needs a lawyer willing to make a case against the state of RI and WIN!

Check out http://www.dot.ri.gov/TollingInfo/tolling_index.asp to read & send your thoughts on tolling bridges to RIDOT's Customer Service office by calling 401-222-2450 weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. or by sending email to CustomerService@dot.ri.gov.

FYI, come hook up with STOP we have many of the facts you have and some we possible don't, it's clear you would be a tremendous help, STOP just went online toay ot got there google or contact me, we have lawyers town councilmen reps common taxpayer etc, I'm just the petition guy, but I will lay in the road if it's called for, come under the tent help us and you put and the anger and knowledge yu have to good use, thanks jcloo7@msn.com

Taxpayer lives in Johnston, works in East Providence, uses I Way everyday. Tolls paid? $0.00, Taxpayer live's anywhere in Newport county works in East Providence uses new bridge with tolls $1,66 daily. over $30.00 monthly plus deposit and possible this double's if other family member life is same way, , Money goes to Bridge folks, Excess as we all know will go to general fund, , Tourist's travel dies out, jobs are lost, toll money goes down, tolls are raised,more tourist quit, more jobs lost, more money needed, how about we as the CITIZENS of Newport County just stop this dead in it's track's, The more we sign the bigger it gets Headlines USA Today! The Island in Rhode Island Revolts, taxpayers stand and say no more!!

Mark if they have to do a study about how much traffic will go to the Mt Hope Bridge then #1 how can they do that with the new bridge open? #2 wil we have practice tolls to know
to know much gets diverted? how else can you realy tell?

YUP
having a good time stalking me?

Don't know who you are, don't care, I'm trying to stop tolls, why are you here?

Out side the BOX? Ok I'm dead serious about this, They put a sign up on the Pell bridge, LOCAL's ONLY, nothing else anyone with a RI transponder gets charged NOTHING for using that lane, tourist get bumped up to $6.00 BUCKS A TRIP
no trandponder fee ? i do't know if your from Ri and in a huray YOU can chose to use the easy pass lane and pay the .83 for the use of passage, It sounds a little crazy but think about it for a minute No tolls on new bridge, no tolls on old bridge tourist get to carry the heavy weight, we all go to waterfire for free and celebrate just a thought

Did anyone notice that the Governor now say's the tolls are tentative and there may be other ways to fund the bridges, I think someone is paying attention to us and all our voices

What happened to the "NO JAKING" sign in Tiverton? Since the bridge project started, that sign disappeared. I want that sign back! They need to put 1 on the Portsmouth side too! In cases you don’t know what that sign means, it's to let the Mack truck drivers know not to "jake" and make a whole lot of noise.

Maybe all of you can live in a tax/noise/toll free vaccum and skip out on the rest of the world. We are really concerned with the NO JAKING sign? You people need your head examined. That was the only location I have ever seen that sign. Too many complainers in that area....

How are we supposed to know where to jake and not jake now ?

TOLLS? INFO? donttoll.com or stop

thats donttoll.com

The Sign was there for years. It was replace with a detour sign/ weight limit sign years ago. Compression brakes are very loud and should not be used in that area. They really aren't needed on such a short incline. They were designed for mountains and long steep grades to help keep the main brakes cool. New trucks are more advanced and have metallic disk brakes. Less need for the Jake brake

Shouldn't we also put a toll on the new escape bridge for maintenance and upkeep?

To join the effort to stop the tolls, there are a number of ways to help. Portsmouth businesses who are not members of the Portsmouth Business Association can join the PBA and give us a stronger voice. Join on line at www.portsmouthbiz.com. Tiverton has formed a group called TIVERTON STOP. Click on this link for more details. http://portsmouth.patch.com/articles/tiverton-stop-launch-meeting-unites-town. Recently, the Common Fence Point Improvement Association joined STOP which is Sakonnet Tolls Opposition Platform. For more information on how to join the effort, call me at 682-2007..

It has been awhile since we have heard anything about the bridge tolls? For those of us that the tolls will have a negative aeffect on my sympathy's go out to you. My husband and I are seniors now. We gsve Portsmouth the best years of our lives. Now we are elderly and sickly with Dr's and family in Fall River I sit and wonder why a heartless, self serving goverment can surpress it's people so much to the pointo buisness leaving, elderly stuck here, and ral estate does not offer a way out. No one seems to wantto live here. So many houses on my street for sale. What a mess. Oh, I pray that this foolish lack of leadership does not hurt us any more. Please stop the tolls. A lot of people are going to be hurting and I am sure they will not give us a break on taxes. Such poor goverment. This is so sad. Any new news? Positive news? Anyone hear from Ciccilini or anyone interested in helping us? thank you.

I apologize for using this blog, but I thought this would be the most efficient way to ask this question that has been bothering me to many town residents at one time. Last Saturday morning, 1/13/13, I woke up and my mailbox was smashed in on the side, almost falling off the post, but the post was fine. I suspect that it may have been some young adults in a car with a baseball bat. (This is the second time this has happened since I moved here over 10 years ago.)
As I’ve been driving around town I noticed that many of the mailboxes in this town look like mine does. Knowing this, I have contacted the police but they can not help with this matter unless they have a witness who has seen the car, the license plate number, and the people doing this to come forward. I have also contacted the Post Office to help keep track of smashed mailboxes (if they can) and the local ER for individuals with dislocated shoulders or other injuries this type of activity could cause.

Hopefully the people doing this will see this and realize that this is a FEDERAL OFFENCE when a mailbox has been tampered in anyway!! “Once a mailbox is put into use, it is considered federal property. As such, federal law states that it is a crime to tamper or vandalize a mailbox or its contents. Anyone found guilty of such crimes can be fined and incarcerated.” (A federal offense means any crime committed on U.S government property.) “Tampering with the U.S. mail is a crime, as is theft of the mail and tampering with mailboxes and receptacles holding mail. All crimes related to the U.S. Postal Service are covered under 18 USC Chapter 83.”
If one were to count how many mailboxes have been vandalized with in Portsmouth, this could be a substantial sentence for 2 or more individuals.
This is a warning to those who think this type of recreation is OK, not to mention dangerous to your body.
My question is - has your mailbox ever been vandalized like this too?
Thank you for your time.

Surveillance camera with digital recording device. Picture worth a conviction.

ya put another mailbox filled with cement in front of yours, this worked quite well in Swansea when mailbox baseball broke out a few years ago