San Jose Mayor Calls for Gas Tax Suspension in California

Matt Mahan, the Mayor of San Jose and a candidate for governor of California, has urged the state to temporarily pause gas taxes to ease the financial burden on drivers facing high fuel prices.

“Working families often find themselves making tough choices between rent, groceries, and gas for their morning commute,” he stated. “California’s leaders should step up and help.”

Mahan’s remarks followed reports that the average price for a gallon of regular gasoline had reached nearly $5.50 in California, which is up by over 90 cents from just a month ago.

The ongoing conflict in Iran is contributing to the rising gas prices in the state. In California, drivers face a “California Premium,” which refers to the higher state excise and sales taxes, along with costs tied to the state’s environmental programs.

“When natural disasters hit California, we unite to offer support; the same should apply to man-made crises,” Mahan added. “Californians should not be forced to pay for a conflict in the Middle East they did not instigate.”

Mahan, who entered a competitive gubernatorial race earlier this year as a moderate Democrat, has criticized Governor Gavin Newsom, arguing that more should be done to tackle issues like affordability, homelessness, and crime.

“The quickest and most effective solution to make California more affordable is to temporarily suspend the gas tax,” he emphasized.

In a related move, the Trump administration announced the resumption of oil drilling off Southern California’s coast, citing concerns about national energy security. Oil extraction activities are expected to commence soon near Santa Barbara.