On Monday morning, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham visited a problematic area in downtown Albuquerque to highlight the need for the upcoming special legislative session aimed at addressing public safety and mental health issues.
Governor Lujan Grisham criticized some legislators for canceling critical meetings, lunches, and hearings ahead of the special session, stating, “Which tells me they were never serious about supporting any of these issues in the first place. My message for them on behalf of the business owners and the people living here is, ‘Shame on you.’”
Amid pushback from Democrat leaders, the governor declared, “Enough is enough.” She emphasized that legislative and city leaders, including Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller, are committed to tackling these pressing issues. “I’ve got legislative policy markers, lawmakers who have a sense that the mayor and I, and others, aren’t really considering this issue from an affordability and a place of compassion,” Lujan Grisham said, aiming to prove her critics wrong.
During her visit to 1st Street and Prospect Avenue, an area plagued by homeless encampments, Mayor Keller noted, “We had 3,000 calls for service for encampments, and as I mentioned, we clean about 200 encampments a month.” Both the governor and mayor believe the proposed bills could bring much-needed relief. “You can’t walk on the sidewalk. You can’t enter these businesses. These business owners can barely keep their doors open. They spend more time on their own public safety and the environment around their business,” Lujan Grisham added.
One proposed bill would change how courts handle offenders found incompetent to stand trial. “If these individuals will not seek care and break the law and come right back to the streets, there is nothing we can do to interrupt this chaos,” the governor stated.
Local business owners, like William Johnson of ABQ’s Best Equipment Service, are frustrated with the situation. “We’re scared to be out there sometimes because they are throwing needles over the fence while we are back there working. Same thing, they are out there smoking whatever,” Johnson said.
Governor Lujan Grisham urged New Mexicans to support the special session, stating, “The climate is so harsh that you are not safe anywhere. I would say to those legislators, ‘I don’t believe New Mexicans think you can wait, and I don’t frankly understand why you think you can.’” She called on citizens to contact their lawmakers and hold them accountable for either addressing the issues or allowing the chaos to continue.
The special session, set to begin on Thursday, has sparked significant debate among lawmakers. Democrat leaders held a news conference on Monday, arguing that the session is a waste of time and taxpayer money. They claim there has been insufficient time to reach a consensus on the proposed bills.
“We appreciate the important issues that the governor has raised, calling this special session, particularly around the nexus of behavioral health care and public safety,” said House Speaker Javier Martinez. However, he emphasized the need for thorough legislative consideration, stating, “As state lawmakers, we also have a constitutional duty as a separate and coequal branch of government to fully consider the legislation that comes before us and the potential impact it may have on New Mexicans.”
Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth criticized the timing of the special session, stating, “Special sessions only work when the bills are cooked. We thought we had an agreement with the governor that she wouldn’t proceed unless there was consensus. The governor went ahead and called this session before we had even started working on these bills; that’s certainly her prerogative.” He added, “We have worked hard to try and find bipartisan consensus on the bills that were proposed. As the speaker said, we’re just not there.”
Senator Mimi Stewart expressed concern about rushing the process, stating, “We do not believe these concerns can be effectively remedied in a very condensed special legislative session. It’s simply too important to rush into this and risk harming that will take up more of our time down the road to unwind and repair.”
Republicans, meanwhile, are eager to address public safety issues. House Republican Leader Rod Montoya said, “Once again, progressive Democrats have failed to take the New Mexico crime problem seriously. House Republicans are prepared with a tough-on-crime package and are ready to work. New Mexicans are relying on their elected officials to ensure their safety. However, this chaos in the Roundhouse is disheartening and leaves New Mexicans feeling less secure than ever.”
Senate Republican Leader Greg Baca echoed this sentiment, stating, “Despite all of the voices of detractors on the prospect of improving our state, anything we can do to make our families safer is worth our time. We have many bills we are ready to introduce during this special session that we believe would make a measurable impact in the lives of the people of our state and we are ready to work with anyone to meaningfully address public safety.”
Governor Lujan Grisham’s spokesman released a statement criticizing Democrat legislative leaders for not engaging meaningfully with the governor’s proposals. “The governor’s proposals to improve public safety in New Mexico in a special session should have come as no surprise to any lawmaker who was paying attention. Legislators had competency legislation on their plate beginning in January, and they rejected it. Gov. Lujan Grisham then began signaling her intent to call a special session before the end of the regular session in February.”
The statement continued, “Democratic legislative leaders have failed to meaningfully engage with the governor and her team on the substance of her proposals to help keep New Mexicans safe. Over the past several months, they’ve resisted productive discussions of what would be possible to accomplish in a special session and refused to offer any viable legislative alternatives. If lawmakers adjourn without taking up the governor’s proposals to make our state safer this week, the decision will come at the expense of New Mexicans who are demanding public safety reforms. Just today, the governor met with two business owners in Albuquerque who have been assaulted and burglarized at their place of business. Crime is a serious problem in New Mexico. This can’t wait.”
