Citizens petition for a bridge vote

When the Newark Village Board voted last month to accept ownership of the condemned East Ave. bridge, that move was "subject to permissive referendum." Translated: citizens can petition to vote on the matter.

A group of Newark citizens are exercising that democratic right and challenging the Village Board's decision. Spearheading the group are Keith Benjamin and Tom Furfaro. The two said they are convinced by conversations with friends, relatives, even poll workers on Election Day, that the Board was not in touch with the convictions of the average voter on this issue.

While emphasizing that they are not against the bridge being opened or rehabilitated, they feel strongly that the village should not accept ownership of the bridge from the state. Believing they are not alone in the thought, the men are circulating petitions to request a special election to let village voters have the final say.

"I don't want my kids and grandkids saddled with the future cost of repair and replacement of this bridge," said Benjamin.

Furfaro added, "One Trustee told me that the (state office of) Historic Preservation tells him that a bridge can not come down. The State can't take it down. The Village can't take it down. Why do we want to own this bridge?"

Since the Board put both the rehabilitation and the acceptance of ownership in one resolution, the petition reads in part, "petition that the resolution to assume ownership and rehabilitate the East Avenue Bridge, as adopted by the Board . . . be submitted to a vote of the qualified electors of the Village for their approval or rejection as provided by law."

The two men and their supporters have been told they need 1500 qualified signatures for the petition to be successful. They intend to collect 1600 to insure that goal. They are recruiting volunteers to help circulate petitions and oversee the signing process. By next week they will announce public places and times when people may sign.

Anyone interested in assisting may reach Keith Benjamin at 331-4390 or Tom Fufaro at 331-6049.

Time is running out, though - they have only 30 days from the October 21 adoption.

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