By Chuck Muth
The best example of Nevada Gov. Steve von Sisolak’s contradictory and discriminatory executive orders is the situation regarding church services.
On one hand, the governor’s executive order states that there shall be no gatherings of 50 or more people. On the other hand, that same order allows for businesses such as casinos and restaurants to service more than 50 people as long as the size doesn’t exceed 50 percent of the normal occupancy limit.
So let’s say a restaurant can hold 200 people. Under the governor’s order you can serve up to 100 diners; well over the 50-person gathering limit. If you think that makes absolutely no sense, you’re right.
Especially when the governor specifically limits church gatherings to 50 people REGARDLESS of occupancy limits. Indeed, if a church can hold 800 people, von Sisolak still says they can only allow 50 people in the door on Sunday mornings.
Enter The Ahern Hotel in Las Vegas. The ballroom at The Ahern can hold up to 1,600 people. As such, and under the governor’s imperial diktat, it can host up to 800 people, right?
(If you went to public school and can’t do the math, just trust me, OK?)
And for the past couple of months they’ve hosted a number of events, including the Nevada Republican Club’s monthly luncheons and the Clark County Republican Party’s convention and annual Lincoln Day Dinner.
And all the usual precautions have been taken. Attendees must wear a face mask, are encouraged to socially distance when not seated and are bathed in hand-sanitizer.
OK, “bathed” is a bit of a stretch. But it’s there if you need it. And all was fine until last week when a politically incorrect gathering convened at The Ahern: A group of evangelical leaders holding a pro-Trump rally!
While Gov. von Sisolak has turned a blind eye to Black Lies Matter protests/riots/looting – including the shooting of a police officer in the head — he got his tighty-whities all up on a bunch over this one.
Here’s what America’s Most Incompetent Governor posted on social media… “I was deeply disheartened and dismayed to see the callous and dangerous behavior displayed last night in Las Vegas at a campaign event for President Trump. I am equally dismayed that the campaign and business defied the State of Nevada emergency directive which limits public gatherings to 50 people or fewer.
“Our State & local govt’s are focused on mitigation efforts to reduce the spread of #COVID19, particularly in Southern Nevada, where there’s been a resurgence of the virus, & they are trying to balance keeping businesses open, our citizens at work & combating the spread.
“Our efforts include heeding the warnings of the President’s Coronavirus Task Force, which has identified Las Vegas as a Red Zone. President Trump’s Task Force echoes the directives we have in place, such as limiting gatherings, mask wearing and social distancing.
“Yet, President Trump’s own campaign has ignored his experts and state law. This campaign event put more people at risk, including his supporters and the hardworking Nevadans who staffed the event.”
Funny, but I don’t recall the governor issuing such a scathing condemnation of the Black Lies Matter protests. So violent roving bands of thousands of looters and rioters are OK… but not a peaceful rally of 550 people of faith in a ballroom that holds 1,600 in support of our President. But, nah, it’s not political, is it?
In any event, the City of Las Vegas issued a citation and $250 fine to The Ahern.
In addition, the city shut down a Mrs. Nevada-America Pageant event at the hotel this past weekend even though there were fewer than 200 people in attendance.
But Don Ahern, owner of the hotel, ain’t backin’ down. He has a team of lawyers working ‘round the clock to fight these discriminatory and nonsensical orders, citations and fines and is continuing to book future events.
God bless Don Ahern.
If only we could extract some of whatever SISOLAK-19 anti-bodies he has in his bloodstream and inject them into the spines of our elected Republicans!
Except this one. She doesn’t need it…
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Chuck Muth is president of CitizenOutreach.org and publisher of NevadaNewsandViews.com. He blogs at MuthsTruths.com. His views are his own.
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