Civil what?

Civil unions are now lawful in New Jersey, and New York's Mayor Bloomberg has said he will make New York City recognize them even though New York State has no similar law. However, it may not be as easy as all that. The Bergen Record inquired at several town governments in New Jersey and got these responses:

At times, even municipal employees were unprepared.

"Civil what?" asked the operator at the Hackensack City Hall on Tuesday. "You mean marriages?"

"A civil union?" asked the operator at Paterson City Hall. "What's that?"