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Road Warrior Newsletter
 




 

August 23, 2018

Dear NJGCA Member:

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

Here is what you will find in this edition:

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE:
• Plastic Bag and Straw Ban, Coming to a Town Near You; Magnusen-Moss Act Update; Young Professionals Fall Kick-Off Event

NJGCA CLASSIFIEDS
- Monmouth County: Gas Station and Repair Shop Business Since 2001
- Bergen County: Shell Gas Station with 6-Bay Repair Shop for Sale

NEWS AROUND THE STATE
• Another Gas-Tax Hike? Of Course: Editorial
• Get Ready For NJ's Gas Tax To Possibly Go Up – Again
• Shell and GM Expand Frictionless Fuel Payment
• Gas Prices Trend Downward
• California May Ditch Coffee Carcinogen Warnings
• NJ Flood Cleanup Scams: Protect Yourself Against Price Gouging, Fraud
• British MPs Push E-cigarettes As Health Benefit
TRAINING CLASS SCHEDULE!
??????• Emissions Inspector Training Class, WEDNESDAY September 19th, THURSDAY October 18th

MEMBER BENEFIT PARTNER MESSAGE BOARD
• The Amato Agency: Garage Insurance and Workers Compensation! 
• ATS Environmental: Confidence in your Tank & Compliance Testing
• Bellomo Fuel: Exceptional Service, Aggressive Petroleum Marketing
• CBIZ Insurance: Our Business is Growing Yours!
• Gill Energy: Getting you There!
• Lending Capital: "Commercial Loans Made Easy" Program
• Salomone Brothers: Tank Testing and Environmental Compliance
• TMP Energy Solutions: Another Way to Save On Your Energy Bills
POLITICAL PARTICIPATON: THE NJGCA PAC
• Participate in the NJGCA PAC today and help us keep our Agenda rolling in Trenton!

Energy Information Agency Weekly Retail Gasoline Prices

JOIN NJGCA ON FACEBOOK -- CLICK HERE
TO SEE OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL -- CLICK HERE
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER-- CLICK HERE
                                                                                                                                       

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE:

PLASTIC BAG AND STRAW BAN, COMING TO A TOWN NEAR YOU
MAGNUSEN-MOSS ACT UPDATE
YOUNG PROFESSIONALS FALL KICK-OFF EVENT
 
In the past several years, there have been many issues that have been legislated by municipal governments that previously would have been legislated in Trenton as state law rather than a local law. In each instance, as these issues popped up, I have alerted NJGCA members as to what is happening. Some examples of these laws that have an effect on repair shops, convenience stores and gasoline retailers are mandatory paid sick leave, mandatory generators, tobacco and smoking regulations, and most recently, the banning of plastic bags and plastic straws. I must keep reminding you that although NJGCA has extremely accurate and timely notifications of all proposed legislation in Trenton, we have absolutely no way of knowing what every one of the 565 municipal governments are plotting in their mayor and council chambers. The only source of information that I have is YOU! Fortunately, we have many members that do pay attention to what their local governments are plotting. Unfortunately and also understandably, many of you do not pay attention to what your mayor and council are doing. In the past years, even though I received information very late in the game, NJGCA has been able to intervene at the local level by writing letters, making phone calls to local officials, and attending mayor and town council meetings all across the state. We were successful on several occasions blocking a municipal ordinance that would have required all gas stations to install backup generators that would have cost over $50,000 at each location. We were successful once we were notified in stopping eight towns from adopting age 21 tobacco laws. Recently, 13 towns have passed laws that will prohibit merchants from using plastic bags to carry customer’s purchases or make plastic straws available to customers that are purchasing drinks. In none of these 13 instances was NJGCA made aware that the effort was happening. An exception, and the most recent example of this is in the township of Edison, where luckily, I learned Monday morning through another lobbyist that the Edison town council would be voting Wednesday night (yesterday) on an ordinance that would ban plastic bags and straws. NJGCA has a handful of members in Edison who would be harmed by this. Although it was a Hail Mary pass, I contacted each of our members and asked them to contact their mayor and also each of their council members. I emailed a letter to the governing body explaining the burden this would put on NJGCA members. I was also fortunate enough to collaborate with lobbyists who represent supermarkets and department stores, as well as other convenience store owners. By Monday night, I received a text message from a member of the Edison town council that the issue would be tabled and not voted on this week. The council agreed they need to learn more about our side of the issue. Is this issue dead in Edison? Not at all. I have relayed this story only to demonstrate that we can only take action when we are aware that action needs to be taken.
 
