US mayor ignores his own advice and travels for Thanksgiving

"I recognize that my decision has disappointed many who believe it would have been better to spend Thanksgiving alone"

The mayor of Denver, Colorado, has apologised for not following his own Thanksgiving travel advice. Democrat Michael Hancock told people to stay home and host "virtual gatherings" over the holiday. It then however emerged that Hancock had travelled to Mississippi to spend Thanksgiving with his wife and daughter. The mayor said that as his daughter had recently started working in Mississipi, it was safer for him to gothere, than have the two of them travel to Colorado. "I recognize that my decision has disappointed many who believe it would have been better to spend Thanksgiving alone," Hancock said in a series of tweets. "As a public official, whose conduct is rightly scrutinized for the message it sends to others, I apologize to the residents of Denver who see my decision as conflicting with the guidance to stay at home for all but essential travel." "I made my decision as a husband and father, and for those who are angry and disappointed, I humbly ask you to forgive decisions that are borne of my heart and not my head."

I fully acknowledge that I have urged everyone to stay home and avoid unnecessary travel. I have shared how my family cancelled our plans for our traditional multi-household Thanksgiving celebration. (1/5)

— Michael B. Hancock ? (@MayorHancock) November 25, 2020

What I did not share, but should have, is that my wife and my daughter have been in Mississippi, where my daughter recently took a job. As the holiday approached, I decided it would be safer for me to travel to see them than to have two family members travel back to Denver. (2/5)

— Michael B. Hancock ? (@MayorHancock) November 25, 2020

I recognize that my decision has disappointed many who believe it would have been better to spend Thanksgiving alone. As a public official, whose conduct is rightly scrutinized for the message it sends to others... (3/5)

— Michael B. Hancock ? (@MayorHancock) November 25, 2020