Press Releases: 10/30/09 Legislators Iannello, Reynolds Call for a County Tax Abatement Law for Home Improvements 10/08/09 Erie County Legislator Michele Iannello News Release 09/30/09 Iannello Calls on County Executive to Include Tax Cut in Budget 08/26/09 IANNELLO APPOINTED CO-CHAIR OF THE NIAGARA ERIE REGIONAL COALITION BY LEGISLATURE CHAIR MARINELLI 08/07/09 LEGISLATOR IANNELLO DEFENDS PREVAILING WAGE VOTE

Michele M. Iannello - District 10 RESOLUTION TO BE SUBMITTED BY LEGISLATOR IANNELLO RE: REMOVAL OF THE TOLLS ON THE GRAND ISLAND BRIDGES FOR DEFINED HEALTH RISKS WHEREAS, for many years vehicle emissions of benzene along with industrial emissions have contributed to high levels of toxins in and around the area surrounding the South Grand Island Bridges in the Town of Tonawanda; and WHEREAS, a major cause of these emissions is the idling and slowing of vehicles for long periods of time while paying the tolls at the South Grand Island Bridge; and WHEREAS, previous attempts at legislation have failed to have the Grand Island tolls removed; and WHEREAS, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, (NYSDEC) has just completed a year-long Air Monitoring Project in the area adjacent to the South Grand Island Bridges; and WHEREAS, the NYSDEC has revealed the presence of volatile organic compounds in, the air, benzene having the highest concentration of more than nearly 100 times above the risk levels as established by the NYSDEC; and WHEREAS, benzene has been linked to various blood disorders including leukemia, reproductive effects and aplastic anemia; and WHEREAS, the overall threshold of these cancer causing pollutants can be drastically reduced by eliminating mobile sources of car and truck exhaustive and evaporative concentrations at the South Grand Island Bridges; and WHEREAS, removal of the tolls at the South Grand Island Bridges can mean the difference needed to reduce the health risk to the residents of the Tonawandas Grand Island, Kenmore and Riverside; and WHEREAS, the New York State Department of Transportation receives Federal highway dollars on a per mile basis for the New York State Thruway; and WHEREAS, the health factor far outweighs the financial impact by removal of said tolls. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that this honorable body calls upon the New York State Thruway Authority to review the results of the Air Monitoring Study conducted by the NYSDEC in the neighborhoods surrounding the Grand Island Bridges; and be it further RESOLVED, that upon review of the report, the New York State Thruway Authority takes action to make the health and well being of the residents of the Tonawandas, Kenmore Grand Island and Riverside a priority; and be it further RESOLVED, that upon consideration and investigation, the New York State Thruway Authority will see fit to remove the tolls and toll booths from the South Grand Island Bridges; and be it further RESOLVED, that this action be taken immediately, keeping in mind that the continued exposure of these toxic emissions adversely effects the health and well being of the residents of the surrounding neighborhoods; and be it further RESOLVED, that certified copies of this resolution be forwarded to the Executive Director of the NY S Thruway Authority, the WNY Delegation, the Honorable Governor Paterson, the Commissioner of the NYS Department of Transportation, The NYS Dept. of Health, Erie County Department of Health, Erie County Department of Environment and Planning, Senator Schumer, Senator Gillibrand, the Clean Air Coalition of Western New York, Congresswoman Slaughter and Congressman Higgins. Fiscal Impact: None Back to District 10 Homepage