In honor of the 500th anniversary of the Italian explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano's arrival to New York, Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn) is trying to pass a bill to make the Verrazzano bridge toll-free this Wednesday. The Verrazzano bridge, which opened in 1964, was named after the explorer who arrived in the New York Bay on April 17th,1524.

Congresswoman Malliotakis stated that it would be fitting for the MTA to make his namesake bridge toll-free on April 17th for Staten Island and Brooklyn residents; the 2 boroughs that the bridge connects.