Here's another Donovan flop, keep stores closed, people need gas!

I agree. We need gasoline! oh, yeah, and a little thing called electricity! Have to look at my sample ballot now........

Keep stores closed - keep people off the roads - focus on getting power back.

It's amazing how people don't think things through. Keeping stores closed in Bergen will actually WASTE gasoline this Sunday if people have to travel farther to the other counties for necessities or just for somewhere to go to keep warm.. Let's take this opportunity to eliminate the Blue Laws once and for all. They are an antiquity.

And if the stores don't have power or generators, they aren't opening whether they want to or not.

You need the bleeding heart liberal Bruce Springsteen to come to Bergen County. Tell him to get off of his political platform and shut off to get things done.

I agree. Can't take Bruce Springsteen any more. I had tickets to his last concert and GAVE them away. Tell him to shut his mouth and focus on what's really going on. I can't take him anymore.

Stupid, stupid, STUPID. I even made the decision not to drive anywhere that I don't positively have to, in order not to waste gas. Dumbass...

Attack someone as being a "bleeding heart liberal" who just pulled together a concert for charity as needing to "focus on what's really going on" in the middle of all the loss in the East Coast....shame on you. Really. How much have you done for others today?

Do u forget about the people that had damage done, or flooding that need to repair and clean up?? Would u like them to drive to NY waste more gas, or spend money in our towns and help the local businesses??

Think about it, everyone has different issues, some electric, gas, flooding or damaged property

Relax and help out where u can!!

Honestly, why do you need all the stores open this weekend? Blue Law should stay as it is and blue law or not - gas stations, supermarkets, and a variety of restaurants are open on Sunday including the movie theatre. Besides, residents need a break from all the traffic.

I am not in agreement with this, either - but I can understand the logic that says Bergen is making things more difficult for those that need to do repairs and don't want to drive. But we don't need the Garden State Plaza with open stores, or the Bergen Mall, or Paramus Park. No one is having an urgent need to stock up in Hot Topic or Abercrombie. People need hardware and generators and repair supplies, which would better be served by an edict to allow those things to be purchased on an emergency basis then just blanket permission to open.

I saw this request coming when the Record posted an article about the Plaza keeping the food court and part of the AMC wing open as a charging/warming station. Westfield does little out of altruism, and they probably see this as a means to bypass the law that Bergen County residents support if only to give them one day a week of traffic sanity.

Keep the stores closed. It's wrong to use a crisis to push your political agenda. The People want to keep these laws.

It's one day Paramus!! I respect the reasononing every other day of the year. But you can't deal with one Sunday out of many that have passed so that people have places to get what they need right now, really. You don't need to open every store in Paramus, You just need to open stores that that have certain items that are considered essential such as Lowes, Home Depot, or Dick's there's no reason that places such as Toys R Us or Jared need to open or be given the opportunity. Even keeping movie theaters open would be good as well so there is something for bored, cold, powerless familes to do. This doesn't have to be an all or nothing solution, which most people around here always seem to make an issue. Stop thinking one dimensional and look at the entire picture. I personally would like to be able to go locally for items tomorrow for a variety of reasons instead of having to waste time and gas to go to NY or out of Bergen County.

The traffic on Saturday would be far lighter if the stores were also open on Sunday. People would not feel the need to get all the shopping done on Saturday in one long, all day affair. Get rid of the Blue Laws and let the stores be open (or not if individual business owners prefer) and people will have the choice to shop either Saturday or Sunday or a little on each day, whatever is convenient for them. Nice to know Home Depot will be open in Mahwah on Sunday. Thanks for suspending the Blue Laws and let's work toward modernity and rid ourselves of Blue Laws entirely.

Listen Donovan is an idiot, home depot sure but do we really need malls open. We want people off the roads so pseg crews can work safely, I WANT MY POWER ON and so do thousands of others.

If six days of shopping aren't adequate to acquire all your material goods, then you have an organizational problem. Plan ahead and I bet you can do without sundays. It's the "one" day of peace & quiet in Paramus and I love it.

Normally I would say no way keep them closed, but under these circumstances they should be open! This would be a huge benefit to all Bergen County residents effected by the storm, especially the residents of Little Ferry, Carlstadt, S Hackensack, and Moonachie. These people need clean up, building, plumbing, heating, and electrical supplies. Often they're trying to work their full time jobs all week including Saturday's, and then trying to put there homes and lives together on a Sunday. I say loosen the blue laws until at least 12/31/12

It's ONE damn day!! And the clothing stores need to be open for those who lost EVERYTHING. My mother lost all her clothing because the water went into every drawer of every dresser. I can't believe the selfish comments from those who still have homes and all their possessions. You should be ashamed but I'm sure you won't, because you only think of yourselves.

