L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti Says His Mask Mandate Violation Was OK Because He Held His Breath

L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti is the latest California politician to hammer home the point that the state's pandemic rules are just for the little people. What Gov. Gavin Newsom started, and San Francisco Mayor London Breed continued, Garcetti has perfected. He even developed the ideal face-saving line: When a photo surfaced Wednesday of Garcetti, maskless, with Lakers legend Magic Johnson at a Rams game, the mayor reassured concerned citizens that he held his breath to take the photo. (Los Angeles County has a mask mandate in place both indoors and at crowded outdoor events. SoFi Stadium also requires event attendees to wear masks when not actively imbibing.)

Garcetti's comically absurd response betrays either a misunderstanding of how COVID is spread or the extent to which the rules he's imposed, but doesn't feel the need to follow, are largely hygiene theater.