Attention Nassau County Bridge Authority:

Your urgent attention is needed. As we speak, a very serious problem is impacting over 45,000 residents of Atlantic Beach, the Long Beach Barrier Island, Long Island, and all those who are using the Atlantic Beach draw bridge for home or work beyond Nassau County. They commute over six million times over the bridge annually on average. It is the only bridge in Nassau County to charge a toll. 

Nassau County Bridge Authority has informed the public of the implementation of cashless tolling, Ez-Pass, and significant toll increases for 2023 which then doubled in 2024 on the Atlantic Beach Bridge. Ez-Pass was effective on December 13, 2023.

Many residents experienced glitches that often caused rejections or delays applying for Ez-Pass and were subject to paying cash tolls of $8 round trip. The NCBA stated that there were no problems in the application process. Why? Many residents called them and showed up at their offices. The NCBA rejected requests for refunds deserved to the residents. We hope that after News 12 TV coverage that the NCBA will reconsider. The NCBA said that they will consider reasonable requests for refunds. However, some resident requests were still rejected though the residents believe that their requests were reasonable. 

Residents have to incur ultimately double paying and the highest cash toll rates until their Ez-Pass problems are fixed. They should not have to pay any toll for that time period in that it was not their fault. Paying twice is not ethical and rejecting refunds is not reasonable or fair to residents. Those who already had Ez-Pass may be fine or less challenged.

Since there are limited options for access to and from the Island, residents are heavily dependent on this bridge. Mass transit options are few and many residents are elderly with mobility issues, making them vehicle-dependent. The toll increase will burden the community many of whom are retirees, living on fixed incomes and make it difficult for them especially to receive personal care aide services. 

Here is the Channel 12 News Interview with Alexis Pace, Public Advocate, Long Beach School Board Leader, Candidate for Legislator, with Atlantic Beach & Neighbors To Take On Cause To Rescind The Toll Hike of the Atlantic Beach Bridge

 

 
 

• The toll increase deters healthcare healthcare providers whose salaries can not afford the extra cost of the toll.
• Delivery services such as for food or laundry who residents have relied on stopped serving the area due to the toll increase and others he had to double their delivery fees.
• Those businesses are suffering a decline due to increased expenses by the doubled toll hikes that deter residents from paying commercial van and truck rates built into those services.

Residents find the toll increase excessive and detrimental to all aspects of the daily living. The toll hikes are inhumane, excessive, and unreasonable to local society of over 40,000 residents causing inflation on top of existing increasing inflation compounding existing burdens.

Though the government recognizes and aides those in need including low income, disabled, retirees, unemployed, and others, making it easier or feasible to afford activities of daily living, the NCBA ignores them. This group as well as those non-residents outside of the Barrier Island and Atlantic Beach who work here, most young saving for college working at the beach clubs or in stores and others in restaurants, or aides that provide personal care, that help to make our area special with a sense of exclusivity are an invaluable asset. However, the NCBA ignores them, too. These groups deserves but most importantly need a discount to the tolls especially cash tolls. Income from ez-Pass should offset any loss/ discount that the NCBA thinks that they are losing by giving a discount to those groups.

EZ Pass and cashless tolling costs  decrease due to automation and the need for fewer employees. They have stated that cash tolls were so far reduced by 50 percent in first few days. However, cash tolls imposed upon residents are much higher than the amount of $3 per ride, $6 roundtrip, with Ez-Pass or $4 one way, $8 round trip, without Ez-Pass. Yet, there is no processing fee expenses for the NCBA so the cash rate for residents should be much lower than the Ez-Pass rates. 

The residents of the Village of Atlantic Beach, Atlantic Beach Estates, East Atlantic Beach, Long Beach, Lido Beach, the Five Towns, Long Island, The Edgemere Civic Association for Far Rockaway, and The Long Beach Latino Civic Association respectfully request a discussion of the NCBA audit with the Office of the State Comptroller, and/or Authorities Budget Office in cooperation with Nassau County Legislators to determine if the toll increases are necessary and there is any way to reduce expenses and source income if needed outside the public or otherwise solve how to reduce this year's toll rates until existing inflation decreases and the economy improves especially on commercially registered vehicles.

