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Road Warrior Newsletter
 

 

May 9, 2019

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:
• New Jersey Ramping Up Plastic Ban Efforts; Visa/Mastercard Settlement Update; China's Commitment to EVs; NJGCA DVOM Diagnostic Strategies Course

NJGCA CLASSIFIEDS
- Mercer County: Gas Station for Sale
- Monmouth County: Gas Station and Repair Shop Business Since 2001

NEWS AROUND THE STATE

• Another Push For NJ Ban On Plastic Bags And, Maybe, Paper Bags Too
• Canada Says Tobacco Must Be in Plain Packages
• Prospects For N.J. Legal Weed Bill Looking Grim, Insiders Say. It May Be Put In Voters’ Hands — Next Year
• Trump’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Plan Already Imperiled As Mulvaney, GOP Lawmakers Object To Cost
• Movement To Ban Plastic Bags, Straws, Foam Containers Targets North Jersey
• New Jersey May Ban All Bags At Supermarkets — No Paper Or Plastic

TRAINING CLASS SCHEDULE!
??????• ENTIRE EMISSION REPAIR TECHNICIAN PROGRAM: May 1, 8, 15, 22, June 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26 
??????RECERTIFICATION EMISSION REPAIR TECHNICIAN PROGRAM: May 1, 8, 15, 22

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:

NEW JERSEY RAMPING UP PLASTIC BAN EFFORTS
VISA/MASTERCARD SETTLEMENT UPDATE
CHINA'S COMMITMENT TO EVs
NJGCA DVOM DIAGNOSTIC STRATEGIES COURSE 
 

PLASTIC BANS
As we previously predicted and reported, plastic and paper bags are back in the news this week. Because of recent actions in other states such as Maine and New York, a renewed effort is ramping up in New Jersey. Maine has outright banned the use of styrofoam containers, which will go into effect January 1, 2021; and New York banned plastic bags several weeks ago which will go into effect March 1, 2020. The New York bill would also allow counties the option to impose a fee on paper bags, which many including NYC will likely impose. Bottom line, government wants you to bring your own bag or box to the store with you in order to transport your groceries or other purchased products. I have mentioned this several times, but there is a tidal wave of anti-plastic sentiment that is sweeping across the entire country. Plastic bags and straws are only the beginning. I don’t see how this effort will be stopped, but I am thinking about a way to use these lemons to make lemonade. For those of you in convenience stores, selling reusable bags to your customers will eliminate the expense of bags that you have now as well as allow you to earn a profit on the bags that your customers purchase. The same applies for straws. Some of you may continue to give to your customer’s paper straws free of charge, which will cost you more than you currently pay for plastic straws. Some of you may also sell reusable straws that are made from various materials by placing them at your cash register and earning a profit on the sale of straws when previously they were an expense. It seems as if the industry that is affected the most by the ban on plastic bags, the grocery business, is thinking along the lines of making lemonade from lemons. I am thinking of ways our industry can follow suit.
 
Read more about New Jersey’s efforts to ban plastics HERE.
 
VISA/MASTERCARD
As expected, we have been receiving calls from many of you regarding a letter you may have received informing you about the Visa/Mastercard settlement. If you have received a letter, no further action is needed from you at this time. If you have not gotten the letter, and have accepted credit cards in the last 15 years, visit paymentcardsettlement.com and register yourself to be part of the settlement.
 
ELECTRIC VEHICLES
Another topic back in the news: electric cars. This comes as China has pledged to make huge investments in electric car technology and demand in China for electric cars has skyrocketed; about 1.2 million battery-powered vehicles were sold in China last year, compared to 350,000 in the United States.  I’ve been reminded that a few years ago I was a panelist at a conference in California that featured electric vehicles, hydrogen vehicles, and natural gas vehicles.  At that conference I remember that China had a display with an electric vehicle that had over 300 miles of range.  President Trump is likely to enact tariffs on this new technology. The one thing that is for certain is that major U.S. companies are investing billions of dollars anticipating that electrified vehicles will be the transportation of the future. Every customer who begins driving a car fueled by electricity is a customer that will never buy a drop of gas from you again. If you own a repair shop, you will need to learn how to service both battery electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles, or you will lose those customers as well. Electrified vehicles will still need brakes, tires, A/C and suspension. Training to be prepared for the future is now more important than ever, which brings me to my next point. . .
 
ENHANCED DVOM DIAGNOSTIC STRATEGIES
We have sent out a number of emails in recent weeks about the first training course that we are sponsoring. I know many of you believe that you are experienced technicians and do not need the course that we are offering, Enhanced DVOM Diagnostic Strategies. However, we are learning that the most experienced auto techs may not realize or want to admit a course like this is the exact remediation that they need to build on their previous experience and training. Although this course may be only a refresher for all of you experienced techs, it is certainly designed to impart much knowledge on the less experienced techs in your shop. You should attend and bring your techs. The course will be offered in two night increments. The first course for North Jersey members will be June 5th and 6th in Ridgefield Park at Westview Service and hosted by NJGCA Treasurer Tim Arata. The second will be June 12th and 13th in Forked River at Lacey Auto Care hosted by member Rich Ritchie. Click HERE to see the flier which lists both sessions and location addresses, and click HERE to register for the event online. If you are interested in attending, make sure you register early; space is limited!

