Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
Asheville residents face another day of long lines at gas pumps as the shortage threatens to paralyze the city.
-City and county governments are cutting back on evening athletic events and canceling some community meetings.
-Workers are starting to have difficulty getting to their jobs, or at least worried about the prospect. Some business are making contingency plans.
-Rumors are running wild. Someone at a gas station told me yesterday that a man was shot in the head on Smoky Park Highway in a fight over gasoline. An Ashvegas reader said there’s a rumor that Buncombe County Schools will be closed on Friday due to the gas crunch.
The threat of paralysis is real, in my mind. If the city is one giant economic engine, it’s dangerously close to seizing up. The umpires that work the city evening athletic events aren’t getting paid because of the cancellations. That means that extra $50 or whatever isn’t there to go out to dinner this weekend.
People who are forced to walk or bike will drastically cut back on their trips around town, or around the region. That can’t be good for the tourism industry. And as word spreads to travelers that if they drive here, they might not find the gas to get out, they’ll probably just stay away.
Meanwhile, there’s zero political leadership to be found anywhere. I remember during the floods of 2004 that Asheville Mayor Charles Worley appeared on WLOS news broadcasts almost nightly for several days. He delivered updates on what the city was doing to restore water and power, but mostly, his was a calming presence. He was there to reassure us, which is an important aspect of a politician’s job.
While the gas crunch has yet to have the same impact on us as the ’04 floods, it sure would be nice to see some leadership. Someone — hell, anyone at this point — who will stand up, tell people to calm down, and make sure we know the Great Gas Crunch of Aught Eight will end soon.
Otherwise, we’ll end up dry, and frozen by our own fears.
it sure would be nice to see some leadership
Amen! Hopefully we are starting to see that now.
And that Nashville worst report was a crock. No one I talked to in Nashville knew anything about it, and the next day it was ‘easing and prices are dropping.’ I honestly think someone misheard which town was worst.
It will end soon
"Someone — hell, anyone at this point — who will stand up, tell people to calm down, and make sure we know the Great Gas Crunch of Aught Eight will end soon."
Why not you?
I’d like to see more on how this situation is affecting local businesses: florists, realtors, pizza delivery dudes, construction workers.
I heard Nashville, Tenn., has the largest gas shortage in the SE. Atlanta’s hurting as well, partially because the city’s air quality regulations require a special "Atlanta" blend of gasoline that’s lower in emissions that regular gas. Which, once we get through this, might be a good tack for Asheville as well.
Katrina was at ground zero for the pipelines as told by our news casters. The hurricane not only missed those pipelines but was not as powerful. So, that said what is the real reason for the shortage. Somebody is profiting from this.
As for our weak Mayor. She needs to be more assertive. She is dealing with a male dominated field that will just laugh in her face. She needs to be a strong women and pull out all her guns when dealing with these people. If it takes firing people to get the job done, do it.
Don’t just muddle you way on the news saying you talked for hours on the phone with them. Go over their heads and get it done. We want results and want it now. We are the ones that voted you in and we can vote you out.
Come on, please get it done….