Democrat NM Rep: ‘Who said the shut down was only supposed to be temporary?’

On Sunday, far-left New Mexico state Rep. Angelica Rubio (D-Las Cruces), made startling comments on Facebook targeting small businesses — specifically restaurants — for their alleged “blatant disregard for workers justice” [sic]. 

In her post, she singled out restaurant owner Marci Dickerson of Las Cruces’ “The Game” sports bar and grill, who showed her “true colors YEARS ago.” Dickerson’s restaurant will be participating in the New Mexico Restaurant Association’s protest, happening at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, which will include employees of each restaurant affected standing outside their establishment and holding up a sign with the number of employees hurt by the Governor’s latest lockdown.

Apparently Dickerson’s support for her employees led Rubio to stop supporting any small business that looks to defy Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s latest re-lockdown of the state, which bans restaurants from indoor dining and limits them to only 50% occupancy outdoors. The Governor’s order is estimated to force the permanent closure of 20% of New Mexico restaurants, according to the New Mexico Restaurant Association. 

Rubio did not appear to care that small businesses would be closing and thousands of staff members would lose their jobs. She wrote, “👏🏽 restaraunt’s [sic] 👏🏽 are 👏🏽 not 👏🏽 ‘essential’ 👏🏽 for the 👏🏽 purpose 👏🏽 of fighting a 👏🏽 global 👏🏽 pandemic! 👏🏽.” She continued, “I’ll continue to not support, nor any other business—who supports this catastrophic disregard for public health and safety of our community. I ask you all to do the same. Wow!”

In response to a commenter who was appalled by her disregard for the workers affected by the health order, which was supposed to be temporary, Rubio shot back, “Who said the shut down was only supposed to be temporary?” The comment appears to be an endorsement of the permanent lockdown of New Mexico, but Rubio did not elaborate on her radical-sounding sentiments.

Multiple constituents, many of them being Democrats wrote back to her in anger, one commentator saying, “[g]ood to know your views on business owners…. I’ll make sure to never vote for you and encourage others not to. You obviously care very little for your community… Way to go.” 

Another person wrote, “Every job is essential to families relying on their paychecks. What a shameful post to make tearing down the very businesses you should instead be helping. We will remember this when you are up for re-election.”

Others’ comments mimicked these sentiments, including support for Dickerson. One comment read, “Personally attacking a business owner during a time of crisis incredibly unprofessional. This is a poor example of leadership in a time where we need unity more than ever. I encourage you to take emotions out of this and see what Marci Dickerson has done for the community while we were shut down. While it may not be essential to you, it is to 96,400 people who are employed in the state by restaurant and food service.” 

According to New Mexico Restaurant Association CEO Carol Wight, the re-lockdown is going to be much harder on restaurants than the previous one. “Last time we had PPP money, we had ways to get open, we had some savings left. We have no more savings,” she said. “Our inventory – we’ve got fresh inventory right now we’ve got to get through and three days is not enough. So what are we going to do, right? We’re all just throwing our hands up saying, ‘What can we do?’”

After public fury on Rubio’s timeline, she shared her previous post with a long-winded comment saying, “I hope that the passion you had today, to defend those willing to go against Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, and her attempts to keep us safe and alive, you’ll do the same for workers come January. I’ll be taking note.” In January, the New Mexico Legislature will reconvene, where Rubio will no doubt propose more far-left legislation, as she has in the past.