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U.S. NEWS Tuesday 4 July 2017

Christie feels the heat politically after a day at the beach

By MICHAEL CATALINI Christie defended his visit in the day in Trenton. Then, the 2013 scheme by Chris- “It is hard to imagine a
Associated Press to the shore, saying that he when told of the photos, tie allies to close lanes and worse optic for public rela-
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — had previously announced his spokesman told NJ.com cause huge traffic jams at tions on a hot July day. Poll-
There’s Gov. Chris Christie, his plans to vacation at the that the governor was tell- the George Washington sters may find out how low
lounging in a beach chair state-owned governor’s ing the truth because he Bridge. approval ratings can go in
in the Oval Office. There he beach house and that the was wearing a baseball The sticking point in the New Jersey,” said Fairleigh
is again, sitting in the sand media had simply “caught hat during his 45-minute budget stalemate is Chris- Dickinson University politi-
as the lovers from the mov- a politician keeping his visit to the beach. tie’s demand that Horizon cal science professor Peter
ie “From Here to Eternity” word.” People in New Jersey and Blue Cross Blue Shield be Woolley.
roll around in the surf. And “That’s the way it goes,” beyond seized on what overhauled so that the “Because the story and
there he is, relaxing outside Christie said Saturday many saw as a let-them- state can tap into the non- the photos have gone na-
the meat store from “The tional, it makes it harder
Sopranos.” for Christie to rehabilitate
Christie is getting blis- his career outside of the
tered online and in the state.”
real world after he was Christie regularly says that
photographed with his the only time popularity
family soaking up the sun counts is when you’re run-
on a beach that he had ning for something — and
closed to the public over he’s not. “I don’t care,” he
the Fourth of July weekend said recently when asked
because of a government about the fall in his ratings.
shutdown. “The vast majority of New
A deeply unpopular Re- Jersey residents will care
publican serving out his much more about the
final six months in office, substance of the ultimate
Christie was lambasted resolution than about any
Monday as selfish and ar- of the weekend drama
rogant, and jokesters on- about where he was when
line inserted the picture he was not at the State-
of him in sandals, shorts house,” said Mike Du-
and a T-shirt into various Haime, a Christie political
photos and movie and TV adviser.
scenes.”Tell Gov. Chris- Among those affected by
tie: Get the hell off Island the shutdown were Cub
Beach State Park,” read a In this Sunday, July 2, 2017, photo, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, right, uses the beach with his Scouts forced to leave a
family and friends at the governor’s summer house at Island Beach State Park in New Jersey.
banner carried by a plane Christie is defending his use of the beach, closed to the public during New Jersey’s government state campsite and people
flying up and down the shutdown, saying he had previously announced his vacation plans and the media had simply trying to obtain or renew
New Jersey coast Monday. “caught a politician keeping his word.” motor vehicle documents.
The banner plane was (Andrew Mills/NJ Advance Media via AP) Liberty State Park was
paid for by Joshua Henne, closed, forcing the suspen-
a progressive New Jersey- about his family’s use of eat-cake gesture by the profit insurer’s surplus. sion of ticket sales and ferry
based political consultant, the beach house. “Run state’s chief executive. Christie’s approval rating is service to the Statue of Lib-
and mocked the time the for governor, and you can “Taxpayers can’t use the already at an abysmal 15 erty and Ellis Island. But the
tough-talking governor have the residence.” parks and other public percent, after three aides two sites remained open.
told people to “get the hell Later, after he was photo- sites they pay for, but he were convicted or plead- Prisons, state police, state
off the beach” during a graphed on the beach, and his family can hang ed guilty in the bridge scan- hospitals and New Jersey’s
hurricane in 2011. he sarcastically called it a out at a beach that no dal and after he threw his bus and commuter rail sys-
New Jersey state beach- “great bit of journalism.” one else can use?” asked support to Donald Trump tem are unaffected. The
es and parks were shut Christie’s picture was Mary Jackson, a Freehold when his own presidential vast majority of beaches
down over the weekend snapped from a plane Sun- resident. “Doesn’t he re- campaign fizzled. are open as well, since
along with motor vehicle day by NJ.com at Island alize how that looks, how He was passed over for most are controlled not by
offices and other services Beach State Park, where people will see it as a slap vice president and appar- the state but by towns up
deemed nonessential after he and his family had the in the face?” ently didn’t get the high- and down New Jersey’s
Christie and the Democrat- sun and sand to them- Online, people cracked level job in Washington 130 miles of coastline.
ic-controlled Legislature selves. jokes about the sight of that he wanted, but he has “Come and enjoy them,”
failed to agree on a bud- “I didn’t get any sun to- the heavyset Christie in a been mentioned as a pos- the governor tweeted
get for the new fiscal year day,” Christie told reporters beach chair. Others lik- sible late addition to the Monday morning, “but use
that began Saturday. at a news conference later ened the beach closing to Trump administration. sunscreen and hydrate.”q