Everybody wants to rule the world. Remember that song?
Well there is truth to that at some point. Everyone wants to have some sort of power in their lives. No one wants to feel powerless. But that is exactly how many of the people feel who live on this side of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge.
Why you may ask? Because we do not have a say in the toll rates. Aren't there laws about taxation without representation? And that is what the toll is: its a tax! It's always my belief that when its comes to making laws, things should be done in order and justly, according to what helps the people, not hurt them. When the new Tacoma Narrows Bridge was constructed, we felt it was just to ask for a toll to help pay the gigantic cost of building that structure.
It's been 6 years now and when you consider all the people who cross every day, which includes tourists, visitors, semi trucks, you name it, I'd say a big chunk if not all of the cost of the bridge has been paid for. You would think that the powers that be would keep us in the loop, come up with a yearly report on how much is being collected, and how much has been paid toward that expense.
But no, we arent told anything until its time to open our wallets and pay even more. First it was $1.25, then $2.75, then $4, and now $4.25, $4.50? When will it stop? It's almost extortion when a person has no choice but to pay the toll. Think of all the folks who have to go to Tacoma to work!
That's around $100 out of their paycheck a month just to get to the other side of the bridge. Include the cost of gas and you have a big dent in someone's budget. What about the person who has to go to Tacoma to apply for a job but doesn't have the $4 at the time?
They are stuck. Oh they will pay eventually, get a nice $5 fee in the mail. Things are not done justly.
It's about time that the people of Gig Harbor and the Kitsap Peninsula have a say in how much they should fork over to go across a bridge!
