Higher gas prices already changing habits

Central Valley - The surge in gas prices have left many struggling to pay at the pump. It's also forced some to change - or at least consider changing - their driving routines. And still for some others, it's left a sour taste. "I don't know who regulates (gas prices) - and I believe in free enterprise and everything - but how can 10 refineries go out in the Gulf and a week after - days after actually - gas goes up over 25 percent?" asked Central Valley resident Robert Ambrose, 40, who was filling up his wife's Lexus RX330 at the Mobil station down the road from the Woodbury Common outlets. Ambrose watched as the numbers went higher and higher as he pumped. What used to cost about $40 cost him $62 this day. Ambrose shook his head in disbelief at the numbers as he screwed the car's nozzle back on. "I'm lucky enough that it won't affect us too much. But it's a shame, some families really don't have this in their pocket," he said. At the Mobil gas station on Route 32 next to the Woodbury Diner, gas was at $3.49 a gallon for regular unleaded on Labor Day. A tour of gas stations throughout the area in Monroe, Woodbury, Highland Mills, Harriman, Central Valley and Tuxedo found that gas prices varied by about 15 cents a gallon for regular. "We have less business, very so," said Exxon-Mobil employee Thomas Pareja, 36, who has worked at the station for nearly four years. "They're driving less. They're not using their cars. I see a lot of people riding bicycles now - a lot. Everything is changing so much. It hurts everyone - every employee, every customer, everyone." Pareja says that there has been an increase in drive-offs - drivers leaving without paying - since the gas prices have risen. "When this stuff happens, high gas, running away - my manager don't give raises," he said. In an area tour, the cheapest place to fill up was tied between the Citgo station on Route 17M across from the Harriman Post Office and the Valero station located just up the road on 17M, heading toward the Harriman train station. The two both had prices of $3.35 a gallon for regular unleaded. The highest area price on Labor Day was tied between the Gulf station on 17M across from McDonalds and the Exxon station on Route 32 across from the Woodbury Centre shopping area. The price here was $3.59 a gallon for regular unleaded. Other stations, like the Sunoco on 17M across from the ponds and the Mobile station on Route 208 and North Main were charging $3.39, the average price for regular unleaded in the area. Mobil employee David Velnzouez believes that people are not filling up less or changing their patterns at all. "People try to ignore it. They try not to think about it. They are still paying the same amount. The same people who usually pay $10, still pay $10. $15, $15, and $20, $20," said the 22 year-old Town of Monroe resident. "Even though when they see they got less, they still pay the same as before." Velnzouez said that he believes that people are not changing their habits or routines and also said that he has not seen a drop in business at all. "If it used to cost you $40, it now might cost you $60 or $70. But you have to cut down in other ways. Like, get deals on cigarettes," he said pointing to the sale on some brands which offered a buy two get one free. "Everyone is looking for somebody to blame," Velnzouez added, "but it's not the point to blame people. We have to figure out how to recover, not be stressed out - and save money." One reason for his optimism is that he doesn't have a car. "I don't have to worry about all this stuff. I walk to my house - it's a few blocks from here."