This week marks the five hundredth anniversary of Italian explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano’s arrival in New York Bay — and to commemorate it, drivers ought to get a toll break on his famed namesake bridge, a neighborhood pol says.
The Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, which connects Staten Island and Brooklyn, was opened in 1964 and named after the explorer, who entered the bay April 17, 1524.
“It’s becoming that the MTA make his namesake bridge free for the residents of the 2 boroughs it connects on April seventeenth, to rejoice the five hundredth anniversary of Verrazzano discovering New York Bay,” mentioned Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn), to The Submit.
“Verrazzano can be rolling in his grave if he knew concerning the money seize this money-hungry company was conducting in his title, which they even misspelled for a long time,” the congresswoman cheekily added, referring to the MTA’s notorious spelling error of the explorer’s final title on its indicators, giving him just one “z.”
He’d most likely even sue for defamation,” the congresswoman quipped.
Malliotakis has already issued a congressional decision honoring Verrazzano and acknowledging the five hundredth anniversary of his discovery of the bay on behalf of the French monarchy.
The MTA didn’t instantly reply to a Submit request for touch upon the proposed toll break.
The company not too long ago got here underneath hearth for attempting to gather $750,000 in lost-toll revenues from the New York Street Runners Membership over the New York Metropolis Marathon. The Verrazzano bridge is closed in the course of the annual race — the place runners begin and go over bridge — and the transit company mentioned it must be reimbursed for the misplaced tolls.
However Gov. Kathy Hochul, who oversees the MTA, ordered the company to again off messing with the enduring race and financial generator for New York Metropolis.
In the meantime, native Italian-American civil leaders will rejoice the Verrazzano discovery anniversary in a ceremony by the explorer’s statue in Battery Park in Manhattan on Wednesday at midday.
They agreed with Malliotakis that the bridge must be toll-free Wednesday.
“Nearly 100 years earlier than Hudson, an intrepid Italian explorer made it to New York Harbor, and actually confirmed the way in which to this land of alternative,” mentioned John Calvelli, govt vice chairman of the Nationwide Italian American Basis. “The MTA can honor his legacy by offering a little bit reduction for the hundreds of New Yorkers that journey on the bridge that bears his title.
“It isn’t day-after-day you rejoice a five hundredth anniversary! Thanks Rep. Malliotakis for main this effort!”
On Saturday, a road nook on Staten Island at Lily Pond Avenue and Main Avenue shall be co-named after Giovanni da Verrazzano. Metropolis Councilman David Carr, who reps the borough’s neighborhoods by the bridge and requested the change, will preside.
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