Coronavirus

MLG warns New Mexicans not to protest Inauguration: ‘Do that from your living room’

3 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Thursday, Gov. Lujan Grisham held a COVID-19 briefing for the first time in a month, going over her plans for increased testing and administering the COVID-19 vaccine. She also was asked about the upcoming Inauguration and her decision to declare a state of emergency while erecting a massive fence around the state Capitol

“We’re seeing a drop-off in appetite for testing and we can’t have that,” said Gov. Lujan Grisham, who appeared to want to boost testing numbers. She also said the following regarding her preparations for security ahead of the presidential Inauguration on January 20th:

We’ve taken seriously all of the intel, which is not public even to some governors, right? There’s some very secure information that the FBI and others have. But they are certainly alerting us that being prepared is prudent–that there are calls to action to domestic terrorism groups all across the country and that those groups might try to travel into your state, some members of your state may be part of those groups, and I take that incredibly seriously. 

So, the safety of every single New Mexican during this next week and and beyond is first and foremost on my mind, and I believe, to date, that we have taken effective precautions for everyone.

…

Earnestly, there isn’t a governor in the country, including me, who doesn’t wish that we weren’t having to take these precautions and to do this preparedness and planning. My message to New Mexicans is… stay safe, and stay home. This is a week where if you’re celebrating the Inauguration, you can do that from your living room. If you’re displeased, then you do that from your living room. That we watch a peaceful transition of power, which is what this country is built on. 

And my last message is I ask for people to really work hard to keep everyone safe because no violence–domestic terrorism will not be tolerated here–and everyone who participates, if they participate, in any of those efforts in this state–they will be held swiftly and firmly accountable. And we will use the full extent of the law to do just that. But we are preparing every day. 

Earlier in the day, the Governor issued a melodramatic emergency declaration order due to the “threat of riots of insurrection.” It should be noted that the Inauguration of Joe Biden as president on January 20th is allegedly illegitimate due to widespread voter fraud across the United States.

It should be noted that during the summer, violent Black Lives Matter and Antifa protests erupted, resulting in the Governor giving these individuals a free pass to loot and riot in the streets, saying, “This is a violation of the mass gatherings, no doubt, but we’re just going to take a leap of faith in protecting protesters who have no other way, quite frankly. Right? There’s no other way to be seen, to be heard, to be respected, and to be clear about your message.”

Later in the presser, Gov. Lujan Grisham shoved local sheriffs and officials under the bus for not following her COVID-19 guidelines. She said the following:

I am still disappointed. I don’t think that we’re getting enough cooperation from local law enforcement on any of the public health orders, and you know, we recently received a complaint about a local mayor who continues to show up without a mask and engage in violations against the public health order. And we have an opportunity, and we have a court action that we have against this particular mayor to make sure this mayor is held accountable. 

I think this movement where people are confused that states are somehow using public health orders to thwart elected independence. It’s just frankly shortsighted and nonsense. Nobody wants a public health emergency. Everyone is required to do their part. Governors, in different fashions, absolutely have the power to declare emergencies and to work cohesively to do it. So I remain disappointed. That doesn’t mean that I don’t keep trying to do two things: engage more law enforcement personnel, including duly elected sheriffs, to work with us, not against us. Two, to make sure that they know that they don’t get to pick and choose which laws to enforce and not to enforce, and three to make all of our lawmakers clear that we have to be on the same page.

…

I do hope as this nation heals and figures out ways to have a better platform to debate and disagree and be professional and work through that, I hope that also roots itself in law enforcement, all elected officials all across the country. This is just not how we ought to be working together. And again, it’s a violation of their oath. We pay attention. We see that blatant facebook and other posts or statement, and we give them to the Attorney General and others, and I expect folks to do all of their jobs statewide, but I remain a little frustrated that that’s where we still are a year later.

MLG warns New Mexicans not to protest Inauguration: ‘Do that from your living room’ Read More »

MLG’s comms. director says resistance to Governor just exists in ‘angsty corners of social media’

18 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Monday, the Santa Fe New Mexican released an interview with one-term Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, which included an interview trying to downplay her COVID-19 response, which has decimated countless New Mexico businesses and livelihoods.

During the interview, Lujan Grisham admitted how her strict mandates would hurt her at the polls, with the New Mexican writing that “there will be parents of school-age children who may never vote for her again because of classroom closures.” 

“ ‘Be mad at the pandemic,’ is what I tell everyone,” said Lujan Grisham, adding that “it’s not political.” 

She reflected on her decisions during the pandemic and said, “The very first important decision on March 11 is that we’re going to ask businesses to shutter and people to stay home, and we’re going to get ready to close schools.” 

However, her only regret she said is that she wasn’t able to influence Republican members in the National Governor’s Association to shut down their states as she did. “That’s something I really pride myself on, that I can bring people of different parties and different perspectives together, and I couldn’t do it at the federal level,” she added.

She also bemoaned her inability to convince Tribal governments to also follow her economy-killing mandates, saying “And I still have, you know, moments where I just feel poorly that I was unable to get other policymakers on the same page.”

