Sunday cuts: Gov. Cuomo repeals 'archaic' measure that barred barbershops from opening

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has removed a measure from the books that technically kept barbershops closed on Sundays.

News 12 Staff

Jul 14, 2021, 10:07 PM

Updated 1,241 days ago

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Gov. Andrew Cuomo has removed a measure from the books that technically kept barbershops closed on Sundays.
Up until Tuesday, it was technically illegal for barbershops statewide to operate on Sundays.
Cuomo issued a statement saying in part, "This is the very definition of an archaic and meaningless law that makes little to no sense in the 21st century."
Barber Antoine Dubois believes the repeal is the right move.
"Barbers were hit very hard during the quarantine, a lot of us are still playing catch up in terms of bills that weren't paid on time so forth,” says Dubois. “To be able to open on Sundays without any fear of repercussions is great.”
The owners of Yonkers Finest Barbershop say they had no idea they were breaking the law by doing business on Sundays for 16 years.
"Sundays we're very busy because people come out of the church or people go to the church, before they go to church they want to look clean, they come in here for a haircut,” says barber Sam Rafailov.
The new law allowing barbershops to open on Sundays takes effect immediately.