[Mick]

P.S.  When this is all clear, I'd like to dine at French Laundry - maybe even a bucket list item.

My best lunch ever.  Similar to Gov Newsom, it was for my wife's 50th birthday.  My boss at the time was a part owner of the French Laundry. It was amazing.  14 courses (3 bites each), got to tour the kitchen, meet Thomas Keller, toured their roadside herb garden in Yountville.  Great, great time.

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I think there are two concerns about this event:
1) At a time when we are all being asked to sacrifice for the common good, this even undermines the sense of joint sacrifice
2) Given the importance of consistent messaging from authorities, this confuses rather than clarifies the messaging

Whether the dinner "adhered to all health and safety measures" or not is not the issue.  The average person is not going to perform a detailed review of their local county's ordinance to determine whether a get together with friends they are thinking of is allowable or not; they will base it on what they are observing around them, and if they observe the governor engaging in a large get together, what are the chances they will follow the spirit, let alone the letter of local healthcare directives.

BC

At least Jimmy Carter wore sweaters when he turned down the White House thermostat, and sent Amy to public DC schools -- unlike some Democratic presidents I could name.

[Mick]

P.S.  When this is all clear, I'd like to dine at French Laundry - maybe even a bucket list item.

My best lunch ever.  Similar to Gov Newsom, it was for my wife's 50th birthday.  My boss at the time was a part owner of the French Laundry. It was amazing.  14 courses (3 bites each), got to tour the kitchen, meet Thomas Keller, toured their roadside herb garden in Yountville.  Great, great time.

---

I think there are two concerns about this event:
1) At a time when we are all being asked to sacrifice for the common good, this even undermines the sense of joint sacrifice
2) Given the importance of consistent messaging from authorities, this confuses rather than clarifies the messaging

Whether the dinner "adhered to all health and safety measures" or not is not the issue.  The average person is not going to perform a detailed review of their local county's ordinance to determine whether a get together with friends they are thinking of is allowable or not; they will base it on what they are observing around them, and if they observe the governor engaging in a large get together, what are the chances they will follow the spirit, let alone the letter of local healthcare directives.

BC

At least Jimmy Carter wore sweaters when he turned down the White House thermostat, and sent Amy to public DC schools -- unlike some Democratic presidents I could name.