Cleveland gas station owner 'on strike' until prices get lower

CLEVELAND -- Many gas stations in Greater Cleveland raised pump prices to $3.59 a gallon Wednesday, an average 24 to 30 cent increase in one day.

"That's too much to be paying for a gallon of gas, but you can't do nothin' about it," one driver said, as he saw the pump meter hit a new record for his car, a fill-up of over $50.

Drivers can't do without gasoline, but one gas station owner decided he can.

"I'm going on strike against these companies," said Tony Abouhashaem, owner of Ohio Gas on Puritas Avenue. "Gas is too expensive."

Abouhashaem said that, when he learned from his supplier that his price would be $3.43 a gallon, he refused to pay it.

"And I'm not going to buy gasoline until they lower the prices. That's the only way prices are going to come down," Abouhashem said.

Right now, Abouhashem has very little gas left in his storage tanks and what is left is premium-grade.

"When that's gone, I'm not going to buy it 'til they lower the prices," Abouhashem said.

Other drivers are still trying to get used to $38 and $50 fill-ups.

Drivers feel there is nothing they can do about the high prices, $3.59 a gallon today and expected to go even higher in the next few weeks.

One driver said people are going to have to start car pooling more and do other things to get the prices down.

One woman driver was asked how much gas she bought, premium gas that was going for $3.79 a gallon.

She bought $2 worth, just enough to get her to her house.

"I'll stay there. Yeah, I'm gonna start walking," she said.