Denver mayor flies to Mississippi for Thanksgiving after advising against travel

Denver Mayor Michael Hancock (D) flew to Mississippi on Wednesday for Thanksgiving after telling people to avoid travel if possible, The Denver Post reported.

Mike Strott, a spokesman for Hancock’s office, said there was no contradiction between the mayor’s trip and his advice, noting that Hancock will spend the holiday with only his wife and one of his daughters. Hancock ordinarily hosts up to 50 members of his family, according to the newspaper.

“(Hancock) has told people to rethink their Thanksgiving plans. He has also said that if you do travel to follow health and safety guidelines and the mayor will still follow health and safety guidelines upon his return,” Strott told the newspaper.

Strott said the mayor intended to “follow all necessary health and safety guidance and quarantine” upon returning to Denver.

Hancock also tweeted Wednesday that Denverites should “avoid travel, if you can” and was met with a “ratio” of 60 likes versus over 600 replies.

Pass the potatoes, not COVID.

️Stay home as much as you can, especially if you’re sick.
Host virtual gatherings instead of in-person dinners.
❌Avoid travel, if you can.
Order your holiday meal from a local eatery.
Shop online with a small business for #BlackFriday. pic.twitter.com/acQpWs2Ism

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

Like numerous other state and local officials, Hancock has warned against large holiday gatherings, saying in November that while “we’re not going to sit here and tell you that Thanksgiving is canceled in Denver,” he wanted “to urge everyone to think differently about Thanksgiving this year,” according to the Denver Channel.

“And after the meal, as we’re gonna do, Zoom with your extended family — all your friends, everyone that you meet, and tell them that you look forward to seeing them real soon, and that maybe next year, maybe next year, we can all be together again,” Hancock added.

Denver County has seen a total of 33,971 coronavirus cases and 510 deaths as of Wednesday. Colorado overall has seen 208,000 cases and 2,868 deaths.

Hancock’s travel came shortly after California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) was heavily criticized for attending a dinner party, for which he later apologized, and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) said his mother and two of his adult daughters would travel to Albany for Thanksgiving.