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Report: Bergen County, N.J. To Reinstate Blue Laws This Week

HACKENSACK, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Bergen County, N.J. this week will reinstate its Blue Laws that ban retail shopping on Sundays, according to a published report.

NorthJersey.com reported Gov. Chris Christie has agreed to reinstate the Blue Laws at the request of Bergen County Executive Kathleen Donovan.

Christie temporarily suspended the blue laws after Donovan made the request in the wake of Superstorm Sandy.

Officials in Paramus, where the laws are stricter than the county rules, unsuccessfully challenged the directive. They fear that some may use the storm as an excuse to weaken the blue laws, which were enacted 60 years ago.

"Instead of worrying about whether or not jewelry can be sold in Paramus she should worry about providing power back to the many residents who are sitting home in the cold and dark," Paramus Mayor Rich LaBarbiera said on Saturday.

The state judge denied the challenge from Paramus officials, citing "unprecedented damage" caused by Sandy.

Meanwhile, Bergen County residents took advantage of the temporary blue laws suspension, with the Home Depot on Route 17 a popular destination for those still cleaning up from Sandy.

Some Bergen County residents told WCBS 880's Jim Smith said the temporary suspension should become permanent to help the county's economy.

Do you support the blue laws or do you think they should be repealed? Sound off in the comments section below...

(TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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