""Waiving restitution would open the door for more frequent Bridge blockages for a litany of causes," the agency said in a statement. "... It is in the best interest of our customers, employees, and the community to discourage, rather than encourage, more frequent blockages of the Golden Gate Bridge.""
""It feels like a politicized attack on this particular demonstration, so demonstrations just don't happen again," Manan Kocher, one of the protesters, told Mission Local. "The Golden Gate Bridge has been the site of protests that have moved the needle toward justice before.""
A protest that chained participants together shut down the Golden Gate Bridge southbound lanes for about four hours during the morning rush and prompted a demand for restitution. The bridge district estimates the April 15, 2024 closure cost approximately $160,000 in lost toll revenue and says those funds are essential to maintain and operate the bridge amid a projected $24 million shortfall this fiscal year. The district declined public calls to drop the restitution demand, arguing that waiving it would encourage more frequent blockages. Some protesters say the restitution feels politically targeted, citing the bridge's history as a protest site.
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