Proposed Port Authority Toll Hikes Top Local News

Commuters who cross the Hudson River into Manhattan on bridges—including the George Washington Bridge— and via tunnels and PATH could be hit with the largest-ever toll and fair increase next month, according to a plan announced by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey last Friday.

The agency will vote on the unprecedented toll and fare hikes on Aug. 19 after hearings in both states, including one in Fort Lee on Aug. 16 at 6 p.m. at the George Washington Bridge Administration Building, 220 Bruce Reynolds Blvd. (Full Story)

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The public portion of the Fort Lee Mayor and Council’s executive session Thursday was dominated by a lengthy debate on rent leveling, but prior to that discussion, which Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich described as just the beginning of a “meaningful dialog,” the borough’s governing body discussed several other topics of interest, including opposing the Port Authority’s proposed toll hikes on the George Washington Bridge and other Hudson River crossings.

The latter didn’t take much discussion, although it was an item listed on the agenda for “general discussion.”

“We oppose,” said one council member, as other members of the governing body nodded or otherwise expressed agreement with opposing the proposed measure. (Full Story)

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The skies were kind as the Feast of Saint Rocco came to a close last Sunday. Although the weight of rain hung heavy in the air, the sun shone brightly as members of the Society of Saint Rocco approached lower Main Street making their way toward the final leg of their march around West Fort Lee. (Full Story and Photo/Video Montage)

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The lines started forming outside Malcolm Towers along Main Street and Fletcher Avenue in Fort Lee early Monday morning. Some seniors even kept vigil throughout the night. The wait wasn't for concert tickets, but for something far more important; something as important as the concept we call "home"—affordable housing for seniors under Housing and Urban Development (HUD). (Full Story)

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After about a month of partial closures and detours on a three-tenths of a mile stretch of road between Fort Lee and neighboring Edgewater, the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) closed the section of Route 5 completely in both directions starting Tuesday morning for about the next month, NJDOT officials announced last Friday. (Full Story)

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A Fort Lee woman living with limited mobility is intensifying her efforts to bring about changes she hopes will enable her and others to get around town safer and a little more conveniently after a run in with police last month. (Full Story)

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The Fort Lee Library Board of Trustees honored one of the ’s longest serving employees Wednesday, dedicating a library book to retiring assistant library director Lucy Haskell and recognizing her for her nearly 38 years of service. (Full Story)

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As the acronym for Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services, R.A.C.E.S., implies, there is fast, efficient help for the community should the need arise during an emergency. While no one ever expects to be hit with a devastating event like Hurricane Katrina, experience proves it is wise to be ready, really ready, and members of Fort Lee's R.A.C.E.S. are.

R.A.C.E.S. is a government agency, an extension of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), comprised of licensed radio amateurs certified by a civil defense agency that would be capable of rapdily exchanging critical information via amateur radio frequencies during emergencies. R.A.C.E.S. in Fort Lee, an arm of Bergen R.A.C.E.S., has been in existence for one year. The group is activated by local, county or state authorities, and is the only amateur radio operating group authorized to transmit should the President of the United States ever invoke the War Powers Act. (Full Story)

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And in local sports, Fort Lee resident Merissa Pico continues to accomplish great things in the sport of Taekwondo, recently making the USA Junior National Team for the third year in a row. (Full Story)

The week in review appears every Sunday on Fort Lee Patch.