We are actually a victim of our own success. Our ability to successfully block a statewide ban on mandatory generators, a statewide adoption of age 21 tobacco laws, and block mandatory paid sick leave has resulted in a new phenomenon in local governments to pass these laws on their own and ignore Trenton. Yes, Trenton has now passed a paid sick leave law and raised the age to purchase tobacco to 21, not without a hard fight fought by NJGCA. We managed to successfully block these laws for years before they were able to pass. Now that these laws have passed statewide it levels the playing field from town to town. I have said it before, we rely on our members to keep their ears to the ground and let us know of any harmful legislation that could affect not only the members of your town, but small business owners across the state. Please keep us informed on any local legislation that could affect your business! For more information on which towns have enacted a plastic bag/straw ban, click here.
 
For all repair shop owners, I know you all have had instances where a customer has brought their car to the dealer rather than to you because they had been lead to believe that their warranty would be voided if you were performing routine service on non-warranty items. Last week, I asked for you to send me your stories on this matter. We have been working to pass a law that will require vehicle manufacturers to notify new car purchasers that they are free to bring their vehicle to you for any service that is not covered by warranty without jeopardizing their warranty. Please take five minutes to relay your stories to me, this is very important. Along these lines, I think you will find this article very interesting if you operate a repair shop.
 
For those of you that have young motivated people working in your shops and/or stations, or anticipate handing your business over to the next generation down the line, we are excited to announce that our Young Professionals group will be having a fall kick-off event on Monday, September 17th at Red Rock’s rooftop bar area from 6-8 PM. This is an excellent opportunity to network with other people with similar interests and for us to learn what new ideas, technologies, and opportunities are coming down the line which could potentially further our businesses and the industry. If you know of someone who might be interested in attending, please send them our registration page to sign up! If you are interested in sponsoring this event, please email either Michelle or Eric at michelle@njgca.org or eric@njgca.org for more information.


That's all for this week-
Sal Risalvato
Executive Director
 

                                                                                                                                     

TRAINING CLASSES!!
All classes held at NJGCA HQ -- 4900 Route 33 West, Wall Township, NJ 07753

Emissions Inspector Training Class - One Day Only!
WEDNESDAY, September 19th, 2018 -- 7 AM to 3 PM
OR
THURSDAY, October 18th, 2018 -- 7 AM to 3 PM
Want one of your technicians to become a NJ Emissions Inspector? We can help! Our one-day class will provide all the information for becoming a NJ Emissions Inspector, and the State will administer the written test the very same day at our offices!  We are offering the class: Wednesday, September 19th and Thursday, October 18th from 7:00am to 3:00pm.
Cost is $275 for members.
Click HERE for September and HERE for October registration forms

FUTURE CLASSES WILL BE ADDED UPON REQUEST AND ACCORDING TO DEMAND. CONTACT DEBBIE at 732-256-9646 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

FOR SALE:

Business For Sale: Monmouth County gas station and repair shop in business since 2001 is for sale. Owner is relocating out of state and is interested in selling business and equipment. Owner is open to limited financing. Business has a strong 10 year lease. The building has two repair bays and the gas pumps are leased to a large independent tenant. Repair shop business currently employs a Manager and two full-time Technicians. For inquiries and more info, please call Mark at 908-670-7798.

FOR SALE:

Shell Gas Station with 6-Bay Repair Shop for Sale in Bergen County!

