Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman is facing harsh criticism after a viral interview Wednesday night, where she told CNN's Anderson Cooper that she tried to offer up the city as a "control group" amid the coronavirus pandemic.
"I want us open in the city of Las Vegas so our people can go back to work," Goodman told Cooper. When asked how it would be possible to open up casinos while still prioritizing everyone's safety (by implementing social distancing), she simply replied, "That's up to them to figure out. I don't own a casino."
The backlash was pretty much immediate.
Other elected officials and representatives of Las Vegas quickly released statements condemning her sentiments, noting that as mayor, she has no power or jurisdiction over the Las Vegas Strip [which lies outside city limits].
Calls for Goodman to resign are still pretty loud, though.