Connecticut beach bums were steaming yesterday that President Obama’s trip to tony Westport for a big-bucks fund-raiser caused the closure of two public beaches — nixing plans for summertime fun so the campaigner-in-chief could glad-hand with A-listers at Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein’s waterfront house.
Some local residents who had geared up for a day at Burying Hill Beach were miffed by the closure of the popular stretch nestled next to the Westport mansion where Weinstein hosted one of two Obama fund-raisers last night.
“We support Obama, but it’s annoying that on a nice summer day like this, we can’t even go to this beach,” said Robby Herman, 18, who was with three pals.
Along with the town beach, Connecticut Gov. Dan Malloy agreed to shut down the 238-acre Sherwood Island State Park, to clear space for Obama’s chopper to land.
“As a lifeguard for Westport, it hurts the town’s income,” fumed Kyle Mendelson, 21, at nearby Compo Beach, which remained open.
“So when a man closes two government-run beaches, it’s not cool.”
Connecticut House Minority Leader Lawrence Cafero Jr. (R-Norwalk) fumed, “It is outrageous that the Democrats turn Sherwood Isle into a personal heliport for the president.”
At the fund-raiser at Weinstein’s mansion, Obama praised attendee Anne Hathaway for her performance as “Catwoman” in “The Dark Knight Rises,” saying the actress was “the best thing in it.”
Meanwhile, F-15 fighter jets intercepted two small planes after they flew into airspace restricted because of the presidential visit. There did not appear to be criminality in either incident, WABC/Channel 7 reported.