Senate Majority Leader Malcolm A. Smith, Senator Shirley L. Huntley & Assemblywoman Audrey L. Pheffer join Queens Elected Officials to Announce the saving of The Cross Bay bridge Rockaway/Broad Channel Resident Rebate Program

(New York, NY)- Senate Majority Leader Malcolm A. Smith, Senator Shirley L. Huntley and Assemblywoman Audrey I. Pheffer, joined by other Queens elected officials, civic associations and community leaders will announce their successful efforts to save the Cross Bay Bridge Rockaway/Broad Channel Resident Rebate Program, preventing nearly 100,000 local residents from facing the only intra-borough toll in the state.

Under the current rebate program administered by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), all residents of the Rockaway Peninsula and Broad Channel areas receive an immediate and full rebate of the $2.50 bridge toll. However, as part of its "doomsday budget" the MTA had proposed eliminating that rebate. Due to the efforts of Senator Smith, Assemblywoman Pheffer, Senator Huntley and other elected officials and community activists, the rebate will remain intact and no local resident will be forced to pay the bridge toll.

WHO:
Senate Majority Leader Malcolm A. Smith
Assemblywoman Audrey I. Pheffer
Senator Shirley L. Huntley
Congressman Anthony Weiner
Senator Joseph Addabbo, Jr.
Assemblywoman Michelle Titus
John Gaska, Community Board 14 District Manager
Local Civic Associations and Community Leaders

WHEN:
Friday, May 15, 2009 @ 9:30 AM

WHERE:
North Side of the Cross Bay Bridge (area closest to Van Brunt Road)