It costs an arm and a leg to live on the Long Beach Peninsula. Last Sunday I walked into one of our restaurants and found out the price for two pancakes was $4.50. A restaurant down in Astoria has them for $3.95.

I also walked into a gas station/mini mart where I noticed that price of gas was $3.03 a gallon, while in Astoria it is about $2.89 a gallon. I asked the clerk on duty why the price of gas is so high. He told me it is because of the middle person, the gasoline has been trucked into their station. If this is the case, wouldn’t the same be for Astoria?

I also noticed when a holiday or a event comes up (Rod Run to the End of the World) prices skyrocket, then drop down again when that holiday or event is over. The sales tax in the state of Washington is too high. Oregon has no sales tax.

Why can’t the Long Beach Peninsula keep prices in comparison with Astoria? I know that we are a tourist town and if the prices keep at the way they are, will the tourists come and visit us?

Douglas Levitt

Long Beach