Source – People hoping to visit Island Beach State Park this holiday weekend were not allowed in because of the state government shutdown Gov. Chris Christie ordered amid the state budget standoff in Trenton.
But there was one family there: Christie’s. They are using the summer beach house provided by the state for a weekend down the Shore.
And here are exclusive aerial photos by NJ Advance Media showing Christie surrounded by wife, Mary Pat Christie, and others. (You can open the photo gallery here to see all the photos.)
It was taken early Sunday afternoon before the governor headed to Trenton to hold another news conference about the shutdown.
Chris Christie spends weekend in New Jersey state park after ordering state parks closed https://t.co/XSH9LPfvzd pic.twitter.com/jm1Vs54i6C
— The Hill (@thehill) July 3, 2017
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.”
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.”
Christie, who first disclosed his weekend plans on Monday, said Sunday he was taking the state helicopter to go back and forth between Island Beach State Park and Trenton.
.@AndyMills_NJ gets pics of Christie lounging on a state beach closed to the public during government shutdown https://t.co/FVfC5jkCdQ pic.twitter.com/kO1tDjOYM1
— Chris Megerian (@ChrisMegerian) July 2, 2017
To be fair, If I wielded the kind of power to shut down a beach for any reason at all that’s exactly where you would find me on a hot day. No crowds, No screaming kids or sky rats stealing your fries. Just you, your family and miles of uninhabited beach as far as the eye can see.
Sure it’s a massive dick move, but can you blame the man? Of course not and what’s more is the number of people that joined tons of fun at the beach. They all feel like they’re in on the joke and as most things like this go, rightfully so. To the victor go the spoils, and in this case, the Christie has a residence on the water, and I’ll be good god damned if I’m him and I’m not on the beach. It’s sunny and 80 degrees for Christ sake.
