NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – Thousands of businesses across New Jersey could reopen in the coming days in defiance of Gov. Phil Murphy’s shutdown orders over the coronavirus, according to a social media movement.
Ridgewood salon owner Jack Panico told 1010 WINS that Main Street merchants need to hear from the governor.
“He has to give an answer. He has to give us a date. People are at the end of their rope. They have to open or they can’t survive,” Panico said.
But Murphy’s mantra has been “data determines dates.”
In a statement to NBC New York, Murphy's office said: "In order to restore economic health, we must first promote public health. These key principles and metrics are critical for giving New Jerseyans confidence that we will re-open our state with our public health protocols firmly in place and our health care system prepared. Restarting New Jersey’s economy and returning people to work will be done methodically, strategically, and responsibly."
Panico said thousands of small businesses across the state could go rogue and reopen on June 1. He said “some people already did open and he doesn’t even know it.”
Panico said the business owners are “over it.”
“Open us up. There you go. We’re ready. The data says that we’re here, we’re ready to go,” Panico said.
West Caldwell jeweler Michael Corbo said the curve has been flattened and that the “chaos that will ensue from the fallout of not reopening is going to be far worse than what the virus has done.”
“I’m going to lose my business if I can’t get back to business,” Corbo said.
While Murphy has said reopenings could begin in the coming weeks, he hasn’t set a date.