Business established in 1980. Fully equipped repair shop with 5 lifts including an alignment rack with a 2-year-old Hunter Hawkeye alignment machine. New Hunter tire machine & wheel balancer. AAA approved and very busy.
 
Towing business also available which includes 3 Freightliner/JerrDan flatbeds (2015, 2016 & 2017), a 2012 Dodge crew cab wrecker with a Jerrdan Quick Pick & dual cable winch & 2 service trucks (a 2012 GMC 2500 utility truck with a plow & a 2014 Ford transit battery/service vehicle).

Pumping over 1,000,000 gallons per year. 100x300 lot with plenty of parking. Excellent location!!! Call Jim @ 201-851-3084.

         
 

                                                                                                                                     

NEWS AROUND THE STATE: THE NEWS YOU SHOULD KNOW

8/22/18
Another Gas-Tax Hike? Of Course: Editorial
It didn’t take long for New Jersey’s much-hated 23-cent gas tax hike to get worse, as revenues from the increase falter. This also won’t be the last time we’re likely to look back on those original 23 cents as a relative bargain. When New Jersey lawmakers struck a deal with then-Gov. Chris Christie on the tax bump in 2016, it came with conditions. Much of the attention went to the collection of tax and fee reductions Christie cobbled together to help theoretically compensate for the increase, although it’s fair to question the sincerity of that effort; scrapping the estate tax, for instance, hardly has the same effect on average New Jerseyans as the gas tax. Also included in that legislation, however, was a provision designed to assure a targeted amount of revenue — about $1.2 billion annually — continues to flow into the Transportation Trust Fund. If the money comes up short, the state treasurer can adjust the tax upward — or downward if there’s a surplus. This, however, is New Jersey, and that means taxes always go up. With current estimates showing a likely shortfall, officials are floating the prospect of another increase of at least 2 cents a gallon, possibly more.
 
8/21/18
Get Ready For NJ's Gas Tax To Possibly Go Up – Again
Looks like New Jersey could be headed toward another gas tax hike if revenues don't turn around soon, officials say. What might trigger the hike is a little-talked-about provision in the recent 23 cent gas-tax increase that could either hike, reduce or keep the gas tax the same. The change depends on how much of the tax has been collected over the past year to fund the Transportation Trust Fund. The fund pays for important and emergency road projects. The Murphy administration has been meeting to determine whether the gas tax has been producing enough revenue to prevent a hike. Jennifer Sciortino, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Treasury, said her office is reviewing the latest numbers and expects to make a final determination "relatively soon on whether the rate must be changed in accordance with the requirements of the law." Treasurer Elizabeth Maher Muoio told recently told the Assembly Budget Committee that "we've seen that the revenue numbers on the gas tax have been lower." She said the Murphy administration will "continue to monitor it throughout the summer ... so we're going to watch what happens."

8/21/18
Shell and GM Expand Frictionless Fuel Payment
Shell Oil Co. and General Motors announced that Shell-branded gas stations in the U.S. now will accept the industry’s first-ever embedded, in-dash fuel payment and loyalty experience. Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac drivers can fill up their vehicles at Shell stations with Shell Pay & Save within GM Marketplace and pay directly from their vehicle’s infotainment screens. Customers also can earn and redeem Fuel Rewards savings at the same time.
  With summer coming to a close, pump prices are decreasing. On Aug. 20, the national average price of gas rang in at $2.48, three cents less than at the start of August, two cents less than the previous Monday and 50 cents more than this time last year, according to AAA. “Compared to July, consumer demand for gasoline is weaning and prices are following suit,” said Jeanette Casselano, AAA spokesperson. “The national average is expected to keep moving lower, especially with the switchover to lower grade gasoline in September.” AAA pointed out that September brings winter-blend gasoline, which is less expensive to produce.

