Christy Mihos takes it to Gov. Patrick.
During the election of 2006, I came to view candidate Deval Patrick as one whose campaign was based upon "whispering promises and sweet nothings."He did not like my label, and he said so at forums and debates.
Governor Patrick's recent announcement of eliminating about the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority and taking down some toll booths on the western Pike is an example of the governor's campaign lingo.
First, there is no immediate intent to eliminate the western Turnpike tolls and also to eliminate the Authority.
There is a plan to hike tolls on the Boston Extension and the tunnels by $100 million annually - and the Turnpike Authority Board took this vote on Friday, Nov. 14.
When government puts out a number, I tend to disbelieve it, as I have never found governments fairly accomplished in telling the truth about anything they want to do.
The only way governments get what they want is to lie about the plan, its effects and certainly the numbers and costs.
So I did a little research on the $100 million toll increase - using the government's numbers and projections from the original Metropolitan Highway System financial, bond prospectus and legislation and the information I had while serving as vice chairman of the Turnpike Authority.
I looked at the daily transactions of the tunnels and the Boston Extension (from Route 128 into Boston).
The real number is around $152.7 million annually with the contemplated toll increase of $1.50 on the extensions and $3.50 at the tunnels.
This is all new revenue, in a time of recession for some and depression for those who now have no job.
As to the promise to take down the western Pike tolls, the governor now claims that will take about two years to accomplish. His people and legislators represent that taking down the toll plazas will cost the state $100 million to reconfigure the exit ramps and remove the toll booths.
In 1996, Gov. William Weld removed the West Newton toll plaza over a weekend and the cost was $95,000 to take all the structures down and re-pave the road.
Where's the sense of urgency to help the taxpayers and toll payers of our state?
It's just a sweet nothing Deval is so adept at.
UPDATE: From Michael Graham.
