December 19, 2014

Dear NJGCA Member:

Thank you for reading this week's NJGCA Road Warrior!

Here is what you will find in this edition:

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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE: GREETINGS & SAL-UTATIONS! 

FIGHT AGAINST SALES TAX ON GASOLINE GROWS MORE URGENT
RISE IN NEWLY CONFIRMED TANK RELEASES
BILL COULD INCREASE NUMBER OF VEHICLES REQUIRING SAFETY INSPECTIONS
NJGCA MEMBERS SQUANDER OPPORTUNITY TO EARN THOUSANDS
KOPA LIGHTING END-OF-THE-YEAR SALE!
PRAYERS TO LONGTIME NJGCA MEMBER, PAUL WROBLEWSKI

 
NJGCA's fight to prevent the sales tax from being applied to gasoline continues to grow more and more urgent.  I cannot even begin to explain the amount of time, effort, energy and resources that we have dedicated to preventing this from happening, yet, we continue to be told that this option is the most politically desirable, even if it is not the best public policy. You are going to be angry if this happens, and you are going to feel a lot of pain, so I need you to help me.
 
You should have received an email urging you to contact your representatives and the Governor about this issue.  I know that everyone is looking forward to the holidays next week and there will be all sorts of strains on your schedules, but you have GOT to respond. We are going to keep sending reminders to those of you who don't respond, because we are able to track who has been sending letters. I fear that Trenton will take advantage of everyone paying attention to the holiday and sneak in an agreement to add the sales tax to gasoline, thereby accomplishing the task by year’s end. (Remember Washington’s surprise attack on Trenton in 1776 while the Hessian soldiers were partying on Christmas Eve?) I certainly don’t want any Christmas surprises from Trenton this year!
 
We have made the process as simple as possible using our VoterVoice tool to connect you with the necessary legislators. Please send emails, letters and make phone calls, and please keep doing this until we tell you to stop! It won't bother me one bit if you send an email EACH DAY to your representatives and the Governor. This is so easy! It takes two clicks. You can do it from your phone. PLEASE RESPOND.
 
Next, I'd like to discuss what's going on in the environmental world. It seems that the Federal EPA has determined that a significant increase has occurred of reported releases. New Jersey is contributing more than any other state to the rise of reported releases. Newly confirmed releases in NJ were 100 in FY2011, then 239 in FY2012, up to 728 in FY2013 and finally doubling again to 1,618 in FY2014.  This is predominantly due to the fact that a large number of locations that have single-wall tanks finally began the process of getting those tanks replaced. Many of the single-wall tanks where new releases have been discovered are being replaced as a result of the Exxon divestiture and Exxon's requirement that any new owner of the property must replace the existing single-wall tanks. When the tanks are dug up, it is discovered that there has been a release and there is contamination in the soil surrounding the tanks.  It is only discovered when the tanks are removed.  For this reason, some of you may also be finding it extremely difficult to find tank insurance for single-wall tanks that have been in the ground for a long period of time.
 
Last week, a bill came before the Assembly Transportation Committee which addressed various issues relating to "ride-sharing services" such as Uber.  The basic idea is that anyone with a car can sign up to be a driver for one of these companies.  With that being said, there has been some concern among the industry, especially among taxi and limousine companies, that the vehicles being used by drivers working for these ride-sharing services are not currently subject to ANY type of safety inspections, while taxis and limousines must be inspected every year. I asked Eric Blomgren to go to Trenton to indicate our support for the provision in the bill that requires these vehicles to pass safety inspections. The bill would require an inspection every other year, which is still less often than taxis and limousines, and less often than we would hope to see, since we know that independent auto repair shops such as yours, would often be the ones conducting these safety inspections and making the repairs needed to ensure compliance -- a service that you are all happy to provide. The bill was approved in Committee, and will hopefully continue to move successfully through the rest of the legislative process. I have provided a link to the written testimony that Eric submitted.  Please click HERE to read it.
 
I now have some unfortunate news. If you recall, back in June I was thrilled to announce a new partnership with Texima, LLC.  This program would have provided NJGCA members with a $1,000 check each December for placing a used clothing collection bin on their property.  If members had more than one location, they could place a bin at each location and make $1,000 per location. Clearly, this had the potential to be an easy and welcome source of revenue for each one of my members.  However, I am disappointed to report that due to a lack of interest on your part, Texima has withdrawn their partnership with NJGCA. Effective immediately, Texima will be coming around to collect the bins from those locations that were participating in the program. I sincerely hope that we will have more participation in future programs that NJGCA designs for the specific benefit of our membership.
 
One such program is an End-of-the-Year sale going on right now at KOPA Lighting. KOPA is an NJGCA MBP that provides energy efficient lighting solutions.  The details of KOPA's End-of-the-Year sale are as follows:
 
Product: Cree CPY LED canopy lights. 
Pricing: 1-49 fixtures: $330
            50-99 fixtures: $315
            100 or more: $300 
 
Your price is for fixture only and for pick up at the Red Bank location. 50% deposit required.
Please contact Jason Schaefer at jschaefer@kopagroup.com or at (888) LED-KOPA (ext. 20), for more information.
 
Finally, I hate to end with bad news, but I learned this week that one of our longtime members, Paul Wroblewski is in need of our prayers.  Paul has been a member since 1968 at his location in Seaside Park.  Paul fell off a ladder this past week and suffered a broken leg and a broken pelvis.  He has recently moved from the hospital to a rehab facility.  We just saw Paul last week at our Lakewood Diner Tour meeting. The NJGCA family wishes Paul and his family all the best, and a speedy recovery.  Get Well Soon, Paul!

That's all for now!  Thanks for reading -- See you next week!

Regards,
Sal Risalvato
Executive Director

TRAINING CLASSES!!
-ALL CLASSES WILL BE HELD AT NJGCA HEADQUARTERS-
66 Morris Avenue - Springfield, NJ 07081 (Union County)

NJGCA is offering the Emission Repair Technician RE-CERTIFICATION class in December.

FOR REGISTRATION INFO FOR THE EMISSION REPAIR TECHNICIAN RE-CERTIFICATION, PLEASE CLICK HERE

FUTURE CLASSES WILL BE ADDED UPON REQUEST AND ACCORDING TO DEMAND. CONTACT DEBBIE at 973-376-0066 or DEBBIE@NJGCA.ORG TO LET HER KNOW YOU ARE INTERESTED IN TAKING A SPECIFIC CLASS.  THIS WILL ALLOW US TO GAUGE YOUR NEEDS AND KEEP TRACK OF THOSE WISHING TO PARTICIPATE!!

CLASSIFIEDS! -- FOR SALE & HELP WANTED ADS 

Do you have a business for sale?  Are you looking for a new location or opportunity?

• NJGCA regularly assists members looking to sell their business by getting the word out. Since everyone reading this message is involved in the small business gasoline retail, convenience store, and automotive repair trades, it is an ideal medium to connect with interested buyers and prospects!

NJGCA also helps members sell equipment by placing ads in the Road Warrior!

• If you'd like to list equipment for sale, or have an open position you'd like to make other industry professionals aware of, please contact NJGCA at 973-376-0066 and let us help you get the word out! 

NEWS AROUND THE STATE: THE NEWS YOU SHOULD KNOW

12/16/2014:
Nearly 60% of NJ residents oppose gas tax, with most saying state's roads are just fine
A new Rutgers Eagleton poll has found that nearly 6/10 New Jersey residents (56%) are against raising the state’s gasoline tax, which funds road projects, as more than half say they believe there’s no reason to pay more at the pump because state roads are in good shape.  The poll also found another reason for opposition to raising the tax: New Jersey residents seem to like the idea that NJ has one of the lowest gas taxes in the nation. (NJ's 14.5-cent-per-gallon gas tax, the second lowest after Alaska's, combines a 10.5-cent motor fuels tax with a 4-cent petroleum levy.) 54% percent of those surveyed replied that state roads, not including the Turnpike and Parkway, which are funded by tolls, are in either ‘good’ (48%) or ‘excellent’ (6%) shape. Another 36% see state roads as in only ‘fair’ condition and 8% think they are in ‘poor’ shape. The result was virtually unchanged from the last time the question was posed, in a 1980 poll.
 
12/15/2014:
Christie expects decision on gas tax this year
Governor Christie had always resisted any suggestion of a hike in the state gasoline tax to fund the TTF, but he recently said nothing can be ruled out, and he expected to make a decision on the issue before the end of the year. The governor said that while everything is open for discussion, the solution has to be fair to the people of New Jersey.  When asked how the revenue would be dedicated to the TTF, Christie said “I can make a commitment that any revenue would be put toward the Transportation Trust Fund, but secondly the only way to ensure it is a Constitutional dedication that could go on the ballot in 2015, it could go on the ballot on 2016.” Christie said he cannot issue an executive order on this question, it must be done through the voters. Democratic leaders in Trenton, including State Senate President Steve Sweeney, have lined up in favor of a gas tax increase. Sweeney recently created a plan to double the amount of transportation funding to towns, although he did not specifically spell out how it would be funded. A few months ago, Christie said he believed there are viable alternatives to raising the gas tax to fund transportation projects in New Jersey, but he hasn’t spelled out what they are.
 