Sally I complete respect and enjoy the Blue Law myself. It's nice to be able to navigate the roads much more easily. You are missing the overall picture. Paramus is one town of 82 in Bergen. Not everyone wants to invade you but would like every day possible to do whatever work they need to and have the access to tools and supplies. That slippery slope still has to pass a popular vote to completely repeal the law and as you know has been defeated multiple times before. No one is even trying to do that. As far as Donovan I think she needed to think it out a little better.

UPDATE: Donovan spokeswoman Jeanne Baratta said the county had not heard back from the state as of Saturday night. She said it was the county executive's way of showing support to towns that had asked that Blue Laws be waived.

If the state does agree to this, they should leave it up to the towns to decide if they want businesses open on Sundays. It might benefit some towns, but for others, like Paramus, it would just cause more problems.

All Home Depot's in Bergen County will be open this Sunday 11/4 from sunrise to sunset (approximately 6:30 AM - 5:00 PM). This includes Lodi, Hackensack, Paramus, and Mahwah. There are also charging stations set up in each store so the community may recharge their phones or whatnot.

Amazing. The antiquity is two 90 year old highway, power lines on poles versus underground. Maybe if we get state of the art infrastructure we can talk about openong stores on Sunday.

Dear Paramus...
Get with the program and stop your bellyaching. It's one day and it should be more. The reason is outdated and so is the current logic. Opening on Sundays will also create jobs for this area... Hello is that a bad thing??? Traffic will spread itself out and has a possibility of winding up better. Get with the program and stop the BS and being so selfish. If you choose not to shop on Sunday so be it, but there are others who choose to shop on Sunday and should have that option.

I for one am tired of hearing the denizens of Paramus crying about traffic! The Sunday Blue Laws are a joke and a religious artifact from the olden days. If you can't deal with the traffic on Sundays then you shouldn't have supported the politicians who decided to turn Paramus into one big strip mall for the unwashed masses--nor should you relish the tax breaks you derive from it. Let's face it you can't have your cake and eat it too--if it were up to me every store would have the option of being open 24/7 (it's called a free market folks and it works). Don't like it? Move to a town with fewer stores and pay higher taxes. Sunday is the best shopping day of the week and it's a joke that the good citizens of Paramus enforce religious dogma from the Dark Ages known as "Blue Laws" to limit traffic and now under the pretense of "saving gasoline." Want to save gas?? Limit your trips during the week to McDonald's for your Big Macs!

I remember as a kid going to Valley Fair in Hillsdale on a Sunday where you could buy just about anything in the world on a Sunday except clothing that was all covered up because of your "Blue Laws." And to illustrate how absurd these idiotic laws are you can buy the same exact pair of sneakers in a sporting goods store that you cannot buy in a shoe or department store. Get real!

Oh, one last thing--rest assured that the outdated Blue Laws of Bergen County will go the same way as the horse drawn carriage, though not soon enough for my taste!

If you don't like our LAWS move to New York, where you are free to enjoy higher Sales taxes and all the other garbage they put up with. And excuse us if we still believe in God & Country and wish to observe the Sabbath. Take your atheistic ways and move tto Russia or China if you don't like our way of life.

What exactly are atheistic ways? In my experience it's just no belief in god or religion. Do you mean satanist, or maybe anarchist, nihilist, communist, socialist, shoppinglist, ludicrous, instead of atheist? Just asking so I know what my ways are because I thought that belief in science, teaching my children morals, and trying to be a good person were my ways.

Too little too late anyway. Who will know now anyway, patch readers?

Maybe I am a little slow but why are Paramus people using the Wyckoff Franklin.Lakes Patch to voice opinions anyway? Just curious.

@Bernard: Folks that perpetrate your brand of dogma and make references to "God & Country" don't seem to have a clue regarding one of the founding principles of this country--the separation of Church and State! I believe in God and I also believe in my Country. My point is you are free to chose your religion, but don't impose your "Sabbath" on others. New York? Most, if not all of New Jersey, has no Blue Laws except Bergen County with Paramus enforcing them perhaps the most strictly because they've turned the town into a shoppers' Disney World, and this didn't happen overnight! Let's face it--forcing the closure of stores on "the Sabbath" is a clear violation of the separation of Church and State. It reminds one of the sort of law that would be passed by a band of Puritans in the days of old. The ones who whine about the traffic make no sense either--if you work full time, closing stores on Sundays reduces the amount of time you have to shop by 50%!! This is what, in my opinion, is causing Rt. 17 in Paramus to be choked with traffic on Saturdays! Yes, people will drive elsewhere on a Sunday (New York State, further south in NJ) spending their money elsewhere too taking money out of the pockets of Paramus businesses (I'll bet they love that in this lousy economy). Need a day off? Close your shop--no one is forcing you to keep your doors open, but by the same token, don't force a business to keep their doors shut.

