President Barack Obama and his family will not be vacationing on Martha’s Vineyard this summer as the presidential campaign becomes a bigger concern as Election Day approaches, The Boston Globe reports.
The White House travel office canceled security preparations as well as the Obama’s housing accommodations on the island.
“The word I have is that they are not coming this year,” said State Police Sergeant Thomas Medeiros, who said that the update came from the Secret Service.
Nancy Gardella, executive director of the Martha’s Vineyard Chamber of Commerce, is disappointed about the Obamas’ withdrawn visit, “I think the fun and the curiosity and the buzz that comes with this will be missed, quite frankly.”
Gardella said the White House had booked lodgings for the famous family for August but canceled those plans in May. She said not having the Obamas on the island will add a little flexibility to their end-of-summer economy, including the number of rooms available and additional income they can generate.
The cancellation will lessen any inconvenience on other visitors; For example, it will be easier to schedule tee times on the golf courses, meals will not be interrupted, and there will be less traffic without Secret Service putting a halt on other visitors’ plans.
The White House declined to comment to the Boston Globe Monday on the Obama family vacation cancellation.
The Obamas shacked up in the Blue Heron Farm for the past three summers, which offered rentals at $50,000 a week until a renowned British architect and his wife purchased the Farm in November for $21.9 million.