Mayor Steve Adler of Austin, Texas, apologized Wednesday after he filmed himself telling residents to “stay home” while vacationing in Mexico.
In a YouTube video posted Wednesday, the Democratic mayor said he regrets traveling to Cabo San Lucas after his daughter’s wedding in early November as he was urging people to avoid nonessential travel.
“I’ve been in the news today,” Mr. Adler said in the video. “The first week of November, my daughter got married here in Austin, and like many other brides, she had to cancel her original plans in order to follow the rules, and instead she had a small, mostly family, very private wedding.”
“Afterwards, a small, mostly family group traveled to Mexico,” he continued. “I want you to know that I regret that travel. I wouldn’t travel now. I didn’t over Thanksgiving, and I won’t over Christmas, and no one should. Everyone should be avoiding nonessential travel now because we’re in the orange area.”
Orange is Stage 4, or the second-highest risk level, on the Austin Public Health color-coded chart, CNN reported. At the time of the mayor’s trip, Austin was in Stage 3, when people were being advised not to gather in groups larger than 10.
“I fear that the travel that I did which took place during a safer period, followed the color-coded rules, could lead to some taking riskier behavior now,” Mr. Adler said in his video. “I recognize that my travel set a bad example. I recognize that the fact that I took that trip, and at the same time, was continuing to urge people to be cautious is confusing. I know that others have chosen not to travel under the same circumstances, and I know that in my position, I need to send a clearer message. I’m sorry I took that trip. It was a lapse in judgment, and I want you to know that I apologize.”
