Dear Senator Schumer,

I understand you have recently called for a federal investigation to see if oil companies and refiners are deliberately withholding gasoline production.

As a constituent of yours — because two previous investigations in 2000 and 2001 have found no evidence of wrongdoing, and because higher oil prices coupled with geologic evidence suggests not artificial price inflation but rather a real shortage of oil — I would rather you spend your precious time in the U.S. senate working to help reduce our dependence on oil.

In fact, as a fellow Democrat, I imagine you are aware of and support the Senate Democrats’ statement on energy independence, and view it as the worthy, important and achievable goal it is. It is not just a matter of national security, but a matter of economic security as the world’s oil reserves begin to bottom out.

I urge you to support any and all measures that encourage American citizens to use less oil and oil-based products, in favor of the many alternatives.

Along these lines, as a citizen of Manhattan, I recently learned that your wife is Transportation Commissioner Iris Weinshall. As a fellow New York City resident, I hope you will join me in urging her to help New York develop a strategy to reduce the city’s oil dependence. Obvious places to start would be improving and expanding our existing mass transit systems (accelerating the implementation a 2nd Ave subway line and Bus Rapid Transit), expanding our existing bicycle lanes and paths to allow greater commuter flexibility, creating more and better-placed ferry piers, and overall discouraging inefficient car use in the city.

Sincerely,
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