As of June 2, the national average for a gallon of gas was $4.72, the highest on record, according to AAA. We spoke to eight drivers at a gas station in Long Island City, Queens, about how the price surge is affecting their lives.
Anthony Milazzo, 32, carpenter: “I bought a house four years ago and I was maintaining for two-and-a-half years, easily. But I’d say gas — along with other things — have made it a struggle for me now. I was already working 40 hours a week, but I told my boss to let me know if there’s anything I can pick up. I’d say gas has a lot to do with it. I went from filling up my tank for $60 to probably about $110.”
Emmy Cusati, 29, Uber driver: “I do Uber for work. With the gas prices – it’s horrible. It doesn’t work anymore.”
Cusati: “I’m looking for another job. It’s too much for gas, and I don’t make enough doing the job. I spend $80 filling it up. I come to this gas station because the one down the way costs even more.”
Ed Pilnik, 64, truck driver: “I deliver extra-large packages for a living — dishwashers, refrigerators, air-conditioners. My boss pays for the gas. I don’t actually see what people pay for their deliveries, but I imagine they pass it on to the customer.”
-Kit Yeung, 44, owns and operates a martial arts gym: “It really affects my daily decisions on whether I should drive my car or use my scooter. I have an electric scooter. I started noticing this about two months ago with the whole Ukraine crisis.”
Nick Prueher, 46, comedian: “I don’t feel the increase that much. I was at a gas station two weeks ago and another guy pulled up in a Prius — which is what I have — and he was like, ‘We both made the best decisions of our lives by getting a hybrid.’ I bought it for environmental reasons back in the day. I paid more for a used Prius than for a nonhybrid car, but it really insulates you from high gas prices.”
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