Mayor John Cooper issued a press release Tuesday announcing the launch of a new “Hospitality Committee” to ensure business compliance with COVID-19 health orders.
Members of the committee cover major areas of Nashville’s tourism industry, including hotels, bars, restaurants, entertainment, and attractions.
“This group of industry professionals will also be positioned to work with their peers to ensure greater compliance with public health standards, including giving recommendations to the Metro Beer Board,” explained Cooper in the press release.
Cooper also implied that pandemic enforcements and regulations will last until a vaccination is available.
“As we look ahead at the next six months, the task for Nashville is to control the virus instead of letting it control us. That means safe public health protocols with a strict focus on masks and social distancing, so we can safely bring back more events and business capacity between now and the day we have a vaccine.”
Cooper’s Senior Advisor Benjamin Eagles told The Tennessee Star that the members won’t be deputized by the mayor.
“They are volunteering their time. This won’t be about the committee enforcing, but rather sharing industry expertise, planning for the rebound and helping with compliance of good public health practices.”
There are no further guidelines for how the committee will help businesses comply with the COVID-related orders.
One of the committee members, Nashville Zoo at Grassmere President and CEO Rick Schwartz, explained to The Star that the committee’s goal is to revive what was lost during this pandemic.
“The real gist of it is – Nashville is so deep on tourism. We’re looking at the best way to get tourists back. I’m representing the attractions, because we’re so dependent on them,” said Schwartz. “I’m excited about being involved. I think we all have concern with bringing tourism back – I mean, we’ll never be a vibrant city again until we bring back tourism.”
Schwartz shared that their committee is scheduled to meet for the first time on Thursday.
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Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and the Star News Network. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to [email protected].
Photo “John Cooper” by John Cooper.
It is MORE than past time for Gov. Lee to step in here! Please stop him before he ruins the whole state!
I did not Vote for him. I voted for Dr Swain. I had many friends who own businesses in Nashville (small or medium ones) who ASSURED me over and over that MiniCooper was “different”. He was the opposite of his brother and would be exactly what Nashville needed: A conservative leaning Fiscal Moderate. I laughed at them and said: HE’S A DEMOCRAT. I kept getting the same argument over and over.
Now they are all saying :”You were right and he’s worse than every Mayor in decades”.
Now he’s come up with ANOTHER Committee. How many “Committees” does he need? He’s already handed over governing of the City to a bunch of UNELECTED BEAUREAUCRATS.
We moved to Sumner but those of you left–better start rallying to this Recall Petition–it’s your only Hope
Cooper, the arrogant jerk has given Nashville the finger ever since he was elected. I really think this power hungry tyrant is drunk with his own power he needs to be removed from the courthouse. I really question his mental stability. Tinymite Commie Cooper is offensive to listen to or look at, he is disgusting.
“Cooper also implied that pandemic enforcements and regulations will last until a vaccination is available.”
And what if that is a year or two away, Comrade Cooper? Why don’t you read the latest information about the virus and our response to it, “The Great Barrington Declaration from actual experts in the field of epidemiology? https://gbdeclaration.org
Or is there a more personal agenda going on here?
Creating a committee makes it look like Cooper cares about our tourism industry. Cooper destroyed our tourism industry to damage the economy and Trump ahead of the election. It is in line with what all of the other Democrat mayors and governors did. He needs to be recalled.
Hitler would be proud. Following the Rockefeller directives. Rockefeller Rx 101. Flexner Report 101. The Flexner Report is a book-length landmark report of medical education in the United States and Canada, written by Abraham Flexner and published in 1910 under the aegis of the Carnegie Foundation.Many aspects of the present-day American medical profession stem from the Flexner Report and its aftermath……… There will be a two drink Maximum for men and one for women. No salt. No butter. And definitely no Hot Chicken. This is by Doctor’s orders.
So basically, these ‘volunteers’ have no real power. They are nothing more than a bunch of Karens. At this point I’m not sure who’s dumber. Is it Cooper or the people who voted for him.
Good lord, Mayor Cooper will not stop destroying Nashville until he is forced from office. Recall this leftist tyrant.
Too late Dictator !
“We’re looking at the best way to get tourists back.”
Let’s face it. Nashville is not hospitable. Cooper is a tyrant that makes up the rules as he goes. Not following science. Now a vaccine is going to be required? For a Coronahoax virus with 99.9% recovery rate? I’ll probably never go back. Just not worth the risk. Not wasting money or vacation time on Nashville. I’d rather visit America.