Voices of Reform and Fairness Growing Louder
The march toward toll equity hasn’t been exactly a speedy one for the people shouldering the huge burden of paying not only for the roads they are driving, but also the Big Dig roads everyone north and south of Boston drives for free.
But the last few months (since May 8, when we filed this class action lawsuit) have been momentous ones for our cause and the voices of reform and basic fairness keep growing louder and louder.
In today’s edition of the Salem News, state Rep. Lori Ehrlich (D-Marblehead) lends her passionate voice to the cause with an op-ed column appropriately titled: “Toll Equity: It’s Time Has Come.” Lori’s arguments are strong and they have the added benefit of being true, which always helps.
But what supporters of fairness and equity on our roadways need to know is that the Reps and Senators who are supporting our effort are sticking their necks out for us and standing up to sometimes powerful forces to do what is right for the people of the Commonwealth.
Without Lori and other like-minded reps and Senators, toll equity would not be the law of the land.
It is fashionable these days to pick on our elected leaders and there is certainly plenty to be picky about for the years of inequity suffered by drivers from MetroWest and along the North Shore. But we also have to make sure we commend them when they stand up for us, to stand with them and say thank you.
Among those who stood up, in addition to Rep. Ehrlich, were Speaker Robert DeLeo, House Transportation Chairman Joseph Wagner, members of the Republican leadership, including Assistant Minority Leader George Peterson, Senate President Therese Murray, Senate Transportation Chairman Steven Baddour, Senate Majority Leader Fred Berry, and many, many more.
Tags: MA State Rep, News, news coverage, op-ed, toll equity