Living in Belle Chasse, Louisiana for 54 years, I'm no stranger to the beauty and challenges of our community. Yet, the recent introduction of tolls on the newly built bridge crossing the intercostal canal is an unfair burden on all of us. We already face high insurance rates and the last thing we need is an additional financial strain just for commuting within our own parish.

For over a year, residents like myself have been enduring the chaos and inconvenience brought by the ongoing LNG Plant construction alongside this bridge project. Traffic nightmares have become a part of our daily lives, and now, adding insult to injury, we are met with toll fees for a project we never got a chance to vote on. It's disheartening to see our parish turned upside down, and yet we are expected to carry the financial load for developments that disrupt our everyday lives without our consent.

Introducing these tolls is not just about paying for a bridge; it shifts the financial responsibility assumed by our city planners onto the residents who have lived here for decades. Many fellow long-term residents believe, as I do, that this is unjust. We were not offered a voice concerning this policy, nor the opportunity to explore alternative funding that doesn't penalize the people of Belle Chasse. We deserve a say in matters that impact our financial wellbeing and daily life. Also, since the TOLLS started we are all being charged a processing fee for money that is held in their account every time we cross the bridge. Therefore, causing everyone to manage their account closer and finding numerous unexplained charges. The website for GeauxPass is NOT user friendly nor can anyone give you a straight answer when you call.

It's time to demand a change. Let's urge local authorities and policymakers to reconsider these tolls, explore alternative funding methods, and give residents the voice we deserve. Please join me in signing this petition to remove the tolls on our new bridge and alleviate this unnecessary burden. Stand with us for fair treatment and fiscal justice for the people of Belle Chasse. Sign and share to make our voices heard.