34 years it took

Did you see the video? It’s eye-opening.

Here’s the column that is the offspring of what you see in that video.

The points that Esmonde makes are spot-on.

1. It was Carl Paladino’s lawsuit that was the catalyst for bringing about removal of the tolls;

2. Senate Republicans, who had said a mere 6 months ago that it couldn’t happen because the bondholders wouldn’t go along, all of a sudden figured out a way to get it done, after all;

3. The reasons that Senate Republicans decided to get on with it are twofold;

a. the likelihood of the lawsuit’s success on the merits; and
b. the inevitability that the tolls would be removed once Eliot Spitzer became governor – he pledged to do it. On Day One, everything changes, dontcha know.

4. Politicians love to get their pictures in the paper.

The only thing missing from the article is a little love thrown Dave Swarts’ way. He was the only local politician to really hammer on the tolls issue year after year.

Also:

Dale Volker, our state senator, nearly damaged himself climbing aboard a ceremonial “No Toll” truck as TV cameras rolled. This is the same Volker who argued months ago that the tolls could not come down because of “bonding obligations.”

“I thought he was going to break his neck, he was so desperate to get in the truck,” said businessman Carl Paladino.

Finally, the most salient point of all:

Volker claimed Monday – despite all evidence to the contrary – that Paladino’s lawsuit had no impact on the tolls’ ending, instead crediting an Albany money stash he recently helped to find. One wonders how Volker, having spent the last 34 years in Albany, could not have found the money sooner.

34 years it took. 34 years.

Next up for the lawsuit? Refund time.