Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman, during an appearance on CNN with Anderson Cooper, suggested that reopening businesses safely lies in the hands of the business owners rather than officials.
Cooper began the interview by addressing Mayor Goodman's desire to open up casinos in Las Vegas amid the coronavirus pandemic. Cooper pointed out that hundreds of thousands of people would be coming from out of state to stay in a crowded environment, touching the same slot machines, and breathing the same recirculated air.
In response to Cooper's questions, Mayor Goodman said, "Know what it sounds like? You're being an alarmist."
Mayor Goodman clarified that she's in favor of social distancing, but when Cooper went on to ask how Mayor Goodman suggested they might enforce social distancing at casinos, Goodman responded, "That's up to them to figure out. I don't own a casino."
Cooper then pointed out that as the mayor, Goodman would be responsible for the safety of the community members. "I am not a private owner," Goodman retorted. "That's the competition in this country - the freedom, the free enterprise, and be able to make sure that what you offer the public meets the needs of the public."
She continued, "Right now, we're in a crisis health-wise, and so for a restaurant to be open or a small boutique to be open, they better figure it out. That's their job. That's not the mayor's job."