Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Staten Island Man Urging Boycott Of PA Sees That Protesting Ain't Easy
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Oct 22, 2011
Modified Oct 22, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Oct 22, 2011
Modified Oct 22, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Even if you have a much-craved "objective," starting a successful protest movement is tough. Staten Island resident Joe Valentin wants his brethren rise up and boycott the Port Authority due to its recent fare hikes, and stood outside the Rossville Shopping Center all day yesterday to rally support. But he had no luck garnering disciples. "I talk to people; everybody supports what I'm doing, they want to thank me, but that's not what I want. I want them to do something," Valentin told the Staten Island Advance. What Valentin doesn't realize is that a boycott of the PA is a boycott of Love.
Valentin, a retired gas worker and "self-proclaimed borough loudmouth" wants a flat E-ZPass rate of around $5-6 for crossing into New Jersey and a guarantee that that they wouldn't rise in the future. To spread his message, he's selling $5 placards to recoup the $1,000 he spent making them. "I'm not going to stop until I see signs everywhere…We're an Island; we're trapped, it's not fair, they can't punish us for it."
One man who said he was a PA police officer told Valentin that the issue was "overpaid supervisors," then "hastened off." Another said that "it's a good idea," before giving Valentin "an apologetic half-smile" and continuing on his way.
Somewhat heartening to Valentin should be Marie Wausnock, who emailed the Advance with her petition to urge politicians to roll back the fare hikes. "People in Egypt used social media to take down a government," Wausnock writes, "We here in America, the greatest country in the world, should be able to use social media to beat up the PA a little bit and pressure our elected officials to do what they were elected for: to represent the people of Staten Island." Internet petitions certainly help, but perhaps these two should touch the hearts of Staten Islanders the way Occupy Wall Street does: through their stomachs.
Tagged
democracy
fare hikes
occupy wall street
port authority
protests
staten island
toll hikes
Christopher Robbins
Christopher Robbins is a New York City reporter covering transportation, affordable housing, local politics, and criminal justice. His work has also appeared in New York Magazine, The Village Voice and The New York Times. Chris is a graduate of Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, Virginia, and enjoys biking to Fort Tilden in the summertime.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NYC tow companies busted for ripping off drivers must give $67K in refunds, city says
Mayor Mamdani has expanded enforcement on towing scams, but the unlicensed towing industry remains largely unregulated.
By
Liam Quigley
Published Oct 2, 2026 at 4:47 p.m. ET
Off-duty NYPD officer stabbed in the Bronx, police say
Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Commissioner Jessica Tisch visited the officer in the hospital.
By
Ryan Kost
News
Off-duty NYPD officer stabbed in the Bronx, police say
Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Commissioner Jessica Tisch visited the officer in the hospital.
By
Ryan Kost
DOC negligence factored in death at Rikers' Bellevue hospital outpost, jail officials say
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Conductor on NYC subway that dragged man to death may have skipped safety check, source says
By
Stephen Nessen
NYPD still searching for man who threw burning substance on victim in East Harlem
By
Ryan Kost
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .