April 30, 2015

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! 

RIGHT TO REPAIR ON THE SCHEDULE FOR MONDAY!
FEDERAL MANDATE ON TIRE REGISTRATION
$140,000 FINES FOR SELLING AVIATION FUEL
EAST RUTHERFORD TO RAISE AGE TO PURCHASE TOBACCO

Earlier this week, we heard that our efforts to have Right to Repair heard in the Senate Commerce Committee have been fruitful! Chairwoman Nia Gill has scheduled our bill for a hearing in Trenton on Monday afternoon at 1:00 PM in Committee Room 6. It would be greatly appreciated if YOU are able to attend the hearing, wearing your work uniform. This is the final step before we make a push to have Right to Repair voted on in both the Senate and the Assembly, and our goal is to do that before the Legislature breaks for the summer. This is the perfect time to demonstrate our strength, and your presence in Trenton on Monday will help show legislators how critical this legislation is! Also on Monday we expect the Governor to take action on the rewards bill, which we have worked so hard to pass for the last three years!

Now, onto a federal issue, which I mentioned briefly in February after our trip to Washington, D.C. You may recall, I discussed the possibility of mandatory tire registration -- things were quiet before, but this topic is now bubbling to the surface and requires much more of my -- no, wait -- OUR attention. There is a provision buried in the current Highway Bill that Congress is considering, which will result in mandated tire registration for every tire you sell. For those of you that go back as long as I do in the business, you may remember tire registration was required by law 30 years ago. It was then changed to a voluntary system. But, because the process is so cumbersome, the voluntary system does not really provide much information in the event of a tire recall by the manufacturer. I am just starting to get more involved in this issue, as a result of our very informative trip to Washington in February.  It is imperative that we kill this and I am planning another trip to Washington, D.C. sometime in the next two weeks to meet with the Vice-Chair of the United States House Energy Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade, who happens to be Congressman Lance, from New Jersey. If you sell tires in your shop, this is critical to you. I don’t even want to hint at the proposed fines as it will scare you. I will continue to report as things move forward.
 
Last week, I told you all about an undercover investigation regarding bad motor oil, and you may remember that NJGCA began warning you about bad motor oil back in December of 2014. Now, go back into your memories again, because in December of 2012 I wrote about a bunch of locations that were found to be selling aviation fuel rather than regular gas. This was a result of the owner of those locations purchasing what was supposed to be gasoline, which he had gotten a great deal on... In fact, the price was sooooo good, it was simply an offer he couldn't refuse. In the end, this great deal that couldn't be refused turned out to be aviation fuel, not gas. Just this past week, the matter was finally settled with the Attorney General's office. The proprietor of the locations, the trucking company that delivered it, and the seller of the “cheap gas" have all been fined a total of $140,000. The point I'm trying to make is this: If a distributor or supplier knocks on your door with an "unbelievable" deal, and it seems like an offer that's too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true. Get all of that individual's pertinent information and call ME, as I will make sure that the authorities investigate. This pertains to motor oil and gasoline. Just don't buy it -- it's not worth the trouble.
 
Finally, I hate to keep mentioning this, but another municipality has recently decided to raise the age to purchase tobacco. We just learned this week that East Rutherford is now considering an ordinance that will ban the sale of tobacco products to anyone under the age of 21. Because we have been so successful in stopping this effort in Trenton, our opponents are trying to pick us off town by town.  Unfortunately, we do not have nearly as much influence in these municipalities, but YOU do.  YOU are the constituents of the council-people making these decisions, and YOU should be the ones tuned-in to the happenings of your town's ruling body. We rely on YOU to be our eyes and ears on the ground, and to join us in trying to prevent any more towns from moving in this direction!

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)

For info on the ENTIRE ETEP course, and the ETEP Re-Certification courses that NJGCA is offering, please click HERE.

To access the registration form and payment info, 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 

NJGCA MEMBER BENEFIT PARTNERS LOOKING TO HIRE!

GILL ENERGY:

District Manager
Store Manager
Trucking Operations Manager

For more information about these positions, and to submit a resume for consideration, please contact: ravigill@gillenergy.com.

NEWS AROUND THE STATE: THE NEWS YOU SHOULD KNOW

4/28/2015:
Politics blocking Transportation Trust Fund deal, Sarlo says
State Sen. Paul Sarlo said Tuesday that, at least on the Senate side, there's been a deal in place for quite some time that would fund the state's depleted TTF through a dedicated gas tax increase coupled with a phasing out of the estate tax. But Sarlo said politics, both at the national and state levels, has gotten in the way. Not only are Assembly seats up for election in November, but Gov. Christie is widely believed to be preparing for a White House bid and, as Sarlo put it, "We have presidential politics looming over our head." And whether the desired office is in Trenton or Washington, throwing support behind a gas tax doesn't appear to be a popular strategy. Even if, at least in Sarlo's opinion, it's the right one. Assembly Democratic spokesman Tom Hester Jr. responded Wednesday to Sarlo’s claim that Assembly elections have played a role in the trust fund stalemate. Sarlo said the new working timeline for a trust fund fix is the upcoming lame-duck session at the end of this year and beginning of 2016. Until then, he said, it appears as if a deal is "on hold." Projects also will be on hold if a new revenue source isn't lined up to support them, Sarlo said.

4/28/2015:
Bergen County towns dominate field with tobacco-sale limits
With the use of electronic cigarettes on a sharp upswing, particularly among teenagers, a growing number of NJ towns are seeking to raise the minimum age to buy tobacco and "nicotine-delivery products" to 21. East Rutherford could become the eighth NJ municipality to outlaw tobacco and e-cig sales to anyone below the legal drinking age. The Borough Council introduced its measure on 4/21, the same day that Princeton adopted a similar prohibition. Englewood was the first to do so, last August, and five other towns -- Teaneck, Bogota, Garfield, Highland Park and Sayreville -- have followed suit. The moves come as the use of e-cigs -- with candy and dessert flavors that appeal to teens -- and hookahs is soaring among younger Americans, more than offsetting a continuing decline in cigarette smoking by teenagers. The increase has alarmed public-health advocates who have celebrated other recent victories in a decades-long battle to curb tobacco use, including a growing acceptance of smoking bans in workplaces, parks and other public gathering spots.
 
4/28/2015:
Robber who threatened to blow up gas station found hiding in attic
A man robbed a Valero gas station attendant at knifepoint, telling his victim to leave the business because a bomb was about to explode, according to police. The suspect, Christian T. Happel, of Middlesex was later found hiding inside a large trunk in the attic of a nearby home, according to police. Happel was arrested and charged with robbery, making terroristic threats and held without bail, police said. Police say Happel, 34, wore a mask and gloves when he approached the attendant about 5:30 p.m. Sunday at the gas station on Lincoln Boulevard. The robber showed the attendant a knife and demanded cash, police said. The attendant turned over $531 cash and his iPhone, according to police. "The robber then told the attendant that there was bomb on the premises and that the bomb would detonate in five minutes," police said in a news release. "The robber told the attendant that he could safely leave the premises in three minutes." The attendant fled to a neighboring business where he called police. Investigators later determined the bomb threat was false, police said. A police tracking dog was used to help find Happel hiding in the nearby home, police said.

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.