Jersey Shore Gives State Bad Image Says New Jersey Governor

Local businesses and residents of "Jersey Shore" film location Seaside Heights are reacting strongly to comments made over the weekend by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie who took a shot at the hit MTV reality show on ABC's "This Week."

The Governor was quoted as saying, "Negative for New Jersey. It takes a bunch of New Yorkers, drops them at the Jersey Shore, and tries to make America feel like this is the Jersey Shore. I can tell people, they want to know what New Jersey really is, I welcome them to come to New Jersey anytime. The Jersey Shore is a beautiful place."

The Governor went on to call the show a blight on his state, but a lot of business owners in Seaside Heights, where all the seasons of the show have been filmed, have a different opinion.

MTV News interviewed Maria Maruca, executive director of the Seaside Heights Business Improvement District, who said, "For Seaside Heights, the exposure has been good for us. The governor is expressing his opinion, and he does represent the entire state. I represent Seaside Heights."

Maruca also said the show always brings a flood of tourists who want to watch the show being filmed, mingle with the cast or just enjoy the city made famous again by the show. She also said many businesses are enjoying an economic boost when the production crew comes to town. Hotels get booked up and catering companies provide daily meals.

With the cast returning from filming in Miami earlier this year more tourists are expected to return to Seaside Heights.

Maruca went on to say, "Saturday evening, the cast did come down the boardwalk. They went to a local establishment called the Beach Bar for dinner. There was a buzz. There was a surge of people saying, 'Oh, there's the cast and crew! Let's follow them!' It has created a buzz within the town. We're hoping that will equate to more people coming down to see what it's all about."

Local residents have also said they don't mind the attention the show has brought to their small town and welcome the income the show has generated for local businesses. Several also pointed out to MTV News the Jersey Shore isn't just about people from New Jersey and the area attracts many from Pennsylvania and New York as well as from around the world.