New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie ordered all public beaches and state parks to close for the Fourth of July weekend due to a budget impasse. But shortly after the announcement on Saturday, he hopped in the state-owned helicopter and headed to the state-owned summer beach house at Island Beach State Park to join his family. Apparently draining state funds are A-OK for jaunting around in publicly owned helicopters and beach holidays.
At a second press conference on Sunday, Christie denied sunbathing on the closed beach when asked about his family’s holiday weekend. From NJ.com, who also captured the Christie family having a great day on their private beach:
At that news conference, Christie was asked if he got any sun Sunday.
"I didn't," he said. "I didn't get any sun today."
And then these photos emerged:
Later confronted with the photos, Christie’s spokesman offered a ridiculous explanation. Christie didn’t lie, he didn’t get any sun because he was wearing a hat. Here is the exact quote:
When later told of the photo, Brian Murray, the governor's spokesman, said: "Yes, the governor was on the beach briefly today talking to his wife and family before heading into the office."
"He did not get any sun," Murray added. "He had a baseball hat on."
When asked whether it was fair for his family to continue with their state-funded Fourth of July plans at the state-owned beach house, an arrogant Christie further angered residents:
“That’s just the way it goes,” Christie said when asked by a reporter about those concerns Saturday. “Run for governor and you can have a residence.”
Christie blamed the shutdown on Democrats, but locals weren't having it:
Denise Wirth, 57, of Lavallette, was furious Saturday. A 30-year full-time resident of Ocean County’s northern barrier Island, she said her feelings no doubt represented those of many other residents.
“It's seems so hypocritical to me that Governor Christie orders a state government shutdown — which included Island Beach State Park — affecting the livelihoods of business along the northern barrier island and the Fourth of July weekend plans of thousands of folks,” Wirth said. “Meanwhile, Governor Christie ignores his own New Jersey state shutdown and continues his Fourth of July weekend plans, taking residence of the governor’s mansion in Island Beach State Park for the weekend.”
Perhaps the state budget would not be at an impasse if the governor was not spending $400 to $700 million on renovations to the Statehouse, she lamented.