Gas prices are hurting our city
To the editor:
Have the gas prices shocked anyone else lately? When we are told oil prices have gone down, our gas prices go up; when we are told gas prices are coming down nationwide, our gas prices go up; when we are told the average price in Maine is $3.939, our prices are 20 cents plus more. They bring up the prices 14 cents so they can bring them down 7 cents and think they are doing us a favor. I don’t think so.
There are only nine states with higher gas prices than Maine and only five states with higher gas prices than Presque Isle. These prices are hurting our city, our tourism, and our family and friends. We have the highest price in the state and we have some of the lowest wages in the state. It hardly pays us to go to work anymore. Is it because we have a college in town, because other than gas prices, that is what Fort Kent and the P.I./Caribou area have in common.
There is a small gas station between Van Buren and Madawaska that is always a few cents less than the average. We have two stations in the P.I. area with gas prices a few cents less , but it seems as soon as one gas station raises their prices others follow suit even though no fuel has been delivered to them. These companies are making billions of dollars profit at our expense, knowing we have to drive to work, some long distances of 50 miles a day.
They tell us it’s because of the distance we are, but it’s because of profit, profit, profit. No wonder people leave the area, they can’t afford to live here anymore. They should be ashamed of themselves. Help out your friends and neighbors. Gas prices shouldn’t be above $3.99.
We have such a beautiful, historical city. Wonderful old buildings. Everyone including our city manager and city council should go on one of the historical walks the Historical Society gives and learn about the city you represent. If you knew this you wouldn’t be talking about a bypass cutting our city in half; a bypass would never have been thought of. Wasting the taxpayers’ money on proposals on something we don’t need.
In closing, a special thank you to the P.I. Revitalization Committee, the Historical Society, and the Chamber for helping to keep our history alive and our Main Street alive and vital. The next time you are walking down Main Street, look and see the wonderful old buildings we have to enjoy. We are lucky.
Sheena McHatten
Castle Hill