Separation of Church and State is imperative for a functioning Democracy. If you feel the need to speak of "God & Country" as a singular perhaps you are the one that really ought to move elsewhere! Besides, if God were to come to Paramus on a Sunday, I'm sure even He would want to get some shopping done :)

Mr Lyons, you are truly an ass

Great idea to ease people getting to work Monday:-) we are almost there people! Now let's get that gas flowing!

Here's an idea...perhaps someone who would like to purchase underwear, socks, or t-shirts for children/people who have NONE could if the laws were waived....

WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO IS THERE IS NO REASON TO OPEN THE STORES ON SUNDAYS. ITS CALLED ORGANIZATION OF YOUR LIFE. KNOW WHAT YOU NEED MONDAY TO SATURDAY AND GO SHOP. IF I EVER NEED ANYTHING THAT BAD PATERSON LOWES IS OPEN AT 3% TAX ONLY... GO THERE. ITS RIGHT OFF RT 80... NO BIG DEAL.. ALSO YOU HAVE WAYNE, NY STATE. EMPLOYEES LOVE HAVING A DAY OFF TO BE WITH THEIR FAMILIES. I MYSELF HAVE TOLD MY KIDS DO NOT PICK A JOB WHERE YOU HAVE TO WORK ON SUNDAYS AND IT DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH RELIGION. ITS JUST TO HAVE A DAY OFF FROM SCHOOL AND WORK, TO HAVE TIME TO THEMSELVES, RNR..... SO THERE IS NO REASON TO GET NASTY, ITS ALL PERSONAL OPINIONS. I JUST KNOW THAT THE BERGEN COUNTY PEOPLE KNOW THAT THEY SHOULD GET WHATEVER THEY NEED MONDAY TO SATURDAY, IT'S NOT A SUPRISE THAT SUNDAY IS CLOSED....COME ON PEOPLE, LETS THINK OF OTHERS, WE HAVE BECOME THE MOVIE MAD MAX WITH MEL GIBSON... WE ARE BETTER THEN THAT. WHAT ARE WE SHOWING OUR KIDS. HAVE A HEART, LETS NOT LOOSE ALL COMPASSION FOR OTHERS.... THINK OF ALL THESE PEOPLE THAT DO NOT HAVE HOMES ANYMORE, BE GREATFUL THAT YOU DO HAVE SOMETHING TO GO SHOPPING FOR.... I KNOW A 19 YEAR OLD BOY THAT HAS CANCER AND HAS TO GO BACK AND FORTH TO NY FOR TREATMENTS, THINK OF WHAT THE PARENTS ARE GOING TO DO FOR GAS FOR TRAVEL.......THERE ARE MORE IMPORTANT THINGS GOING ON IN LIFE.... BE SAFE EVERYONE, TAKE CARE.

If the purpose is to get people back on their feet faster, wouldn't it be more beneficial to have all county and municipal office open 7 days a week? That's something Donovan could probably do right away.

These lame blue laws from 1650 should just go. If you want a quiet, family Christian Sunday, then stay home with your family and don't go shopping. Others who work on Saturday need to do things on Sunday without driving to the next county. This issue is so ridiculous to the point of nausea already.

Way to stay on topic everyone.

I don't see why we have to be a 24/7 society. Except for the people that have become so addicted to their techno phones, ipads, etc.....check out how much time you waste on those things. Then maybe you'll see why you think you need another day of open stores.

Erik stop being an ass, blue laws have been voted on by Bergen County more then once. If you want to change it get it on the ballet and vote "NO", otherwise stop complaining it is what it is!

The Blue Laws should be removed in general, they are outdated

Kevin but it appears they are not outdated, since the people in Bergen County keep voting it down!

