Austin News

Mayor Steve Adler's Mexico vacation while urging residents against non-essential travel is "a betrayal of the public trust," according to a doctor involved in public health awareness during the pandemic.

The mayor, who travelled across the border with family members following his daughter's wedding, apologized for making the trip.

"I'm sorry I took that trip. It was a lapse in judgment, and I want you to know I apologize," Adler said in a video message. The mayor recorded a video message from Mexico urging people to stay home to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Dr. Jennifer Mushtaler, a non-partisan candidate for Austin City Council this year, said that not only are the optics "poor and unbecoming," it also sends "a message of betrayal of the public trust."

"It has thrust Austin, once again, into a negative national spotlight and pulling public health officials into this controversy is inappropriate," Mushtaler, who is involved in the promotion of public health with her local medical society during the pandemic, said. ”There is much work to be done now to get our communities and institutions ready for vaccinations so that we can save lives and jobs. I look forward to positive leadership from the Mayor and the Council.”

The trip to Cabo San Lucas, first reported by the Austin American-Statesman, happened in early November following the wedding.

In a video posted online, Alder said: "I need to set a clearer example so that my message is unambiguous, and for the failure to do that I sincerely apologize."

Adler said his daughter had to change her initial wedding plan to one that "was a small, mostly family, very private wedding."

"Afterwards, a small, mostly family group traveled to Mexico," he said. "I want you to know I regret that travel."

He continued: "I wouldn't travel now, I didn't over Thanksgiving, and I wouldn't over Christmas — and no one should, everyone should be avoiding nonessential travel now because we are in the orange area." 

Orange is the highest pandemic alert color.

His decision to travel was a "bad example" and "confusing," he concluded.