Asheville News

Is it time for gas rationing?

Jason Sandford September 24, 2008

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

WLOSer Russ Bowen had a story Tuesday night talking with Asheville Mayor Terry Bellamy, who told him she’s working the phones to get gas companies to deliver more fuel to us here in the mountains. Watch his report here.

Bellamy said she’s talking to the Hess people, because the Hess station on the Hendersonville Road has been the one station around here that has had gasoline all along. Bellamy wants to allow other stations to sell Hess fuel. Russ said they’re getting the petrol from Wilmington.

Bellamy also told Russ that the city is looking at the possibility of allowing only certain people to buy gas on certain days, all in an effort to stop the swarming frenzy at the one station on your street that has gas. How would that work? Everybody take a number? Maybe its blue cars on Monday, red cars on Tuesday, etc. I don’t know, and Russ didn’t get into it.

Russ ended his report by saying that a number of people have asked about calling out the national guard to keep peace at the pumps. Russ said that local police are doing everything they can do and have things under control.

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

OPEN THREAD: Where’s the gas?

Some advice for Asheville city leaders: Ration gas and promote mass transit

6 Comments

Tom September 24, 2008

Not sure I added the ‘website response" option correctly.
http://wncrealestate.blogspot.com/2008/09/ashevilles-gas-crunch-modest-proposal.html

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bobaloo September 24, 2008

With all due respect, hell no. The government, namely our frikkin governor, should be doing something to get more supplies to us, but government mandated rationing is a slippery slope that should be used only in a real, prolonged crisis.
As I suggested on the ScruHoo post, it would be really great if the gas stations themselves would take responsibility and begin a cash limit to the amount of gas.

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luciadvx September 24, 2008

Every time I talk to my mom about this (she’s in Raleigh, they’re fine) she remembers the 70s, during which, apparently, you could only get gas on the days that the last number of your license plate or registration, can’t remember which, was even or odd. So on certain days, only even, then other days, odd. Seems a simple remedy for this stupid chaos. It makes me pretty sad to see this easy panic. I have a nearly full tank and my boyfriend has almost no gas, but we’re working together, considering the bus, consolidating trips, instead of freaking out, waiting in long lines, hoarding with extra gas containers. I really had higher hopes for this town.

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Bryan Freeborn September 24, 2008

There is very little the Mayor of Asheville can do to get more gas for Asheville, male or female. What she can do is set the policy of rationing. That should have happened late last week. If your house has an even number you get gas on even calender days, odd number house you get gas on odd number calender days. Then limit purchases to 5 gals at a time. You then make the bus either reduced fare or free for a week to encourage that as a choice. That is leadership.

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Zipperhead September 24, 2008

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….

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Bryan Freeborn September 24, 2008

Ya Think.

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