With parks closed and no chance to get a driver's license, people angry at shutdown

North Jersey awoke Saturday to the first day of a state government shutdown, a day many had planned to use to either kick-start the Fourth of July holiday at a park or run some errands at state offices.

The shutdown scuttled those plans. 

A dispute between Gov. Chris Christie, a deeply unpopular governor in the final months of his second term, and the Democratic leader in the Assembly, Vincent Prieto, has blocked the Legislature from passing a state budget. Their fight is over a plan to overhaul control of the state’s largest health insurer, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, a nonprofit that operates under special state laws. 

With no new spending plan, Christie ordered all non-essential state services halted at midnight Saturday. That meant no state parks, no chance to renew a driver's license and no work for nearly all state employees.

At the entrance to Liberty State Park in Jersey City, an electronic sign notified visitors the park was closed. Across the cobblestone street, someone had attached fliers blaming Prieto for the park’s closing. Christie approved 500 of the posters to be attached to state buildings.

Three cyclists huddled in a small patch of grass figuring out what to do and where to ride after the officer at the entrance had informed them that the park was closed because of the shutdown.

One cyclist, Neville L’Green, said he thought it was ironic that the government shutdown occurred on Fourth of July weekend.

“My thought is the reason they’ve shut down is they haven’t got a budget,” L’Green said, leaning on his bike. “So they’ve shut down on the weekend that generates the most money for the state. So that’s pretty stupid.”

L’Green, of Grove Street, said that he usually uses the park a few times a week during the summer. 

Recent transplant Wendy Schoeler, who moved to Jersey City two months ago, said she would go on runs regularly at the riverside park.

 “I guess Chris Christie is the problem, right?” Schoeler said. “I don’t know, it just seems like really bad timing. Fourth of July weekend. You don’t want to be in the park? And we can’t go to the beaches now, apparently.”

Although many of the beaches in the state are municipal property, some beaches, like Island Beach State Park, are state-owned and are closed.

New Jersey state shutdown: Here's what you need to know

Along with providing expansive green space, the park also gives visitors on the New Jersey side access to Ellis Island. The historic landmark brings local visitors, as well as from far away.

“This is one of Jersey city’s biggest attractions,” said Jake Hornstein. “We just saw a car with Canadian license plates. Just to see it.”

For many, the weekends are the only time they can make it to local department of motor vehicle offices. 

At the Motor Vehicle Commission on Mill Street in Lodi, some cars were being turned away by a Lodi police officer patrolling the lot, notifying them of the government shutdown. Others made it as far as the front door, where they were greeted by locked doors with the sign blaming Prieto, D-Secaucus.

“We gotta get rid of these guys,” said Tim Kosturko, as he got back in his van. “We’re paying these people. We’re paying for this motor vehicle. What the hell’s going on here.”

Many people came to renew their license and were wondering what would happen if they were pulled over with an expired license.

“We need it,” said Norma Villasanta, of Garfield. “What are you going to do? The police is going to stop you, ticket you and send you to court.”

The Lodi office is unique and normally busy because it is one of the only offices in the area with a driving test course. Carrying his driver’s permit, which he had received Friday, Julian Henao was there to complete the process and run through the course. Henao, 17, had come from Wallington and wouldn’t be able to.

“I have to take my driver’s license test,” Henao said. “I would have to wait until they re-open?"

When told he’d have to wait until a budget was approved, Henao sighed.

“You’re kidding.”