Hudson Valley residents sound off at New Paltz speak-out

Chestnut Mobil owner Mickey Jamal, Senator Michelle Hinchey, legislator William Murray, Assemblymember Sarahana Shrestha and Congressman Pat Ryan during the speak-out at Chestnut Mobil in New Paltz. (Photos by Lauren Thomas) Congressional representative Pat Ryan organized a “speak-out” last week about how war-driven increases in gasoline prices are hitting Hudson Valley residents. The typical press-conference lectern was set up alongside Chestnut Mobil in New Paltz, where the price of $4.199 for a gallon of regular was prominently displayed, and drivers continuously rolled by while burning more of that pricey fossil fuel. Overall, the message was that since prices have gone up as a result of President Trump initiating an unpopular military campaign against the Iranian regime, that the impact is unfair and the action should be halted. “We shouldn’t have to pay the price,” said Ryan, because “no American had any input.” Affected Americans were invited to raise their voices and make their displeasure known “now through November,” when Ryan and others hope to wrest political control of the House of Representatives from the Republicans now in charge of that body. Ryan tapped some local business owners who have been impacted to share their stories, including Mobil owner Mickey Jamal and Mark Masseo, who runs a landscaping company. Selling gasoline is a business with a tight profit margin and stiff competition; two blocks north of this event one could get gas for 10 cents less a gallon at Stewart’s. Owners like Jamal can’t charge more than any competitor in sight, certainly, as this product’s price is more visible than perhaps anything else on the market. Congressman Pat Ryan at the New Paltz speak-out. Masseo’s company has 15 trucks and the fuel cost “adds up fast.” Masseo called it “ridiculous” that the economy would be impacted like this “because someone else started a war.” Matthew Goodnow, chief of the New Paltz Rescue Squad, was unable to attend due to an emergency c