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Bay Area gas top $4 a gallon
By Janis Mara
Staff Writer
May 13, 2008
RICHMOND — Gas prices in the Bay Area have zoomed past the dreaded $4-a-gallon pump price and show no sign of slowing down, a survey said Tuesday.
At $4.02, a gallon of regular gas is selling for 16 cents more than it did last month in the Bay Area. Nationally, gas jumped 40 cents, to $3.73, AAA of Northern California said.
"D-U-H," responded David and B.J. Welden of El Cerrito, who were filling up their Nissan Sentra at the Costco gas station on Central Avenue here. Their response pointed up the fact that gas prices have been uppermost in residents' minds for some time. Like many Bay Area motorists, the two expressed concern for low-income people hit with the all-time high prices.
"I don't see how anyone earning minimum wage can survive," said Judy Herrera of Richmond. (The minimum wage is currently $8 an hour.) "If you are poor, how will you put gas in your car to take a sick child to the doctor? People making $100,000 a year can stop eating steak or make other changes, but those who are barely making it can't do that. Some people will have to commit crimes to survive."
Pleasanton, San Rafael and Tracy clocked in with the lowest prices in Northern California, with gas going for an average of $3.90 a gallon, 25 cents higher than the lowest price tracked in last month's report.
Gas is selling for $4 a gallon in Oakland, up 21 cents; $3.91 in Concord, up 20 cents; $4.05 in San Mateo, up 17 cents; and $3.94 in Fremont, up 20 cents.
In California, gas is $3.94 overall. The most expensive cities in Northern California are Tahoe City and Yreka, with the unhappy distinction of $4.10-per-gallon gas.
"Having to pay $50, $60 or more to fill up must be onerous for people who make $10 an hour," said Robert Schoen of Oakland. "I remember when gas was way less expensive. My teenaged friends and I used to say, 'You can go to hell and back for a dollar.'"
Regardless of the destination, Schoen's friends' expression is not longer accurate. California often has the highest prices in the country next to Hawaii; currently, the highest price in the nation is in Wailuku, Hawaii, on the island of Maui, where a gallon of regular costs $4.18.
The higher-than-expected prices and accompanying 50-cent price jump over last year "signal a new era for consumers statewide," said AAA spokesman Michael Geeser. Worse yet, the Bay Area is heading into summer, when prices are traditionally are at their highest, so more price jumps are highly likely.
"I work at Kaiser with people who have cancer," said Mary Beth Faustine of Oakland. "They have to drive long distances to the radiation facility for treatment. When you are diagnosed with something serious, you want to focus on beating it, but how can you when you're worried about bills?" Faustine said as she filled up her Camry. The tab: $50.
"I can gripe and complain, but I can afford it," said Faustine, who drives from Oakland to San Rafael five days a week. "For many of us, it's an inconvenience, but for others it will mean the difference between keeping their job, or getting the care they need."
A lone motorist saw a silver lining.
"People will start being more local. They'll buy from the farmer's market and other local businesses because they have no choice," said Rex Good of Guerneville. "I live 30 miles from Santa Rosa. Instead of going there to shop, it's now more cost effective to shop in my town.
"This will help local economies. People can't afford to go anywhere, so they'll stick around and try to make it happen where they are."
Janis Mara can be reached at 925-952-2671 or jmara@bayareanewsgroup.com . Check out her Energy Blog at www.ibabuzz.com/energy .
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