Henderson Councilwoman Declares Coronavirus ‘Mission Accomplished,’ Urges Economic Reopening

Posted on: May 6, 2020, 02:23h. 

Last updated on: May 7, 2020, 08:36h.

Devin O'Connor @CasinoorgDevinO Read More
Expertise: Asia Pacific Gaming, Commercial Gaming, Legislation, Politics.

Henderson Councilwoman Michelle Romero (Ward 1) believes the city has successfully contained COVID-19, and it’s time to get the local economy back up and running.

Henderson Nevada casino coronavirus
A Henderson council member feels the city is prepared to return to some sense of normalcy, and properties such as Green Valley Ranch (seen here) shouldn’t be forced to remain closed. (Image: Ron Mader/Twitter)

Romero wrote Henderson Chamber of Commerce CEO Scott Muelrath over the weekend to express her opinion that the worst of the coronavirus is behind Nevada’s second-largest city.

“Coronavirus. Who could have ever imagined that such a thing would accomplish what hasn’t been seen in this country for 100 years – the complete shutdown of our economy, the curtailing of basic civil rights, and the complete division of our citizens on how to properly respond to a global pandemic,” Romero’s letter opened.

After commending Henderson’s emergency response operations center, Romero said Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak’s (D) stay-at-home order, which closed all casinos and resulted in an economic downturn, including more than 274,000 Nevadans filing unemployment claims, has brought out “the worst in humanity.”

It’s Romero’s view that the response is leading to far worse consequences than “anything the virus could do.”

Coronavirus Suppressed?

Romero says Nevadans have come together to flatten the curve and reduce hospitalizations and deaths.

Mission accomplished,” she concluded. “Now is the time to let our intelligent, hardworking people get back to work, while those who are part of the still-vulnerable population continue to take shelter until such time as they feel confident their health is not at risk.”

The unemployment rate for Henderson jumped from 3.6 percent in February to 6.1 percent in March. It will be higher once April’s figures are tallied.

Like all commercial casinos in Nevada and throughout the country, Henderson’s casinos remain shuttered. Notable properties include Green Valley Ranch, Eldorado Casino, and M Resort.

During her 2019 run for the Henderson’s Ward I council seat, Romero said her top three priorities, if elected, would be “public safety,” “education,” and “economic development.” Romero was easily elected, defeating four other candidates by securing more than 60 percent of the vote.

Comments to Romero’s letter were mixed.

“The economy will come back; people who lost their lives won’t. Sit down. Mission is far from accomplished,” said Lisa Barbour on Twitter. Another, JJ Henson, commented, “Finally, someone putting people before politics. Nevada statistics no longer back up Sisolak’s actions and he can no longer deny or restrict our constitutional rights.”

Outspoken Critics

Romero joins Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman in questioning whether Sisolak and state health officials are handling the coronavirus crisis in the best way possible.

Goodman made national headlines last month when she was interviewed on CNN by Anderson Cooper and seemingly suggested that she was open to allowing Las Vegas to serve as a “control group.”

“I know when you have a disease, you have a placebo, that gets the water and the sugar and then you get those that actually get the shot,” Goodman told Cooper. “We would love to be that placebo so you have something to measure against.”

Her comments came just a week after she called Sisolak’s handling of the pandemic “total insanity.” Nevada has 5,664 coronavirus cases, and 276 statewide deaths.