Politics & Government

N.J. Legislator Wants to Declare Aug. 14 'Half St. Valentine's Day'

Assemblyman: 'halfway' Valentine's day would mean holiday could be celebrated during better weather

As state officials continue to debate the finer points of Superstorm Sandy recovery, public pension reform and stricter gun control measures, there's a much "sweeter" proposal pending in the hallowed halls of the statehouse these days.

Everyone has likely heard of "Christmas in July," but if one North Jersey state Assembly member's resolution passes, it will be Half St. Valentine's Day on Aug. 14 in the Garden State.

Assemblyman Jack McKeon (D-Essex) quietly introduced a resolution May 22 that would officially designate Aug. 14 as Half St. Valentine's Day, apparently inspired by the revenue-generating record of the actual Valentine's Day celebrated on Feb. 14.

The resolution was spurred, according to its text, by foul weather on Valentine's Day during 2013 and 2014 – "a day that produced freezing cold temperatures and was in the midst of multiple snow storms."

"The harsh weather in New Jersey on Valentine’s Day caused many residents to change their holiday plans and, as a result, many businesses were adversely impacted and saw reductions in customer traffic and revenues compared to prior years," the resolution goes on to say.

Celebrating the halfway holiday "will allow residents throughout the State to enjoy the spirit of Valentine’s Day without the harsh conditions of winter," and generate revenue for businesses.

One New Jersey community, the borough of Roseland in Essex County, passed its own local resolution that designated Aug. 14 as Half St. Valentine's Day for the same purposes as stated in McKeon's resolution.

The Assembly member told The Star-Ledger that the resolution will not be his "crowning achievement in the legislature" but will hopefully be taken up by business owners and local chambers of commerce.

According to the weather website Weather Underground, McKeon was correct about the frigid temperatures. In the state capital, the low was 27 degrees this past Feb. 14; the aforementioned Roseland dropped down to 25 degrees, and closer to the Shore, Toms River bottomed out at 24 degrees.


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