So far third party analysis thinks that the toll hikes on the public might be unnecessary or avoidable and especially the doubled toll hikes in 2024. Our understanding of available financial information is that the NCBA accrued assets of eleven million dollars for example, sufficient to avoid excessive toll hikes which they confirmed in statements to the media.  It is a confusing picture when later they say that they don't need another toll hike for another 5-10 years. Then, they claim hikes are in anticipation of inflation and and possible degredation needing repairs later on. Then, they claimed hikes were needed due to debt before imposing the toll hike of 2023, and then 2024. Maybe all that was true but there creates questions by the public and causes the need for transparency. 

Granted, repairs not done during 2022 and 2023 may be done during 2024 and we expect to see increased expenses. In fact, we would like the expenses provided in detail even showing the contractors hired and bids. Full transparency should avoid the NCBA from holding that back until FOIL requests are made. We would like to learn more about the costs relating to employees for example, and want to make sure that funding needed for bridge maintainance and repairs is a priority accounting for an emergency cushion as well. Can the number of employees be reduced in order to reduce expenses and in turn toll hikes. Less labor is needed due to increased automation with the use of Ez-Pass.

It is understood that good salaries, insurance, and benefits be reasonable. The issue is of transparency.

Many answers to past FOIL requests has been confusing, incomplete and/or delayed.. Waiting on FOIL requests has been a challenge.

The residents demand full transparency on how the NCBA Board spends the funds collected through tolls. The information we receive is confusing often contradictory, or incomplete.

Also, we would like to understand how The Nassau County Bridge Authority operates likened to a private corporation in business as a public benefit company. The public would like to understand how much profit is needed to properly run a public benefit company, the bridge being a public service with approximately six million trips over the bridge made annually.

The residents already pay exorbitant taxes which pays for the other Nassau County bridges which are toll-less. Though the NCBA has no control of taxes, that may be an alternate source of funding for discussion with those and other entities in that the other toll-less bridge on Long Island is paid for with taxes.

Toll hikes are excessive. Toll hikes should not be imposed during times of extreme inflation from food insecurity to mortgage burdens besides costs and reduced employment income of the Covid pandepersons. Costs of environmental damage to property and person is a given.

Further, years ago it was promised that once the bridge expense to build was complete, there would no longer be a toll. That is not to say that money for maintainance and repairs is not needed. There were and are alternate sources for funding the bridge costs without imposing tolls on the public or at the very least, on Atlantic Beach and Barrier Island residents.  This included The Covid Relief Fund that had a 200 million dollar budget. To our knowledge, NCBA did not exhaust alternate sources of funds. Improved communications between the local government and the NCBA is needed.

Past meetings during year 2022, then 2023 by the NCBA held with the public to address NCBA plans, activities, and tolls were fruitless designed to  challenge the public from being heard. Any progress in 2023, arising from Authority Budget Office recommendations, ultimately fleeting, with open meetings has regressed if not worsened.

More open unresticted meetings would increase transparency that the public is entitled to and optimize attendance in order to observe your board meetings. Optimizing attendence by bridge-goers cuts down on future attendence on open board meetings in that most people's questions should already be answered. It is an obligation you have to comply with Open Meetings Law.

The opinion of the New York State Committee on Open Government finds meetings that are scheduled too early or too late in the day unreasonable 

A meeting at 10:30 am is unreasonable as it is an hour too early when most people work to earn their necessary income in order to support themselves or their family. This occured on December 20th, perhaps due to your ribbon cuttong ceremony that day for Ez-Pass. Please schedule board meetings thereafter in evenings.

Open Meetings Law, states that you should treat the public fairly and equally if we are participating in the meeting by a public body. You include us as a guest from your waiting room in your zoom of the board meeting. However, in the last few months, you do not allow us to engage in conversation with you, or you do not answer us, by audio or to our knowledge in audio.