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


Want to become an emission repair technician/facility?
Entire Emission Technician Education Program (ETEP) Training Classes
 Sections 1-7
1 PM to 9 PM
May 1, 8, 15, 22 
June 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26


Sections 8, 9, 10 (RECERTIFICATION)
1 PM to 9 PM
May 1, 8, 15, 22 


Stop turning away work!

The New Jersey Inspection Program requires vehicles that fail emissions inspection to go to a Licensed Certified Emission Repair Facility and have a Licensed Emission Repair Technician perform the repairs! When the new Emissions Inspection program begins, a list of Certified Emission Repair Facilities will be given to the vehicle owners who fail the New Jersey Emission Inspection. If you want your business name on the list – make sure you have a Certified Licensed Emission Repair Technician and you are licensed as a Emission Repair Facility! Those signing up for the FULL training course will attend sections 1-10. Full ETEP class fees for members are $2,195 and non-members are $2,395. Recertification fees for members are $729 and non-members are $879. Note for Spring 2018 classes: Recertification dates will be held FIRST, with sections 1 to 7 to follow.
 

Click here for FULL ETEP REGISTRATION FORM
Click here for ETEP RECERTIFICATION FORM

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.

                                                                                                                                     

NEWS AROUND THE STATE: THE NEWS YOU SHOULD KNOW

5/8/19
Another Push For NJ Ban On Plastic Bags And, Maybe, Paper Bags Too
New Jersey is inching toward another run at banning single-use plastic bags, and paper bags may get caught up in the prohibition this time around. The ban is attracting increasing support among residents, businesses and even municipal governments since Gov. Phil Murphy last summer vetoed a bill banning plastic bags while imposing a nickel fee on paper bags. (The governor vetoed it because he said he wanted a stronger version.) Since then, more than 50 New Jersey municipalities have passed ordinances to reduce the use of plastic bags, straws, balloons, and Styrofoam containers. Other states have followed suit. Maine banned polystyrene containers. New York prohibited single-use plastic bags in March.

5/7/19
Canada Says Tobacco Must Be in Plain Packages
Last week, Canada unveiled its plain packaging regulations for tobacco products, The Globe and Mail reports. The new federal rules—which go into effect next February—mandate that all tobacco products must be in brown packages without any logos or colors, and with the product name in plain script. Large, graphic health warnings must be plastered on the packages, as well. Canada also will require cigarette packages to be a slide-and-shell design, rather than flip-top design to give the packaging more space to increase the health warning graphics. The regulations also forbid slim cigarettes and “purse pack” sized packaging.

5/4/19
Prospects For N.J. Legal Weed Bill Looking Grim, Insiders Say. It May Be Put In Voters’ Hands — Next Year
After more than a year of stops and starts, hope is dimming for New Jersey’s leaders to convince enough state lawmakers to vote for a bill to legalize recreational marijuana in the state, NJ Advance Media has learned. Instead, the chances of letting Garden State voters decide whether to make pot legal have increased in recent weeks — most likely in a ballot referendum in the 2020 November elections, according to six legislative and industry sources with direct knowledge of the discussions. And if the issue does go before voters then, that means New Jerseyans may not be able to partake in legal weed until sometime in 2021.

5/4/19
Trump’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Plan Already Imperiled As Mulvaney, GOP Lawmakers Object To Cost
A $2 trillion infrastructure deal outlined this week by President Trump and top Democrats is already losing momentum, as the president’s own chief of staff is telling people inside and outside the administration that the effort is too expensive and unlikely to succeed. The tentative accord to repair the nation’s roads, revitalize mass transit and expand broadband systems was reached at a private White House meeting Tuesday between Trump and Democratic leaders in Congress, who said they were pleasantly surprised by the president’s willingness to back a large-scale spending effort. But the initiative has run into immediate opposition from Republicans who balk at the hefty price tag and from conservative allies who are pushing lawmakers to block it. Those opposed to the deal include Trump’s top aide, Mick Mulvaney, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who is not in favor of the spending, according to people who have spoken to him.

5/3/19
Movement To Ban Plastic Bags, Straws, Foam Containers Targets North Jersey
The push to enact a statewide prohibition on thin plastic bags, plastic straws and foam food containers may have stalled in Trenton, but a campaign is underway to get more towns beyond the Jersey Shore to pass local bans. Glen Rock became the latest of a small number of North Jersey municipalities to join the anti-plastic movement when its council adopted an ordinance last week prohibiting retailers in town from giving customers single-use plastic bags. Environmental groups pushing for local action said they are trying to get more inland towns like Glen Rock to adopt such bans  — a move that they hope will spur legislators in Trenton to reignite efforts for a statewide ban.

5/3/19
New Jersey May Ban All Bags At Supermarkets — No Paper Or Plastic
Now a growing number of states are outlawing single-use plastics. Maine became the latest on Tuesday, when the Governor Janet Mills signed a new law banning polystyrene food containers, including Styrofoam. New York passed a statewide ban on single-use plastic bags at the end of March. All the while, the stricter measure that Murphy requested for New Jersey is idling in the Statehouse. That bill, S2776, calls for bans on single-use plastic bags, plastic straws and polystyrene food containers. It also places a 10-cent fee on paper bags. But it soon may go even further.

 
                                                                                                                                            
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.