Paramus Mayor Calls Blue Laws Repeal Argument 'Ridiculous'
Mayor Richard LaBarbiera stands strong in support of the Blue Laws in Bergen County and Paramus and defends the residents who have been criticized for "whining" in defense of their peace and quiet.
Paramus Mayor Richard LaBarbiera is calling Westwood resident Rosemary Shashoua's argument to repeal county Blue Laws "ridiculous."
During Tuesday's council meeting, the mayor defended the Blue Laws and the Paramus residents who have been criticized for wanting to keep peace and quiet in this town on Sundays.
"Don't worry about Paramus and we won't worry about what you do in your town," said LaBarbiera.
"I won't stop whining as some outsiders have challenged us," said the mayor referring to the hefty debates that have been going on in the comment sections of recent articles and on Facebook pages
Shashoua's group "Modernize Bergen County" has the goal of repealing Bergen County's blue laws via a voter referendum on the premise that allowing shops to open on Sundays would create more jobs and bring more money into the area that may be spent in other counties or New York.
The mayor says one of the biggest reasons people move to Paramus is because stores are only open 6 days a week. He's also been greeted by employees of retail stores who have told him how happy they are that they have Sundays off. It is also why many businesses choose to come to Paramus, he says.
Former Councilman Sam Cassiello said Bergen Blue Laws have been challenged before, they have been upheld and knows Paramus will see to it that it continues.
"Don't waste your time and energy with petitions," said Casiello.
Former Mayor Jim Tedesco echoed the same message telling LaBarbiera he knows Paramus will continue to protect the Blue Laws and will overcome this challenge.
The blue laws have been challenged twice before: 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.
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21st century concerned citizen
5:52 pm on Friday, January 25, 2013
Typical mayor of a small town. If he wasn't mayor of Paramus, probably would have been mayor of Mayberry RFD. If Paramus were not fortunate enough to be next to Route 4 and Route 17 it would not be a retail hub, it probably would not have any retail. See the big picture instead of talking about car traffic. There would be more job opportunties in your town. Or do you not care about jobs??
Dana Egbert
10:58 am on Sunday, January 27, 2013
Yippie for you winning dumb post of the year! Most people in the "21st Century" shop online. Nice to see you don't care about quality of life.
21st century concerned citizen
5:52 pm on Friday, January 25, 2013
By the way mayor. You do have Food Stores in your town that sell product that prohibited by your Blue Laws on Sundays. Residents of Paramus work from home on Sundays which is also against your antiquated laws. Is there a double standard??
William Lang
10:58 am on Sunday, January 27, 2013
Keep the Blue laws - we do not another day of shopping traffic (not just in Paramus) but in all of Bergen County on Sundays...Leave Sundays for visiting with family and friends and recreation w/o more traffic...Bergen County gets nothing for adding another shopping day...now if the stae shared sales tax revenue with the local communities, that would be a horse of another color...but all we get is more costs and no value! as for JOBS - no real new jobs would be created as - oh yes folks would get a few more hours - but still only part time pay with no benefits...and more costs to the taxpayers of Bergen County...