As Long As We're Focusing On The Important Stuff

Ladies night is toast in New Jersey:

The state's top civil rights official has ruled that taverns cannot offer discounts to women on "ladies nights," agreeing with a man who claimed such gender-based promotions discriminated against men.

It went on:

David R. Gillespie said it was not fair for women to get into the Coastline nightclub for free and receive discounted drinks while men paid a $5 cover charge and full price for drinks.

In his ruling Tuesday, J. Frank Vespa-Papaleo, director of the state Division on Civil Rights, rejected arguments by the nightclub that ladies nights were a legitimate promotion. Commercial interests do not override the "important social policy objective of eradicating discrimination," he ruled.

Gov. James E. McGreevey criticized the decision, calling it "bureaucratic nonsense."

"It is an overreaction that reflects a complete lack of common sense and good judgment," McGreevey said in a statement.

The governor does not have the authority directly rescind the ruling. But he met with state Attorney General Peter C. Harvey on Wednesday, telling him that the civil rights division had better things to do with its time, said Micah Rasmussen, a spokesman for McGreevey.

A spokesman for Harvey did not immediately return calls seeking comment.

As long as everyone has their priorities straight...

Posted by Mitch at June 3, 2004 05:51 AM