I have had the privilege of representing the people of the Town of Moriah for 20 years as their town supervisor.
During my tenure, I have never experienced any disaster that has had as far-reaching impact as the closure of the Crown Point bridge. Hundreds of my constituents depend on this link daily to provide a living for their families. Many farms also depend on this vital link, as do many other businesses along the corridor. Many people have also had to cancel their medical care from their specialists and also their hospital care in both Middlebury and Burlington Vermont.
I also serve on the Essex County Board of Supervisors, and why this was allowed to happen is a travesty. Since 2004, the Essex County Board of Supervisors has moved four resolutions stating the importance of repairing this bridge! We have discussed the importance and deteriorating condition of this bridge for the past five years, and have forwarded the resolutions to all of our state and federal elected representatives. I can see that it was a total waste of time.
I can't begin to tell the hardship that this is causing thousands of people each day that depend on this bridge. As one of my constituents stated, we have built our lives around this bridge!I am tired of the lip service from our state officials. The immediate solution is a temporary ferry crossing near the existing bridge, that will run year round, 24/7.
This can and should be done now! It's time that our elected officials listen to the majority of the people, not the special-interest groups. At the end of the day, there must be accountability as to why this devastating situation was allowed to happen. Gov. Paterson has ordered an investigation, and for this I applaud him. But for right now we need a way to get across this lake. Winter is setting in, the ferry in Ticonderoga will be closing, and our people cannot afford to drive 75 miles to get to work.
Yes, the free ferry service is helpful, but it is still a distant drive to get there. Typical workday for many is now leaving your home at 4 a.m., getting to the bus, going to the ferry, crossing the lake, getting back on a bus, arrive at work for 7 a.m. No overtime, for if you do stay over, you will not have a way to get home. And many also work 12-hour shifts. Child care is also a huge problem.
Billions in stimulus funds out there, and here we are riding ferries to get to work. We have gone without in the Adirondacks for the past 40 years. Proof is that hundreds have to go to Vermont to find work.
We need help now from Albany and Washington. Build the temporary ferry crossing now, time is running out. Gov. Paterson, come to Essex County and see what our constituents go through each day trying to provide for their families, and also pay taxes.
Thomas Scozzafava is supervisor of the Town of Moriah and a member of the Essex County Board of Supervisors.
Opinion
November 15, 2009
Build temporary crossing now
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