Hey, does this ease the tension here? The point is for people to be able to get what they need and now Hackensack will NOT enforce Blue Laws today and thus are implying permission for stores to open. I am sure other towns will also do that even if Paramus won't (and not judging here). Bottom line is if we have several towns 'not enforce' the blue laws, people can get what they need likely even closer to home and it does not have to be a Paramus issue. I am running on a generator and expected date for power is 11/11 so I would rather concentrate on O&R being useless.
http://www.northjersey.com/news/176980541_Hackensack_won_t_enforce_Blue_Laws_on_Sunday___We_have_out_hands_full___official_says.html

Target is open in paramus and so is costco...hoping people will get what they need.

Bernard Lyons quote:"I think we residents in Paramus wish...to keep our Blue Laws then who the hell gives any out of towner the right to tell us how to live.
Begone Satin!"

Mr. Lyons, what do you have against "satin?" It's a fine, smooth fabric that I'd like to be able to buy any day of the week should I be in desperate need of it. I won't go to Paramus, however, since I almost never shop there. I shop in my own town, in Bergen County, where the Blue Laws are hindering my ability to shop for "satin" on Sundays. God forbid.

i know that it's mostly corporate greed that is making the businesses themselves want to drop the blue law however kudos to the businesses that are opening. Screw the people of Paramus today, I am sick of their bitching. Let the stores take a risk on the fine. If they get fined then get your trial by jury... no one will EVER let that ticket stand with a guilty verdict (unless the jury is from Paramus or the store sold things that were unnecessary)

Saw a bumper sticker yesterday, "The Founding Fathers were Right Wing Extremists" As if today's right wing republicans are anything like America's Founding Fathers. HA! They'd be rolling over in their graves at the comparison. Church and State separation was imperative in their beliefs. Not so, of today's right wing extremist. Thank goodness for people like Erik Friis. I'm not alone here in Bergen with the fundamentalists.

More info.. .Officials in Mahwah, Lyndhurst and Hackensack have said they won't enforce Blue Laws on Sunday. NJ.com

Just unbelievable! This isn't about loosening restrictions for people to start their Christmas shopping. This is because of a Federal Disaster!!

Because of this storm there are so many people in need of clothing, cleaning products, building, electrical, and plumbing materials. Remember most of these people are trying to rebuild there homes while holding full time jobs, waiting on insurance adjustors, Fema Reps, contractors, and utility crews. They're limited on available time, and don't have the luxury of planning there shopping schedules! If you've never been through something like this, you can't understand how precise time is!

I don't think Blue Laws should be permanently removed, although they SHOULD be loosened for at least the rest of this year!

I do think the Blue Laws should be permanently removed. This article brought up the topic. Again, not a fan of shopping in Paramus. I shop mainly in my own town in Bergen County. My guess is the law will be repealed at some point; it's just a matter of when.

@Q: LOL...don't mind him--he's just ignorant, besides I found USA1's well reasoned retort much more compelling "Erik stop being an ass" :)

Must be mainly retirees attempting to make the case that we all have 6 days to shop--I commute to NYC every weekday, so my shopping time in my home county is limited to ONE day--Saturday. The Blue Laws of Bergen County are a relic of society that thankfully don't exist in many places in this country. The good news is that as the proverbial "torch is passed" to new generations of voters the Bergen County Blue Laws will be nothing but a curious footnote in the local history books. I've been a resident of Bergen Country now for almost 50 years and have always been (as well as voted) against them.

It's good to know in this time of disaster I will be able to buy new napkin rings and placemats but can not get a copy of my birth certificate, a building permit for repairs, or any other legal document.

Blue Laws are NOT necessary. For all of the people in favor of Free enterprise, it should be a business's decision whether to be open on a Sunday; it is also a decision for small family owned businesses. Big Box, small box stores, they make decisions in a Free Enterprise economy. It is NOT the Republicans, Democrats, religious or secular associations' authority decide what days a business operates.

As someone - who doesn't live in Paramus - who has voted EVERY time to keep the Blue Laws, I have no objection to allowing stores to open for this one Sunday during an extreme emergency. Until we got our power back, I was thinking of going over to the GSP to charge my electronics, to walk around & maybe get a bite to eat in the light instead of the dark.

To those who don't live in this area, you've no idea what a relief Sunday brings when you need to get around - especially from Nov - Dec. The traffic is horrendous and a good portion of the license plates are from NY. I live in Fair Lawn and we get the traffic overflow and so does Saddle Brook, Rochelle Park and other towns that border Paramus. We had nothing to say about the building of the malls, nor do we get any tax benefit from having those stores as neighbors. I could care less about any religions significance - that's not why we want the stores closed. It's a quality of life issue. It's one day to not have to deal with the traffic in the most congested county in the most congested state in the nation (or at least pretty near the top). If you don't want the stores closed or you absolutely need to shop on Sunday, I suggest you investigate living somewhere else. Our taxes are very high - you'll save yourself some money and get some cars off our roads. The people of Bergen County have decided time and time again that we want the stores closed on Sunday. It's where we live and how we chose to spend our lives.