12/15/2014:
Retailers in more states selling gas below $2 as nationwide average continues to fall
Retailers in 13 states now sell gas for $1.99 or less per gallon, according to GasBuddy.com. The "$1.99 Club," which numbered three states only a week ago, now includes Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas and Virginia.  In some states, prices have dropped even lower. A gas-price war erupted in southern Ohio this week, with five stations in West Union and Lynx selling gas for $1.85 per gallon. Nationwide, gas prices have fallen 12.5 cents per gallon (CPG) over the past week to an average of $2.533. Diesel prices fell nearly 10 CPG to $3.398. Fueling sites selling gas for less than $2.50 per gallon also out- numbered those charging more, for the first time in years -- 55.5% of gas stations now sell gas at less than $2.50 per gallon. The most common price nationally is $2.399, compared to $3.199 per gallon a year ago.  Across all lower-48 states, average gas prices fell under $3 per gallon on December 14 as NY's state average finally dropped below that price.
 
12/12/2014:
Newark gas station robbed 10 times
Employees and owners of a Newark gas station are on high alert after their station was robbed for a 10th time in 14 months. The most recent robbery at the Citgo station on Sanford Avenue happened earlier this week. Surveillance video shows one man grabbing one of the gas station attendants as another man takes money from the attendant’s pockets. They took more than $200. "It's a dangerous area," says owner Sukhvant Dhillon. "Sometimes at night, I wouldn't even want to be here."  The suspects in the latest robbery didn’t use a weapon, but attendant Bobby Singh says he has been robbed at gunpoint in the past. No arrests have been made in the recent robbery. For now, attendants are carrying less cash.
 
12/12/2014:
US Labor secretary says NJ paid sick leave should spread nationwide
U.S. Secretary of Labor Tom Perez recently touted NJ municipalities that have passed paid sick leave as being "ahead of the curve" in fair labor practices compared to the rest of the country. "We are the only nation in the civilized world where we don't have some form of federal paid leave, and we're working on that in Washington with the leadership of the President," Perez said after meeting with a small group of NJ lawmakers in municipalities that have passed paid sick leave laws. "But here in NJ, local leaders are taking the bull by the horn in numerous cities and saying 'we can't wait for Washington.' I applaud those efforts." The labor secretary met with a handful of activists and NJ lawmakers in municipalities that have passed paid sick leave laws at Rutgers Law School in Newark, including leaders of Newark, Jersey City, East Orange and Montclair. "You are ahead of the curve," he told them, before adding "it probably doesn't feel that way as you push the boulder up the hill." At least eight municipalities in NJ have passed some form of paid sick leave, with Jersey City and Newark leading the pack. East Orange passed paid sick leave on its own earlier this fall, and five others passed the law after activists garnered enough signatures under to put a referendum on the ballot (Trenton, Montclair, Paterson, Passaic and Irvington), though some passed the measure through city council.  Legislators are currently mulling over a bill that would make New Jersey one of the first states in the nation to require all employers offer paid sick days to employees.

MEMBER BENEFIT PARTNER MESSAGE BOARD:

TMP Energy Solutions
Another Way to Save on Your Energy Bills

We have had a number of NJGCA members successfully reduce their rate per kWh signing up through our energy saving program. We know it's difficult to collect 12 months worth of previous electric bills to get an "accurate" analysis when comparing a variable rate to a fixed rate, but we now have another option available. 

This new solution is a power purchase option; the other program is still in full force and has saved members thousands of dollars. If you sign up for the power purchase option, you will be grouped with other NJGCA members until the minimum KW demand is acquired. By pooling the member's usage together, you will be able to take advantage, as large energy users do, and receive a lower kWh rate.

Each member will receive their own contract. Each member is responsible to sign and return the agreement the day it is received in order to secure the price for their group.

Please do your due diligence, so when you receive the proposal and the agreement you will be able to make an intelligent decision.

If by chance, you still want us to assess you bills, to give you a price to compare, we will require12 months of your most recent utility bills.

There are no bills required, but we would still like to have one bill per meter on file to check account #'s, meter #'s  service addresses and other pertinent information incase there is a problem.

The term of the agreement is for 12 months. During this term period, you will have price protection against any energy price increases along with a low fixed kWh rate.

If you are interested in becoming part of this power purchase option, please contact Greg Cannon at the NJGCA.

Remember when you sign up your energy through the NJGCA Energy Program, TMP makes a considerable donation to the NJGCA Scholarship Fund through their proceeds. This has no affect on your rate, and costs you nothing out of pocket.

We hope to help hundreds of NJGCA members reduce their utility costs by participating in this and our other cost reduction programs.  Our purpose, in the endeavor, is to help NJGCA members lower their energy costs while supporting the NJGCA Scholarship Fund. 

Contact GREG CANNON at 973-376-0066 or email Greg at greg@njgca.org. Mention that you are interested in saving money on your energy bills. NJGCA & TMP Energy Solutions will handle all the rest.