Residents Respond to Rising Gas Prices

With gas prices in Glen Cove rising each week, locals are finding it increasingly harder to cover the cost, but hide their anger.

Several motorists – who were gassing up at one of three Glen Cove gas stations – voiced their concerns on the prices, and how it individually affects their lifestyles.

“Let me get rid of my negative thoughts,” began one Glen Cove resident, Peggy. “I don’t trust the reality of the prices. I think way up the food chain of oil business, it’s all manipulated.”

. This is up four and eight cents, respectively, from last week. The national average is $3.83, while Long Island’s is currently $4.12, up six cents from last week.

“We have a lot of gas here; we don’t drill for it because it’s too damn expensive,” commented one motorist, who declined to give her name. “What we need to do is get our own damn oil.”

Gasoline supply experts and economists say that the main underlying reasons for this year’s gas  price increases – which are attributed to instability in the Middle East and North Africa, as well as the decline in the value of the U.S. dollar and a steady increase in the worldwide demand for oil – won’t be easily solved, according to a news article released Friday morning.

“The gas prices at this point are pretty dismal,” said Sea Cliff resident and local college student Matt Soldano. “It's tough to shell out all that money so frequently just to fill up my tank. Hopefully things get better soon but its tough to be optimistic when every time you stop at the pump, you are paying more and more.”

Another Sea Cliff resident, Jessica Ferngren, said the cost to fuel her Volvo has definitely been affecting her wallet.

“This car used to be able to fill for $50, now it’s $80 to fill,” she said. “I see the big difference, but it is what it is. What can you do? It’s part of the cost of living on Long Island.”

A Sunoco gas station attendant said he has noticed customers becoming increasingly irritated, including himself.

“Everybody’s complaining, I’m complaining,” he said. “Because prices went up, now it’s out of my pocket.”

Since Hess is a corporate-owned gas station, workers declined to comment.

Attendants at Mobil on Glen Cove Avenue, which is privately-owned, refused to be quoted.

Data collected from February through April shows a steady increase in Glen Cove gas prices.

April 11

April 18

April 25

$3.95

$4.05

$4.09

$3.89

$4.01

$4.09

$3.93

$4.03