NYC borough officials boycotting Verrazano Bridge's 50th anniversary

NEW YORK -- The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge in New York City is 50 years old but not everyone is celebrating.

Staten Island's politicians are boycotting the anniversary ceremony Friday because of a proposed toll hike announced earlier this week.

The double-decked suspension bridge links the borough with Brooklyn.

The Staten Island Advance reports that the borough's 11 elected officials say they won't attend.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has proposed raising the one-way cash toll for cars by $1 to $16. Toll increases also would be applied across all major MTA bridge and tunnel crossings.

The MTA said in a statement the agency regretted that the borough's elected representatives would not be attending. It says Staten Islanders can significantly lower their rates by using E-ZPass electronic tolling and taking advantage of resident discounts.