8/20/18
California May Ditch Coffee Carcinogen Warnings
California currently requires labels warning consumers that coffee contains a known carcinogen, but this might change now that the state Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) recently stated the brew doesn’t constitute a significant cancer risk, the Los Angeles Times reports. Late last week, the OEHHA proposed changing the state’s regulations to reflect its recent coffee risk statement. The change would reverse a judge’s decision in March that mandated warning labels for coffee because it contains acrylamide, which is listed under Proposition 65 as a carcinogen by the state. Proposition 65 names more than 850 chemicals as possibly harmful, and requires that businesses with 10 or more workers post warnings when they might be exposed to the listed substances.

8/17/18
NJ Flood Cleanup Scams: Protect Yourself Against Price Gouging, Fraud
New Jersey authorities on Friday warned residents in flood-ravaged towns in Bergen, Essex, Monmouth, Ocean and Passaic counties to beware of price gougers and other disaster-related scams. Gov. Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency in the five counties on Tuesday, which put into place New Jersey's price gouging restrictions. The law prohibits excessive price increases within 30 days after a state of emergency is declared or longer if it's extended. Prices can't be more than 10 percent higher than the price at which merchandise was sold prior to the state of emergency.
 
8/17/18
British MPs Push E-cigarettes As Health Benefit
British MPs are backing e-cigarettes as a public health fix to help traditional smokers kick the habit — and are eyeing Brexit as the perfect opportunity to boost the industry. In a ringing endorsement of vaping, MPs in the U.K. parliament’s science and technology committee said Friday that e-cigarettes are around 95 percent less harmful than traditional cigarettes and should be strongly promoted as an alternative, despite some uncertainties over the long-term health risks. The committee recommended the U.K. reduce taxes on e-cigarettes and allow vaping in places where smoking is banned, such as mental health treatment facilities — as well as loosen restrictions on advertising and labeling, which will become possible when Britain exits EU regulations governing tobacco products after March 2019. Many big tobacco companies have already moved into selling e-cigarettes alongside traditional cigarettes. The electronic devices deliver a nicotine hit by heating a tank of liquid containing the addictive chemical to create a vapor that can be inhaled — meaning they don’t contain as many cancer-causing substances as normal cigarettes.
                                                                                                                                            
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 require 12 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 732-256-9646 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. 
                                                                                                                                                                        


POLITICAL PARTICIPATION: THE NJGCA PAC
DEFENDING OUR MEMBERS.
PROTECTING YOUR INTERESTS.
ANSWER THE CALL & CONTRIBUTE TODAY!!
Promoting our agenda in Trenton is of utmost importance to NJGCA and our members.

However, in order to truly affect the debate, we must ensure our friends in the Legislature are re-elected. It is for this reason that your Association has established the NJGCA PAC.

For too long, the weight of funding our Political Action Committee, the arm of the Association responsible for political donations, has rested upon a few. This is not only unfair to those few members who have shouldered this burden, but means we are not utilizing our full strength to affect the debate in Trenton.
To truly understand the importance of supporting our allies, consider our successes in Trenton:
We defeated BELOW COST SELLING
We made history in getting FIRST RIGHT OF REFUSAL signed into law!
We have built large support for RIGHT TO REPAIR and got it passed out of the Assembly
We defended your small business against the false accusations of Attorney General Anne Milgram
We gained wide support to move New Jersey to an all PIF Inspection System and close the CIF lanes
...and MUCH MORE!!
In each instance, we achieved these goals with the help of our friends in the Legislature!

If every member contributes just $100.00 we will be able to provide the help necessary to ensure victory for our allies. 
 
PLEASE SEND YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO:
NJGCA PAC
4900 Route 33 West, Suite 100
Wall Township, NJ 07753
Please make your donation payable to NJGCA PAC
 
I understand that times are tough for all NJGCA members, but this is just as important as any battle we have fought in the past.
 
We have made great progress in Trenton. I hope that you will answer the call. 
                                                                                                                                     
Each week, the Energy Information Administration publishes a list of average gasoline prices for the previous three weeks. NJGCA will begin including this list with the Weekly Road Warrior.  Remember, these prices are reflective of self-serve everywhere except NJ.