Philadelphia has been at the center of the COVID-19 controversy, imposing very strict orders upon its residents. Some businesses such as gyms have simply said ‘enough’ and opened their doors despite leadership mandates. One Philly restaurateur called out mayor Jim Kenney’s hypocrisy in the most appropriate way.
Marc Vetri posted an emerged photo of mayor Kenney eating inside a restaurant with this caption:
“Hi, @phillymayor !!! Glad you’re enjoying indoor dining with no social distancing or mask-wearing in Maryland tonight while restaurants here in Philly close, suffer and fight for every nickel just to survive. I guess all your press briefings and your narrative of unsafe indoor dining don’t apply to you. Thank you for clearing it all up for us tonight.”
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Kenney himself responded with menial comments. In a tweet, he wrote “I know some are upset that I dined indoors at a restaurant in Maryland yesterday. I felt the risk was low because the county I visited has had fewer than 800 COVID-19 cases, compared to over 33,000 cases in Philadelphia. Regardless, I understand the frustration.”
Does he understand the frustration? “Restaurant owners are among the hardest hit by the pandemic. I’m sorry if my decision hurt those who’ve worked to keep their businesses going under difficult circumstances. Looking forward to reopening indoor dining soon and visiting my favorite spots” he added.
A spokesperson for Kenney said, “the mayor went to Maryland earlier to patronize a restaurant owned by a friend of his…for what it’s worth, he also went to Rouge to enjoy outdoor dining in Philly on the way home.” For suffering business owners such as Vetri, likely Kenney and his spokesperson’s comments are “worth” nothing.
Continuously through this pandemic, leadership has enjoyed a “do as I say, not as I do” mantra. Local Fox 29 reported indoor dining in Philadelphia is expected to resume at a 25-percent capacity on September 8th.
