Local Woman Seeks Repeal of Bergen Blue Laws
"Modernize Bergen County" is fighting to allow stores to open on Sundays
One local resident is fed up with Bergen County's "blue laws" and is working to have the "old fashioned" rules appealed.
"All I want is more revenue for the state and more jobs," Rosemary Shashoua of Westwood said.
Shashoua has found some like-minded county residents and started a new group called "Modernize Bergen County" with the goal of repealing the blue laws, the rules which prohibit the sale of items like clothing, furniture and appliances on Sundays.
Shashoua said she was inspired to start the group after Hurricane Sandy, when Gov. Chris Christie temporarily suspended county blue laws to aid recovery from the storm.
Mahwah was one of the first communities in the county to allow Home Depot and other stores to remain open on Sundays during the storm.
"Nobody had any clothing and nobody had anything to fix up their houses," Shashoua said, referring to residents displaced by the storm. "They weren't there to open up the jewelry store."
Repealing the laws could also have benefits beyond times immediately after storms, Shashoua said. Having stores open an extra day could create additonal jobs and bring in more money from shoppers.
Not everyone agrees. When the governor temporarily suspended the laws after the storm, Paramus officials objected to the change, taking the decision to court.
"The Blue Laws are absolutely essential to keeping Paramus livable and I will never stop fighting to make sure they are always here to protect our quality of life," Paramus Mayor Richard LaBarbiera said after a judge upheld the suspension.
Still, Shashoua is confident others will side with her. She and Modernize Bergen County plan to obtain 10,000 signatures for a petition to get a referendum on the ballot either this year or next year, and have already been in contact with some county malls, officials and chambers of commerce about the plan.
Bergen County has a long tradition with blue laws. The current law originated in the 1950s after the Garden State Plaza was built and became a popular destination for shoppers.
The blue laws have been challenged twice: once in 1980 and again in 1993. The plans to repeal the laws were defeated 192,394 to 157,648 in 1980 and 185,821 to 105,040 in 1993.
What do you think? Tell us in the comments below.
Pete Malvasi
9:13 am on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Amazing how this woman uses the word "modernize" to mean increased mindless material consumption, traffic congestion and polution and the break of at least one day of rest for workers and residents alike. Mindless.
abc
9:13 am on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Leave Bergen County peaceful on Sunday's.
Debby Nelson
9:42 am on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
With most people working, at the very least the home improvement centers should be open on Sunday. Most home repairs are performed on the weekends and it is a nuisance to create all "the pollution" to take the drive to Riverdale to get items required.
JP
10:03 am on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
You go girl! Our stores being open for a couple weekends after Sandy was proof enough that the county won't deteriorate because stores are open all week. We didn't have increased traffic, we didn't have panic, everything went smoothly. Even Paramus residents survived their self created, phoney, shopping apocalypse.
abc
1:10 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
All probably true, but remember, no one had enough gas to just go "shopping" and a couple weekends on the heels of the hurricane is hardly a large enough sample size to draw conclusions from.
Ted Baker
12:56 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
I like the Blue Laws, its one day a week where the roads aren't infested with shopaholics. Don't ruin "Sunday Driving" lady!
Karen K
1:03 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
It is really nice to be able to drive into NYC or visit a friend without sitting in mindless bumper to bumper shopper traffic. For those who can't stay away from the stores - or their schedule requires Sunday shopping - Wayne, Palisades, Short Hills are only a short car ride away. Sundays should be preserved.
JP
3:37 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Where do I sign the petition? Possibly create some new jobs, increase the county's cash flow, and give business owners the CHOICE to open or not.
Debby Nelson
3:37 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Dear Ted & Karen- Please re-read my message... I simply stated that the Home Improvemnet stores should be open without having to take a time consuming trip and postpone the repairs, especially if they are unexpected and you need parts. Not everyone has the pleasure of calling a repairman.
JP
6:18 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
As to the people complaining about Paramus traffic, you know as well as I do that most of that heavy traffic is caused by the thousands of people going to and coming from their jobs in the area, not the shoppers, On Saturdays you know that the traffic impact is greatly reduced and Sundays would be even less then Saturdays by nature. It's not a very concrete argument.
Bill Goffredo
9:29 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
If you really need to shop on Sunday, Passaic & Rockland counties are not that far away...and they have lots of stores... :)
Joanne Santoro
9:29 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
I am a retired corporate executive. The ONLY reason I am willing to work in a retail job (for 2 different companies) now is because I can't be forced to work on Sunday. I think I speak for many many retail employees when I beg you to Please leave the blue laws alone for us and all the reasons given above.
JP
10:16 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Joanne, while you may not want to work on Sunday, there may be an unemployed or under-employed person that does. It works both ways. All we are asking for is to give Bergen County business owners the option of opening or not as their choice.