Erik your church and state ramble was silly and that is why you were being an ass! But I am glad to know you vote for the removal of blue laws in Bergen County. So it appears you have been a loser for the almost 50 years you have lived in Bergen County.

@Sally G: Your quality of life would be even better without the Blue Laws. When the Blue Laws are revoked, you will have approximately half the traffic now experienced on Saturdays since about half the people may choose to shop on a Sunday instead. Employees could work either Saturday or Sunday or both, if they choose. In other states, time and 1/2 pay is offered for workers on a Sunday.

Erik's attempt to change his corner of the world by educating the masses is commendable. Almost 50 years in Bergen County and it hasn't warped his mind. Wonderful news; not a loser at all.

Ditto, what Kevin said.

@USA1: Let me tell you something, it's because there are more "losers" like me around than people like you that you are able to come on this forum and call me or anyone else a "loser" without incident as opposed to having been hauled off in leg irons and thumb screws.

@Kevin and Q: Tthanks for your well reasoned posts and support

@SallyG: Please provide a reference to that "report." I doubt many stores want to be forced to be closed one day a week, but would much rather have the choice of when to be closed. The Mom & Pop shops don't compete with the big box stores (they can't)--they operate in niche markets. Case in point: Tool Town on Rt. 17 Sourh in Paramus has been in business for decades. Even with Home Depot and another national chain "Woodworker's Warehouse" opening right across the highway (and subsequently going out of business in just a few short years) Tool Town is still happily in business and profitable. Having a choice to be open on a Sunday, knowing the owner, he would probably choose to be closed, but I know Home Depot would love to be open. And it sure is handy when you're working on a project or out in the yard and you need that special sized screw or tool, to be able to buy it. I have too often been frustrated at not being able to get something I need at my own local Home Depot (and we don't have traffic issues--just shackled by these absurd Blue Laws) and have to drive to Nanuet instead.

The Valley Fair examplefrom my youth was absurd--you could buy a toy, a tool, or a toilet seat, but you could not buy a T-shirt on Sunday! Enough said!

Kevin do you have supportive data that the traffic will be half on Sunday if the blue laws are repealed? Come on son you are making a huge assumption. But gentleman since 1957 it has been in place and has been voted to keep it, have it put on the ballet and see what it does again!

OMG,,,when I can't get a nail, tool, or piece of lumber on a sunday...it's like the end of the world!! During time of disaster like this past week,,,sure,,people need those supplies. But, lets put this into perspective,,,,,,,your little weekend project is not the end of the world if it has to wait till monday in normal times.
The generation of instant gratification will not be put out. Learn to relax alittle will ya!

@recipeaddict: I guess you missed the point: I work full-time, I can only work on home improvements, projects, etc. on the weekends. 50% of my free time is impacted by these ridiculous Blue Laws!

Christie Suspends Bergen Blue Laws

Governor says easing Sunday sales restriction will help with storm recovery

Note to self: Don't ever vote for Dennis McNerney :)

Sally really Dennis? Come on the bug eyed control freak is one thing but Dennis was useless....

Sally Donovan makes me sick and I voted for her, extremely tired her wanted to hear her own voice and prove how big her balls are compared to the men in Bergen County. That said she does some things well and I agree I don't like how she spends our money on lawsuits and BS red tape. I support the blue laws and as I always said put it back on the ballet and lets vote again, if the county votes it down then I will live with Sunday shopping otherwise the people of Bergen County have spoken until next time it pops up.

you people in Paramus approved having all these malls and shop centers many years ago. You all make me sick how many NEW JERSEY PLATES I SEE IN PALISADES MALLS PARKING LOTS ON A SUNDAY AND YOU CANT HANDLE TWO WEEKS OF YOUR MALLS BEING OPEN SUNDAY, YOU ALL SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELVES WHAT PEOPLE HAVE LOST IN SOUTH JERSEY STATEN ISLAND AND THE ROCKAWAYS AND YOU ALL ARE BITCHING ABOUT YOUR STUPID BLUE LAWS BEING SUSPENDED. RESIDENTS OF PARAMUS GROW UP ITS TIME THAT PARAMUS OPENS ON SUNDAY.

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