Valley residents voice concern to local leaders amid strain from high gas prices

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – Gas prices and other economic impacts of the war in Iran are putting a significant strain on residents of the Coachella Valley.

According to a spokesperson for Rep. Raul Ruiz, in his Congressional 25th District, gas prices have jumped nearly 58 cents in a span of a week and a half. That has pushed the local average to near $5.10 per gallon. His team attributed the increase to U.S. strikes in Iran, with crude oil climbing to more than $100 per barrel.

The congressman hosted community roundtable Tuesday morning with local small business owners, nonprofit leaders, chamber representatives, and community advocates to hear directly from those feeling the economic pain at the pump.

Rep. Ruiz's camp said the goal of the roundtable is to discuss how the financial stability of working families is being impacted by war in the Middle East and to let residents voice how they want Congress to prioritize economic security.

Amy Pippenger, the Executive Director of the Banning Chamber of Commerce, owns multiple businesses being impacted by the shutdown: a retail company and a construction company. Her son, too, owns a feed store and agricultural company.

She said all three ventures are being squeezed now with higher gas prices. Mix that with other operating costs increasing as the ripple effect from the war in Iran spreads through the different layers of her businesses and she said her profit margins were shrinking compared to six months ago. When Rep. Ruiz asked her about it, she said her margins had gone from 25% to 10%.

"We don't want to push that price increase on to our customers. But it's something that's going to happen. We're all feeling it right now," she said.

Rudy Garza was also present at Tuesday's roundtable. He owns Rudy's Termite and Pest Control, based in Indio, which fields a fleet of more than 30 vehicles. He told the Congressman fueling and maintaining his company's cars has increased in cost. That's difficult, especially as his technicians provide service from the Salton Sea to the Banning Pass.

His company also commits itself to easing the burden for its workers. Before Garza founded his company, General Manager Marantz Rico said Garza was a technician first. He understood the troubles of working as a technician, balancing gas expenses, and school schedules for children. He decided to allow all of his workers to take home company vehicles.

That's not something that's going to change, but pair that with the rising costs, and Rico said it was a difficult trend to stomach.

"If we're going to fill up on our Ford Ranger, it used to cost us around $72," said Rico as he pointed out one of the company's pickup trucks. "We're now at $96 [per tank]. So that 20 extra dollars on a fill up... let’s just say we fill up twice a week because we're constantly traveling. That adds up to between 30 vehicles. You can do the math yourself."

It can be hundreds, if not over a thousand dollars, in added costs. But both Rico and Garza remained committed to the company's policy.

"Our culture here with Rudy’s is to give them a vehicle, treat it like their own, and we'll get the savings on the other side," explained Rico. "It's part of it. That's part of it. We don't mind it at all. It's just part of doing business."

News Channel 3 followed up with the Congressman about several points that were brought up by the attendees of his roundtable.

We asked Ruiz, "What did you hear from your constituents today and what are some of the actions that you're taking to address what you heard?"

He answered, "The Iran war is devastating small businesses and families across our communities because of the spike in gas prices. I've heard that people are spending now over 100 bucks, up to 130 just to fill up their their tank in their own cars. I'm hearing that small businesses are being pushed to the very furthest margin that their costs are going up."

"We're spiraling down right now and they're desperate for some relief and some help because of the Trump tariff tax that's raising costs of goods as well, [and] now, this Iran war."

He later followed up, referencing the roundtable discussions he has held, "My job is to listen and to understand what my constituents and our local small businesses are going through so that I can take their sentiment and fight for them in Washington, D.C."

Another topic brought up during the roundtable: two government shutdowns that impacted thousands of federal workers within the span of half a year. Attendees were concerned about how the two lapses in funding impacted families and the ripple effects that had on the economy.

"A lot of people that we saw from this last shutdown was the fact that they're tired of their paychecks, livelihoods being put on the bargaining table. What's your message to kind of reassure them that you're working in their best interest?" News Channel 3 questioned.

Ruiz responded, "I was urging the House to vote for a Senate funding bill that was passed unanimously, both Democrats and Republicans that would have paid TSA, FEMA, Coast Guard workers, cybersecurity workers in our government. And the House Speaker Johnson, refused to bring it up for a vote. So I'm going to continue to fight to make sure that TSA workers get paid the right way."

The business owners present at the roundtable made it clear: they aren't scared that the current state of the economy will force their businesses to close.

Pippenger said her businesses have a long history and they've learned how to weather the storms through previous recessions. Many of them had reserves to fall back on. Still, there's worry and uncertainty among them about the way things are going.

Pippenger looked at Congressman Ruiz's roundtable optimistically.

"It does give me hope that we are actually working in the right direction and hopefully moving forward and hopefully working together," she said.

"Working together. That's the number one thing: we all need to work together."