New York Implements Gas Rationing As Per Chris Christie In New Jersey

Friday morning, New York implemented a gasoline rationing plan that allows motorists to fill up every other day, as utility crews continue to make slow progress in getting power back to The Big Apple after Hurricane Sandy.

You’ll recall that we published an article last week regarding Governors Andrew Cuomo (NY) and Chris Christie (NJ) and how each are dealing with fuel shortages and energy crises in their respective states following the devastation of Superstorm Sandy.

Christie immediately went for gasoline rationing, allowing New Jersey residents to fill up every other day based on even/odd numbering in their license plate numbers. Cuomo opted to give away gasoline for free, though the plan caused long wait lines and quickly dwindling supply.

We wondered which stratagem would ultimately pay off, and though there are countless other factors between the states to consider, it seems as though Christie’s gas rationing plan emerges the winner as New York implemented a similar measure this morning.

“It’s a lot better,” said one Bronx native. “A couple of days ago I waited four hours. They should have done this a long time ago.”

The gas rationing has already reduced wait times for fuel to 15 minutes on average. Last week, New Yorkers waited for hours, with many returning home empty-handed.

“This is designed to let everybody have a fair chance, so the lines aren’t too oppressive and that we can get through this,” Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Thursday.

Outages continue to be a problem, as many feel that the progress being made isn’t happening fast enough. Cuomo himself is joining some calls for investigation into the utilities, citing unpreparedness and poor management. “It’s unacceptable the longer it goes on because the longer it goes on, people’s suffering is worse,” he said.

New York City’s power company, Consolidated Edison, have said that the damage done by Sandy has been unprecedented in scope, and that they are doing the best they can to get power back on. Mayor Bloomberg and Chris Christie also praised the efforts of the utilities, with the latter saying that he expects New Jersey to be back on fully by Sunday.

Early Friday, there were more than 220,000 outages left in the New York area, mostly on Long Island, and about 250,000 in New Jersey.