In that you receive and control tens of millions of dollars of our hard earned money in toll income annually with seemingly net profit and seeking more, even with the same toll rates from the disadvantaged or challenged residents, such as the retired, low income, disabled. large families, personal care aides, young people that work here, and other bridge-goers, we feel that you have an obligation to treat us fairly and equally, both ethically and by responsibility to the public. Currently, you are not treating us fairly. Additionally, you did not make accommodations in tolls to those groups.

On the Meetings section of your website, you explained that the reason for not inviting the public to participate in person in your board meeting as previously done before, is for health reasons to avoid contagious illness. However, allowing us to participate in your zoom board meeting as a guest from your waiting room, solves this. 

Recently, you added the additional reason of time constraints that cause you to choose to mute the audio of the public in your zoom in order to try to not accept comments from the public. However, there are no time constraints. You can choose to extend the time period of your board meeting.  It is expected that less and less time would likely be needed by the public over time, as we get most answers early on, once we experience the new toll situation.

Open Meetings Law obligates treating the public fairly as a priority. Likewise, your third most recent reason for space constraints would not comply with Open Meetings Law. You are obligated to have a comfortable space for the public when they attend to observe your meetings. And, in that we attend your meetings as a guest in your zoom, there are no space constraints but to ensure that your waiting room is big enough and also accommodates disabled parties properly, with complete ADA compliance to your property and building.

1. When you lock the gate at the entrance before or during certain board meetings, that does not comply.
2. We could otherwise attend remotely from our homes which is an option.
3. You could share a link on your website to your zoom and invite the public.

Writing our comments or questions down for later consideration by you after we leave the waiting room, is not sufficient in that you may not be obligated by Open Meetings Law to respond and often don't. However, the law of public opinion here and consumer laws have a say as well.

1. We would appreciate that you respond to all comments and questions that were submitted on your comment card and to letters and emails

The loss or compromise to you is none by allowing us to engage in conversation in audio besides visual, but only would instill good will and a better relationship with your neighbors of over 40,000 residents and businesses of Atlantic Beach together with The Long Beach Barrier Island besides other bridge-goers. That comprises approximately six million trips per year using our Atlantic Beach bridge.

We hope for your re-evaluation of our needs, and accept our improvements to the toll rates.

1. Better transparency includes, our right to observe your meetings unrestricted and understand what is said.

We demand, in interest of better transparency, that you please:

1. Allow us to have our comments and questions with our voice, with audio turned on, unmuted throughout the entirety of the zoomed board meetings and
2. We participate in the board meetings time period preferably after, such as permitting conversation with us on zoom,
3. The time of day should be convenient to the public such as after work hours rather than 10:30am.
4. Further, we would appreciate if you would make our capacity to observe the board meetings friendlier. Please upgrade to a better quality monitor, larger to accomodate those sitting in the back of the waiting room, with clear audio which is currently muffled and image dark.This would be in full compliance with Open Meetings Law and be fully fair and equal to the public. 
5. Include bluetooth headsets and speakers for all seats especially in the back so when some people talk in the waiting room, interested parties won't miss your zoom audio which ultimately minimizes any of our future questions as we learn from you.
6. We need you to respond/answer all questions and comments that you invite which are submitted either by your comment card, people submit in your waiting room, or via email, fax or phone. It would be a good faith measure.
7. Post a link on your website to your zoom meetings so that people can log in.
8. Post a link to view prior zoomed board meetings in a history,.
9. Improve ADA compliance.
   Make a separate gate door for disabled when you opt to close the gate when press is present or others that you wish not to enter.
10. We prefer that you don't refuse the media from entering or asking questions. That violates OML. The board meetings are open to the public. Often their questions are not controversial but inform or educate the public especially about Ez-Pass. That reduces the amount of times that they call or email you for a statement. Again, it would also be in good faith. 
11. Add an email address not just a form for submitting a FOIL request
12. and an email address for regular contact information with an upload file feature. It is often necessary to upload a pdf file or image. Regular mail alone is an.outdated option.

