Anti-Blue Law Group Gathers 1,200 Signatures

A group seeking to repeal Bergen County's Blue Laws has collected about 1,200 signatures of the needed 2,500 to get a referendum on the ballot in November.

Westwood resident Rosemary Shashoua, who founded the group, said their petition was aided by a particularly strong response at Teaneck's Memorial Day festival, where they collected about 400 signatures.

"It was fishing in a stocked pond," Shashoua said.

The group, called Modernize Bergen County, is setting their sights next on Fair Lawn's upcoming street fair and craft show. The event takes place on Fair Lawn Avenue and Plaza Road from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

"I'm hoping we'll do as well as we did in Teaneck," Shashoua said.

The group's efforts have sparked debate around the county. Paramus Mayor Richard LaBarbiera called their argument "ridiculous." Others, like Teaneck Councilman Elie Y. Katz, have said Blue Laws should be determined town-by-town, rather than at the county level.

If the group can get all the required signatures by September 30, they will get a referendum in front of voters across the county. Previous attempts to repeal Bergen's Blue Laws have not been successful, with similar initiatives defeated 192,394 to 157,648 in 1980 and 185,821 to 105,040 in 1993.

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