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Community Corner

Gas Prices Hit $3.99 in Sherman Oaks

Motorists grumble or shrug, 'What're you gonna do?' as pump prices keep climbing.

“There’s not much I can do,” local resident Rosario Velez said.  “I gotta drive.  And I gotta have gas to drive.  Don’t mean I like it."

That’s the attitude heard among some drivers in Sherman Oaks as they stop to fill up their tanks and, more and more, empty their wallets.

AAA and Oil Price Information Service reports gas prices in Southern California are almost 50 cents more than they were a year ago. With oil prices topping $80 a barrel, many are predicting that gas will reach $4 a gallon at any moment.

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“It’s insane,” said one driver who didn’t want to give his name. “I remember when this happened a couple of years ago, so hopefully it will go back down.”

That $4 mark was nearly breached at the 76 gas station at 4822 Van Nuys Blvd.  The station is advertising $3.69 for regular.  $3.99 for premium.

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“What’re you gonna do? Maybe buy an electric car, right?” said Malcolm Phillips, who stopped to fill up on the way to work.

Web sites are becoming the go-to sources for tracking the best deals in town. Californiagasprices.com lists the lowest price in Sherman Oaks as the 76 station at 12909 Magnolia Blvd., at the corner of Coldwater Canyon Avenue. It might not be worth burning gas to go far afield for a bargain, though, as Phillips noted.

“Might as well pay an extra 10 cents not to go 10 minutes outta my way,”  he said.

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