Dear Editor:

September 11, 2001 is a day that will live in infamy. It is also a day when, hours after the World Trade Center was destroyed, the operator of McBirney’s Mobil Station on Broadway, in Massapequa, raised his gasoline prices.

The station operator, a Mr. McDermott, stated that he only raised the price because the price that he pays for gas had just been raised. (At 11 a.m. in the morning?) Whether or not this is true remains to be seen.

With the short term shortage of gasoline probable, the raising of gas prices just hours after a terrorist attack, gives the appearance that the station is taking advantage of a tragic situation. If this is true, Mr. McDermott’s actions are despicable.

John J. Tarpey Jr.

Massapequa

Editor’s note: Mr. McDermott’s son, a New York City Police Officer who served at the WTC rescue and recover site, stated that a 5-cent increase was passed along to all Mobil stations prior to the incident. However, since the September 11 event, the price has dropped 12-cents to $1.47 per gallon, lower than it was before September 11. In addition, he said Mobil, which sets the prices for all of its stations, has contributed $20 million to the relief effort.