Two shameless Citgo stations in the Bronx have drivers over a barrel – they’re charging more than $4 for a gallon of gas.
The $4.09 price for regular is 10% higher than the city average and the highest in the nation outside of four stations in California.
The apparent gouging enraged motorists and could land the stations in hot water with the city, which leases them the land on the opposite sides of the Hutchinson River Parkway.
With unrest in the Middle East pushing up oil prices, the city’s average for a gallon of regular was up to $3.65 yesterday – compared with $2.90 a year ago.
The national average was $3.37, the Oil Price Information Service said.
A Chevron in Bakersfield, Calif., was charging the most yesterday – $4.29 per gallon of regular, the service said.
The Citgo attendants were unapologetic – and inaccurate – when asked about the cost.
The Citgos lease the land from the city, paying an average of $177,777 per year in rent or 3% of their gross receipts – whichever is larger, said a Parks Department spokesman.
After a complaint about rising prices in August, the city fired off a warning letter to the stations’ operator, the ironically named Supervalue.
It noted that its license with the city bars it from charging more than the area’s going rate.
A spokesman for the Parks Department said yesterday that the agency is investigating the latest hike and “will determine appropriate next steps.”
Councilman Jimmy Vacca (D-Bronx) has an opinion about what that should be.
“They’re pigs. Their lease should be terminated,” Vacca said. “They have a history of overcharging, and this is just the latest and most egregious example of their greed.”
(Source: NY Daily News)
3 Responses
Citgo isn’t that oil from Chavez? I know they are probably independently owned, but doesn’t he claim that he gives back money to the poor community? He is ripping his own people off.
Hey, in Israel we pay close to 8 shekels a liter which comes out to about 8 bucks a gallon, what are you? America babies??
Along with the one by exit 5 on the Palisades, those stations have always been the most expensive ones I see.