South Mecklenburg News

Mecklenburg County Manager Dena Diorio told the county’s residents to stay home for Christmas and not to travel, yet she did just that.

Diorio was caught traveling across the state — to Durham — to visit family, despite ordering county residents to stay home.

“For this holiday season, we ask that you stay home and only be around those that you live with,” Diorio said throughout the holiday season. Then, while addressing news reporters, she reiterated her pleas and Mecklenburg County Health Director Gibbie Harris echoed the same request.

However, when a news reporter for The Charlotte Observer asked her what her Christmas plans were, Diorio’s reply contradicted her requests.

“I will be traveling by car to Durham, North Carolina, to see some close family,” she said.

Another news reporter questioned why she was telling others not to travel when she was traveling herself and she backpedaled.

“I know who the family is and where they spend their time. So, I feel comfortable making that trip,” Diorio said. “It’s two people in a household. It’s not a group. It’s a very small number of people. I feel very confident about their safety. If I did not feel comfortable, I would not go.”

Diorio told the news reporter she was making her own decision.

“I’m making a personal decision based on information that I have,” Diorio told the reporter. “So, that’s the decision that I’ve made and I think everybody needs to do the same.

There have been many public officials telling citizens to do one thing and then turning around and doing another. Many have broken their own rules and emergency orders.

Others who have gone against what they told citizens to do included California Gov. Gavin Newsom, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Denver Mayor Michael Hancock and Austin Mayor Steve Adler. Many traveled when they told citizens not to.