This would increase transparency that the public is entitled to and optimize attendance in order to observe your board meetings.

It is an obligation you have to comply with Open Meetings Law.

The same toll rates are even imposed upon the disadvantaged or challenged residents, such as the retired, low income, disabled. large families, personal care aides, young people that work here, and other bridge-goers, which is unfair and unreasonable. 

You are and have not been treating us fairly. Additionally, you did not make accommodations of discounted tolls to those groups

We would appreciate that you respond to all comments and questions that were submitted on your comment card and to letters and emails.

The loss or compromise to you is none by allowing us to engage in conversation in audio besides visual, but only would instill good will and a better relationship with your neighbors of over 40,000 residents and businesses of Atlantic Beach together with The Long Beach Barrier Island besides other bridge-goers. That comprises approximately six million trips per year using our Atlantic Beach bridge.

We are entitled to this right to support transparency by public bodies such as observing board meetings. Residents and other bridge-goers wanting to ask questions and wanting to learn more about how our toll income is being spent and what repairs are being done, for example, is not a statement that we don't appreciate other NCBA efforts. 

Accordingly, please update the improvements we call for to your website.

Please look for our SECOND PETITION. Petition to Calling for the Nassau County Bridge Authority To Rescind The Toll Hikes. It calls for the toll increases of 2023 and 2024 to be rescinded immediately. Please heed our plea. The patience of ALL THE PEOPLE is now exhausted.

Your prompt attention would be greatly appreciated.

Please contact the community of Atlantic Beach and neighbors, with The Long Beach Latino Civic Association, Edgemere Civic Association for Far Rockaway, and other Barrier Island Civic and Housing Associations with an update via a reply here or via your website or newspaper ad.

Thank you kindly you for your consideration and we look forward to hearing from you at your earliest possible convenience. 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.

Progress! Watch Channel 12 News Interview with Alexis Pace, Candidate for Legislator, with our group, Atlantic Beach & Neighbors To Take On Cause To Rescind The Toll Hike of the Atlantic Beach Bridge

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The toll increase deters healthcare healthcare providers whose salaries can not afford the extra cost of the toll.Delivery services such as for food or laundry who residents have relied on stopped serving the area due to the toll increase and others he had to double their delivery fees. Residents find the toll increase excessive and detrimental to all aspects of the daily living.

Presumably, once EZ Pass and cashless tolling are implemented, the NCBA costs will decrease due to automation and the need for fewer employees. The residents of the Village of Atlantic Beach, Atlantic Beach Estates, East Atlantic Beach, Long Beach, Lido Beach, the Five Towns, Long Island, The Edgemere Civic Association for Far Rockaway, and The Long Beach Latino Civic Association respectfully request an investigation and audit by the Office of the State Comptroller, and ABO in cooperation with the Nassau County Legislator to determine if the toll increase is necessary. So far an internal analysis deems the toll hike unnecessary with the NCBA sitting on and accruing assets as opposed to being in debt as they claimed. The residents demand full transparency on how the NCBA Board spends the funds collected through tolls.

Also, we would like to understand why The Nassau County Bridge Authority operates and is supported by local government acting like a private corporation in business for profit though they are a public benefit company when the bridge should be a public service. The residents already pay exorbitant taxes which pays for the other Nassau County bridges which are toll-less. Further, years ago it was promised that once the bridge expense to build was complete, there would no longer be a toll. Meetings by the NCBA held with the public to address NCBA plans, activities, and tolls were fruitless designed to obstruct the Public from being heard.

Please look for our SECOND PETITION. Please click that link. It calls for the toll increase to be rescinded immediately. Please heed our plea. The patience of ALL THE PEOPLE is now exhausted.

Your prompt attention would be greatly appreciated. Please contact the community of Atlantic Beach and neighbors, with The Long Beach Latino Civic Association, Edgemere Civic Association for Far Rockaway, and others at Atlantic Beach and Neighbors with an update.

Thank you kindly you for your consideration and we look forward to hearing from you at your earliest possible convenience

Sincerely,