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| New York to ration gas to reduce waiting lines for fuel | New York to ration gas to reduce waiting lines for fuel |
| (9 days later) | |
| New York City will be subjected to enforced gas rationing from Friday after mayor Michael Bloomberg said the measure was necessary to reduce waiting times for fuel. | New York City will be subjected to enforced gas rationing from Friday after mayor Michael Bloomberg said the measure was necessary to reduce waiting times for fuel. |
| The restrictions will come into force from 6am on Friday and are designed to cut long waiting lines at gas stations because of shortages caused by Hurricane Sandy. | The restrictions will come into force from 6am on Friday and are designed to cut long waiting lines at gas stations because of shortages caused by Hurricane Sandy. |
| Car owners will be restricted to buying fuel every other day, depending on the final letter of their licence plate. A similar system will be imposed on Long Island, and has been in force in New Jersey for the past week. | Car owners will be restricted to buying fuel every other day, depending on the final letter of their licence plate. A similar system will be imposed on Long Island, and has been in force in New Jersey for the past week. |
| "This is designed to let everybody have a fair chance, so the lines aren't too oppressive and so everybody can get through this," Bloomberg told a press conference in on Thursday. | "This is designed to let everybody have a fair chance, so the lines aren't too oppressive and so everybody can get through this," Bloomberg told a press conference in on Thursday. |
| Owners of vehicles with a license plate ending in an even number will be allowed to buy fuel on even-numbered dates, with the opposite applying for license plates ending in an odd number. | Owners of vehicles with a license plate ending in an even number will be allowed to buy fuel on even-numbered dates, with the opposite applying for license plates ending in an odd number. |
| New Jersey governor Chris Christie introduced the same measure in the Garden State on Saturday. The governor said on Thursday he would re-evaluate the scheme before the weekend. | New Jersey governor Chris Christie introduced the same measure in the Garden State on Saturday. The governor said on Thursday he would re-evaluate the scheme before the weekend. |
| "It has worked well in New Jersey," Bloomberg said of the "odd-even" rationing scheme. The mayor said the measure reduced waiting times there from around two hours to 45 minutes. | "It has worked well in New Jersey," Bloomberg said of the "odd-even" rationing scheme. The mayor said the measure reduced waiting times there from around two hours to 45 minutes. |
| There have been long waits at gas stations across New York City since Sandy struck. The storm prevented tankers from accessing New York harbour, causing stations to run dry, which in turn led to more panic-buying from motorists concerned that they may run out of fuel. Bloomberg said on Thursday that only a quarter of the city's gas stations are open. | There have been long waits at gas stations across New York City since Sandy struck. The storm prevented tankers from accessing New York harbour, causing stations to run dry, which in turn led to more panic-buying from motorists concerned that they may run out of fuel. Bloomberg said on Thursday that only a quarter of the city's gas stations are open. |
| "We believe it will help mitigate the worst of our problems," Bloomberg said. "I understand it's going to create inconveniences but I ask New Yorkers to be patient." | "We believe it will help mitigate the worst of our problems," Bloomberg said. "I understand it's going to create inconveniences but I ask New Yorkers to be patient." |
| Bloomberg warned motorists not to attempt to be "cute" by switching registration plates. He said police officers will be deployed at gas stations to observe lines and potentially check on vehicles' plates. | Bloomberg warned motorists not to attempt to be "cute" by switching registration plates. He said police officers will be deployed at gas stations to observe lines and potentially check on vehicles' plates. |
| The mayor would not say when the gas rationing would end, saying only that "we're keeping it for a while". He added: "If you think about it, it's not any great imposition once you get used to it." | The mayor would not say when the gas rationing would end, saying only that "we're keeping it for a while". He added: "If you think about it, it's not any great imposition once you get used to it." |
| Bloomberg also said some 70,000 households remain without power in the city, approximately 10,000 of those because of the winter storm that blew through New York on Wednesday night. | Bloomberg also said some 70,000 households remain without power in the city, approximately 10,000 of those because of the winter storm that blew through New York on Wednesday night. |
| He said power had been restored to 82% of public housing buildings that lost electricity when Sandy hit, but that number was expected to rise. | He said power had been restored to 82% of public housing buildings that lost electricity when Sandy hit, but that number was expected to rise. |
| Earlier, New York governor Andrew Cuomo said that the total clean-up cost of Hurricane Sandy is now estimated to be $50bn, including $33bn in New York. | Earlier, New York governor Andrew Cuomo said that the total clean-up cost of Hurricane Sandy is now estimated to be $50bn, including $33bn in New York. |
| The effort to return to normality was not helped by the winter storm that struck north-east America on Wednesday, leaving a foot of snow in some places and knocking out power to 300,000 homes and businesses. | The effort to return to normality was not helped by the winter storm that struck north-east America on Wednesday, leaving a foot of snow in some places and knocking out power to 300,000 homes and businesses. |
| The State Department said that some 715,000 homes and businesses in the region were without power, a net increase of nearly 43,000 from Wednesday night after the nor'easter knocked it out to more customers following those who had lost it from Sandy, the US Energy Department said. Most of the 300,000 snowstorm power outages had been restored. | The State Department said that some 715,000 homes and businesses in the region were without power, a net increase of nearly 43,000 from Wednesday night after the nor'easter knocked it out to more customers following those who had lost it from Sandy, the US Energy Department said. Most of the 300,000 snowstorm power outages had been restored. |
| Cuomo laid into the "bureacracy" of utilities on Wednesday as he criticised the progress in reconnecting homes and families. "This is a 1950s system with these utilities that are regulated by the state theoretically. But they are bureaucracies that are in many ways a monopoly," the governor said. | Cuomo laid into the "bureacracy" of utilities on Wednesday as he criticised the progress in reconnecting homes and families. "This is a 1950s system with these utilities that are regulated by the state theoretically. But they are bureaucracies that are in many ways a monopoly," the governor said. |
| "It is nameless, faceless bureaucracy that is a monopoly that operates with very little incentive or sanction …They have failed the consumers." | "It is nameless, faceless bureaucracy that is a monopoly that operates with very little incentive or sanction …They have failed the consumers." |
| The death toll from Sandy in the United States and Canada reached 121 on Wednesday after New York authorities reported another death linked to the storm in the Rockaways, in New York, an area severely affected by the storm. | The death toll from Sandy in the United States and Canada reached 121 on Wednesday after New York authorities reported another death linked to the storm in the Rockaways, in New York, an area severely affected by the storm. |
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