News

STATEN ISLAND, NY – Congressman Michael G. Grimm (R,C-NY) issued the following statement in response to today’s news that two shipping firms are leaving Staten Island’s NYCT:

“Today’s news that two shipping firms are leaving the NYCT brings further urgency to the need for the Port Authority (PA) to release its toll study. For whatever reason these two firms are leaving, the bottom line is that businesses and jobs are leaving Staten Island, and the toll hike will - without a doubt - cause other companies to follow suit.

“Staten Islanders are supposed to be jumping up and down over residential toll relief, but why should we celebrate the reversal of toll hikes that should have never happened in the first place? Staten Island was forgotten as usual and held hostage by the PA’s outrageous toll hikes. We should have never been put in a position to have to beg for mercy or express our gratitude for the PA partially undoing such a devastating blow to our quality of life.

“As we go through the same song and dance over commercial toll relief, it is typical and reprehensible that the PA still has not released the raw data or results of its study. Time is of the essence, and we cannot afford any more of the PA’s stall tactics and delays.

“Without a prompt agreement on commercial relief, we will continue to watch our local jobs and economy decline, and our small businesses shut down or relocate to New Jersey. I will not stand idly by and allow this to happen, but will continue the fight until toll relief is brought to everyone on Staten Island. The people of Staten Island have been used as the bailout for the PA’s debt and mismanagement for far too long with very little in return, and I remain committed to putting an end to it once and for all!”

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