NEW PALTZ — Local residents and officials gathered Friday to discuss rising gasoline prices, which have climbed to around $4 per gallon, impacting daily commutes and businesses across the area.

The conversation took place at Chestnut Mobil, a busy gas station on Main Street, where elected officials and business owners voiced concerns about the recent spike in fuel prices. Many attributed the increase to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East that began several months ago during President Trump’s administration.

U.S. Rep. Pat Ryan, D-N.Y.-18, was joined by Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger, state Sen. Michelle Hinchey, D-Saugerties, and Assemblywoman Sarahana Shrestha, D-Esopus.

“The immediate thing we need to do is get out of this war,” Ryan said. “Stop losing American lives, stop spending taxpayer money, and stop jacking up gas prices. Hopefully this cease-fire is the beginning of that, but it’s very tenuous right now.”

Gasoline at Chestnut Mobil was listed at $4.19 per gallon for regular unleaded, with diesel priced two dollars higher.”

Mark Masseo, a local landscaping business owner, said he uses both types of fuel for his projects and tries to plan around the extra costs.  “We have so much fuel allowed in every job, but we know what our consumption is daily as well as what we need for our projects,” he said. “(The customers) already anticipated the cost for it, but (when fuel) escalates this quickly, our pricing is only good for so many days. It’s quite ridiculous, but we try our best to manage it.”


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