Arkansas Mayor Tells Americans to Spend Stimulus Checks Wisely: 'Don't Waste It on TVs, Phones, Rims'

West Memphis Mayor Marco McClendon cautioned Americans against blowing their stimulus checks on things like televisions, phones, and rims, saying "we are in survival mode."

The first wave of $1,200 checks were issued to eligible Americans as part of a $2 trillion coronavirus relief package last week. On Tuesday, McClendon took to Facebook with a post marked "public announcement," urging people to spend the money wisely.

"Please use your stimulus checks wisely for mortgage/rent, utilites, food & etc. WE ARE IN SURVIVAL MODE!" McClendon wrote. "Dont waste it on tv's, phones, name brand items, rims & etc. They want to reopen the states & you still getting sick! WAIT."

Many commenters agreed with McClendon's sentiments on Facebook.

"So true, I wish people would listen," said Shonda Partee. Daisy Torrey wrote: "Keep telling them, they are not listening, but if they continue to be rebellious, some of them might one day regret it. Stay at home."

McClendon told WREG-TV that he has spotted a rise in people spending money on nonessential items since the checks were sent out last week. "Our Walmart was completely sold out of TVs, completely," McClendon told the station. "One guy, I saw him and personally talked to him. He told me he just bought a new pair of rims with his stimulus. I said, 'That was not what that was for.'"

McClendon has been contacted for additional comment.

It comes after McClendon made headlines last week for bluntly telling those violating social distancing rules to "stay your a** at home."

In an address to residents of the city on Facebook Live, McClendon said people venturing outside for nonessential reasons were needlessly putting people's families and friends at risk of catching coronavirus.

The mayor noted spoke about the curfew he had implemented for West Memphis lasting from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. and said he wanted people to stay at home as much as possible, with exceptions for exercising, grocery shopping and other essentials.

"I mean this with all affection. If you're out after 9 o'clock, if you're not going to work, not coming from work, stopping by a restaurant to get food to take home, if you're not going to any of the emergency facilities because you need help, or if you are not doing any of the essential things that's necessary for our city, with all emotion and no disrespect: stay your a** at home," he said. "I can't make it any more blunter than that."

Arkansas is among the few states yet to issue a statewide stay-at-home order to curb the spread of the coronavirus. But public schools have been closed for the rest of the school year and some businesses, including bars, gyms, movie theaters and casinos, have also been shuttered.

Last week, Governor Asa Hutchinson announced the launch of an economic recovery task force and said he hoped to start easing restrictions in May.

The state has 2,262 confirmed cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, and 43 deaths, according to the Arkansas Department of Health. Around 850 people have recovered.

This infographic, provided by Statista, shows the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases around the U.S. as of April 22.