In a city as big as New York, and who brings in millions of tourist a year, .
it is hard to believe that we are in a finically hardship. New York city is in a 5 billion .
dollar budget deficit. An as mayor Michael Bloomberg has a big job in front of him.
Bloomberg has done a lot of great things for the city since the disaster of .
9-11 has happened. Now he has another mountain to over come and that is raising 5 .
billion dollars in a city that is seeing one of its hardest economics times in years.
One idea Bloomberg has brought forth is putting tolls on the free bridges .
that connects the 5 boroughs such as Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and .
Queensbury Bridge. Which over half a million people travel over every week .
for free.
But with this idea many counter agreements have been brought up. Such as .
why take money from the working class people of this city? And what about the traffic .
jams it's going to cause. These are two very strong points brought up against this well .
thought out idea.
In an article written in the Daily News October 19, 2002 by Michael Saul. .
This idea could bring the city $100 million dollars in a fiscal year 2004, and rise up to .
$800 million in the fiscal year 2006. But what has been failed to be introduced is the .
people it will affect. Such as Jose Rodriguez a 30-year-old construction worker from .
Williamsburg, Brooklyn, said the tolls could be devastating. He said, "If I pay $6 a day, .
that's over $100 a month" he also stated " with that money I should be buying food for .
my kids.".
Another issue is with the toll booths will cause traffic. But for those who.
live by EZ pass even with EZ pass the traffic will be noticeable from Queens Boulevard .
up to forest hills and Flatbush Avenue will transformed these streets into a long, narrow .
parking lot.
But to this problem which has been brought up New York turns to Europe .
and our neighboring country of Canada where in Toronto for five years a system of .