San Jose, California, Mayor Sam Liccardo can officially add his name to the list of politicians and officials who were outed for flouting coronavirus restrictions.
The Democrat apologized to constituents on Tuesday in a lengthy statement about his recent Thanksgiving gathering with family, which ran “contrary to the rules.”
“I apologize for my decision to gather for Thanksgiving with my family, contrary to the rules,” he tweeted. “I understand my obligation as a public official to provide exemplary compliance w/ public health orders, & not to ignore them. I commit to do better.”
Mr. Liccardo’s story echoes similar incidents involving House Speaker Nancy Pelosi at a hair salon and California Gov. Gavin Newsom at the posh Napa County restaurant The French Laundry.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl also visited Il Forno Trattoria in Santa Monica hours after voting, for all intents and purposes, to shut it down for three weeks.
“Eight of us representing five households sat around three distanced tables in our own family groups on the back patio, and we wore masks when not eating,” the mayor wrote. “I have a very large family — I am one of five children — and several of our family members who would have joined us for Thanksgiving in the past—including sisters, nephews, nieces and cousins — stayed home out of caution.”
Mr. Liccardo then acknowledged that his gathering was in violation of state regulations issued Nov. 13 that limit “the number of households at a private gathering to three.”
A spokesperson for Ms. Kuehl told a local Fox affiliate that dining at Il Forno was “permissible” since her meal took place prior to new rules going into effect.
“She did dine al fresco at Il Forno on the very last day it was permissible,” the spokesperson said. “She loves Il Forno, has been saddened to see it, like so many restaurants, suffer from a decline in revenue. She ate there, taking appropriate precautions, and sadly will not dine there again until our Public Health Orders permit.”
I apologize for my decision to gather for Thanksgiving with my family, contrary to the rules. I understand my obligation as a public official to provide exemplary compliance w/ public health orders, & not to ignore them. I commit to do better. My statement: pic.twitter.com/LFhX2LCUf3
— Sam Liccardo (@sliccardo) December 1, 2020
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
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