With Election Day in sight and voters being asked to extend tolls on the Crescent City Connection for 20 years, businesses around the New Orleans area jumping on the bandwagon of a grassroots movement against the tolls' renewal. Nearly 200 businesses, mainly from the West Bank, are lending their names to encourage residents in Orleans, Jefferson and Plaquemines parishes to vote...
With Election Day in sight and voters being asked to extend tolls on the Crescent City Connection for 20 years, businesses around the New Orleans area jumping on the bandwagon of a grassroots movement against the tolls' renewal. Nearly 200 businesses, mainly from the West Bank, are lending their names to encourage residents in Orleans, Jefferson and Plaquemines parishes to vote "no'' Tuesday.
Businesses Against the Tolls.pdf
The tolls, which generate $21 million annually, are set to expire Dec. 31.
Toll opponents say elected officials should stand by their 1998 promise to end the tolls once the bridge is paid off. They also point to waste, including $4 million for an insurance policy, and questionable spending for projects that did not benefit West Bank commuters.
"The temperature is rising among anti-toll westbankers which I think may be the result of the huge pro-toll ad blitz,'' said John Roberts, who owns a number of businesses in Jefferson Parish and is a leader in the anti-toll movement. "That may end up being too over the top and may result in a backlash. People who were just going to vote no and that was it are now seemingly fired up and actively working to get more no votes. People are not used to seeing this level of advertising telling others to vote for taxes on the westbank.''
Nearly 200 businesses have joined an effort opposing an extension of the Crescent City Connection tolls. Roberts is referring to Bridging Progress, a political action committee of several business including the Jefferson Business Council, the Jefferson Chamber, Greater New Orleans Inc., the Algiers Economic Development Foundation and the Plaquemines Association of Business and Industry. Bridging Progress initiated a $200,000 campaign, backing the tolls, enlisting elected officials and law enforcement leaders in a series of news conferences to present the case for their extension. On Friday, the region's sheriffs and police chiefs announced their support, calling it a public safety issue.
Wade Perrin, chairman of the Voters League of Unincorporated West Jefferson, said it is an issue of fairness. If West Bank residents had evidence of their toll dollars at work, a ramp off the West Bank Expressway or improved traffic conditions, the debate wouldn't be an issue.
"No other bridge has this,'' he said. "Promises were made that when the bridge was paid for the tolls were going to go away. Believe me if we had seen those things happen, this wouldn't be an issue. Just keep your promise.''