Nothing worse than government in your face, for no apparent reason. Monday evening, the Dartmouth Board of Selectmen voted Yes to allow some of their stores to open on this Black Friday at 1 AM. Yes, that's the Friday after Thanksgiving. The busiest shopping day/weekend of the year. Intro to Christmas season.

The Selectmen also voted to send letters out to stores announcing that in 2017, Black Friday shopping won't begin before 6 AM. Selectmen McDonald contends the early Black Friday takes time away for workers to be with their families on T-day, so they can make a "buck" for corporate America. Wow!

Selectmen Gracie believes the crowds lead to a public safety issue. After an incident a few years ago, the Board asked stores for a safety plan, inclusive of security. The stores complied, and this is how the Select Board rewards them.

Personally, I don't bother shopping on Black Friday. The crowds are too much. The prices are too high. Idiots abound! I'd just be one more of them.

There's no doubt I LMAO at the kids, teens and grown ups [hereinafter referred to as the "Fools"] out for the deals of the holiday century, I don't begrudge, and would never vote to stop this beginning of the holiday tradition. This is an area where government should butt out. Safety is important. Town leaders and police have remedied that situation. Let stores and employees decide who works. NOT little big GOVERNMENT!

There are ramifications if the stores don't open:

  1. Some employees lose out on commissions, as the Fools will venture to Fall River, Wareham, Providence and Taunton to get their Black Friday fix.
  2. Closely tied to #1. Times are tough. Forget the commissions. Workers need/want the hours for holiday shopping and to pay everyday bills. 
  3. The Kohl's and Walmarts of the world heavily depend on the Fools to help churn out their profit for the year. The more bucks that flee Dartmouth to other communities. the harder it is for management at the Dartmouth outlets to give holiday bonuses, afford to hire more help, etc. 
  4. Less money into store coffers makes it harder for stores to pay their tax bills. 
  5. This closed door Black Friday policy, could open the door for Target and others to find a more business and tax friendly environment. I wonder if the Select Board considered that!

The bottom line is the bottom line. Let the stores and employees handle the details of who works early on Black Friday. As for the Dartmouth Board of Selectmen, quit pretending you give a Pope's nose about workers not spending enough time with family on turkey day. 

 

 Brian Thomas, Brian's Beat, Monday-Friday, 10:00 AM-Noon [New Bedford Time]

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