Voters in Jefferson, Orleans and Plaquemines parishes decide Saturday whether to renew Crescent City Connection tolls another 20 years.
With voters in three parishes scheduled to vote Saturday on whether to renew Crescent City Connection bridge tolls another 20 years, opponents on Thursday made an eleventh-hour push against the so-called "unfair tax," claiming it is a financial and psychological drag on residents and the economy of communities west of the Mississippi River.
The state and local officials, including two parish presidents, and several West Bank business people, held a press conference to urge voters to go to the polls Saturday and not be swayed by alleged scare tactics spread by toll supporters who allege that a vote against toll renewal will mean the bridge will not be maintained and property taxes will double.
"I can't sugar coat it," Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser said. "There are lies being told to trick people into voting for these tolls."
Voters in Jefferson, Orleans and Plaquemines parishes narrowly renewed the tolls in November. In the end, the measure passed by 36 ballots, out of more than 300,000 votes that were cast in the race.
But a state judge in Baton Rouge tossed out the election results in finding that provisional ballots provided to more than 1,000 voters on election day did not include the bridge referendum. The provisional ballots allow voters to vote in federal races only.
Saying that Louisiana's budget next year will be $25 billion, up from the $12 million when Mike Foster was governor through 2004, state Treasurer John Kennedy said the state has money to maintain the bridge.
Yet tolls collected from the Crescent City Connection have been used to pay for unnecessary insurance, no-bid contracts, consultants, other highway projects and "feathering" politicians' beds, he said.
"It's gone everywhere but the bridge," Kennedy said. "Don't tell me the bridge can't operate without the toll money, because it's been doing it for the past 24 years."
The tolls were meant to cover the debt of building the second span. The debt has been paid, Kennedy said.
Jefferson Parish residents, particularly those on the West Bank, carry an unfair burden, in that Louisiana's three toll bridges affect Jefferson: The Causeway, Louisiana 1 to Grand Isle and the Crescent City Connection, Parish President John Young said.
"If we're going to toll the CCC, let's toll every other bridge in the state," Young said. He added that the future growth of Jefferson Parish will happen on the West Bank. "I do believe the tolls are holding back economic development on the West Bank," he said.
Three business owners on the West Bank offered anecdotal testimony of life since toll collection was stopped two months ago. They said the tolls were a drag on their businesses.
"It's not good for West Bank business," said Shannon Ockman, owner of Bayou Sports Shop in Terrytown. She cited two east bank customers who've recently shopped at her store because tolls were lifted.
Three "converts" also were mentioned. State Rep. Chris Leopold, Plaquemines Parish Sheriff Lonnie Greco and Westwego Mayor Johnny Shaddinger were toll proponents before the November referendum. They since have switched sides, with Greco announcing Wednesday he has changed his position on the matter.