As President Trump’s war in the Middle East pushes the average gallon of gas in Central New York to more than $4.55, residents are left with the tough decision of picking between filling up their car or putting food on the table.
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand blames the president’s foreign policy for increasing prices at the pump. As a part of her statewide tour, she stopped outside a Byrne Dairy gas station in Mattydale to highlight the impact rising prices are having on New Yorkers.
“President Trump must end this war immediately and lower costs for American consumers,” Sen. Gillibrand said. “We can't afford to prioritize an illegal war over the stability of our own economy and the well-being of our own families.”
The senator argued higher fuel prices are driving up costs across nearly every sector of the economy, from transportation and groceries to housing and farming supplies.
“The diesel that powers farm equipment costs more. The diesel that truck drivers need costs more,” Gillibrand said. “The raw materials that go into any business or any product costs more. This drives up the cost for consumers even further.”
Sen. Gillibrand voiced her support to suspend the Federal Gas Tax, which would save Americans 18.4 cents per gallon of gasoline and 24.4 cents per gallon of diesel, equating to only a few dollars a month.
Even if Congress suspended the entire federal gas tax, Central New Yorkers paying around $4.55 a gallon would only save less than $3 on a typical fill-up.
During the event, local leaders described how soaring fuel prices are affecting both residents and municipal budgets. Onondaga County Legislator Nodesia Hernandez said many families are struggling to afford even short commutes.
She recalled a moment at a gas station when she noticed a man putting just $2.00 worth of gas in his tank.
Hernandez mentioned the recent action at the Onondaga County Legislature to cap sales tax collection on gasoline and diesel to the first $4.00 per gallon, which goes into effect on June 1.
Local business owners say those rapid changes are creating challenges far beyond the gas pump. Mark Byrne, the CEO of the convenience store division of Byrne Dairy, says it’s difficult to make profits when prices keep fluctuating.
“The prices go up and down every day. Sometimes it goes up 10 cents and then it falls 10 cents,” Byrne said. “It’s been crazy because it depends on what the news says and then it might shoot up or come back down.”
Byrne says those unpredictable swings are forcing businesses to absorb more costs while drivers brace for even higher prices ahead.
“We're not happy about it. We just try to keep the prices down as low as we can, which comes out of our profits, we're not making as much on gas.” Byrne said.
Byrne said the company has tried to avoid passing the full burden onto customers by delaying price increases for as long as possible, even as wholesale costs continue to rise.
“We’re going to be the last one to raise our prices and the first ones to go back down when it happens,” Byrne said. “We want customers to know that we’re doing the best we can.”
Gillibrand tied rising fuel costs to broader concerns over affordability, including higher grocery prices, housing costs and cuts to federal assistance programs.
The senator criticized proposed reductions to food assistance programs currently being debated in Congress as part of the federal farm bill negotiations.
“The people who benefit from a food stamp and from our pantries are typically seniors on fixed income or families with children that just want to put healthy food on the table,” Sen. Gillibrand said. “To cut those programs seems ridiculous and a poor choice of priorities.
The senator’s stop in Central New York comes as fuel prices continue climbing nationwide amid instability in the Middle East and uncertainty in global oil markets.