Tripp Stelnicki, the Governor’s communications director who has repeatedly been an enemy of the common New Mexican, said that he feels confident about the “internal polling” done on the governor’s performance, saying she gets “high marks” from New Mexicans.

“That might run counter to the perception you get from angsty corners of social media, but I think New Mexicans overwhelmingly recognize that a crisis calls for decisive leadership and a willingness to make tough and sometimes unpopular decisions,” he said. He added, “You can’t make assumptions in politics, but we feel pretty good about public support.” 

It appears the Governor’s spokesman has just downplayed the countless New Mexicans who have been decimated by the Governor’s lockdown as simply living in “angsty corners of social media.” He previously downplayed the hours-long breadlines at stores due to the Governor’s lockdown as a “minor inconvenience” while claiming Republicans who oppose Lujan Grisham’s dictates are members of a “death cult.” He also belittled a local television news reporter for asking basic questions.

Now, the Governor is trying to gin up support as the state remains in lockdown, comparing the state’s current position to that of the Great Recession of 2008. Lujan Grisham said, “I don’t want anyone … to assume that we are in the same productive economic position that we were in at the end of ’19. But I think New Mexicans should not expect New Mexico to languish like we did in the last recession.” 

However, the Governor’s disdain for New Mexicans during her weekly press conferences doesn’t appear to merely be stemming from “angsty corners of social media.” Here are some of her worst:

Gov. Lujan Grisham mask shames Españolans at press conference: “by I didn’t see a single mask, not one. Not in a parking lot, not in a grocery store that we passed, not at a convenience store, not at a gas station, not by someone in a car, not hanging on a rearview mirror…”
.@GovMLG presser reel 2/3: MLG claims she supports “independence and authority of judges” despite having NM Supreme Court overrule local judge MLG claims State Police will cite Sheriffs and local Law Enforcers MLG says militant mask enforcement increases mask-wearing
.@GovMLG presser reel 3/3: MLG goes on a rant against New Mexicans leaving the state, citing her tracking of peoples’ phones to know where they are coming from and going to.
.⁦@GovMLG
⁩ shames New Mexicans for attending a loved one’s funeral, tells them to say goodbye to them over FaceTime

MLG’s comms. director says resistance to Governor just exists in ‘angsty corners of social media’ Read More »

In rare move, mainstream media finally reports on sick, disabled waiting in MLG’s freezing breadlines

8 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Wednesday, in a rare move, New Mexico’s liberal mainstream media finally reported on New Mexicans waiting in freezing temperatures outside of grocery stores and big-box stores to retrieve food and other basic needs.  

The move by KOAT 7 News came after the governor finally lifted the arbitrary 75-person-per-store limit, which inflicted pain upon New Mexicans for months, as temperatures dropped and the holidays arrived. Now, the order allows for 25% occupancy, which may still result in long lines, however, possibly shortened. 

KOAT & reported, “Even with some of those restrictions lifted, a lot of you have contacted KOAT saying older people and those with physical disabilities are often waiting in long lines for food and other supplies, in freezing temperatures.” 

The news station interviewed a doctor, Dr. Tracie Collins, who told them, “That is a concern with the cold weather, and, you know, honestly, we need to identify solutions where maybe we can have groceries delivered during this deep freeze that we’re in currently, which won’t last forever but we need to provide some other option for the elderly and those who are at risk.” 

Instead of apologizing for the health order which has compromised the population, especially the elderly, disabled, and those medically fragile, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s office told the news station, “High-risk New Mexicans are encouraged to take every precaution by utilizing grocery pick-up services. The state is continually exploring additional options to support New Mexicans as we continue to get through the pandemic together.”

After the Piñon Post’s multiple reports on the hours-long breadlines, national news, including the Washington Examiner covered the story. Following our report on protests that were scheduled to take place this Saturday in opposition to the Governor’s strict public health orders, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham finally lifted the strict mandates. 

The Governor’s press office repeatedly downplayed New Mexicans’ suffering due to her edict, with the Governor’s communications director claiming the breadlines were simply a “minor inconvenience,” while another statement from her office said the breadlines were just a “Republican talking point.”

In rare move, mainstream media finally reports on sick, disabled waiting in MLG’s freezing breadlines Read More »

‘Breadline volunteers’ to hold statewide ‘service protest’ against MLG’s grocery store capacity limits

5 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Saturday, December 19, New Mexicans across the state will hold a “service protest” to oppose Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s COVID-19 grocery store capacity restrictions letting no more than 75 people, including staff, into each store at one time.

According to the organizers, “The governor’s restriction equates to roughly 40-feet of social distancing in a store the size of Wal-Mart, amounting to a whole house worth of space for each person in the store. However, the unintended consequence of this restriction is that those in the line are in much closer proximity to each other for a far longer period of time than they would be if the store was simply allowed to operate at 25% capacity.”

The service protest will feature “easily identifiable” “breadline volunteers” holding signs while they wait in-line in the place of “mothers with children, the elderly, those on [a] fixed income, and persons with disabilities at NM’s hardest hit grocery stores.”

“The 75-person restriction is harming New Mexicans, who often have to wait outside in the cold for over an hour just to enter a store to buy food. As a result, panic buying has occurred. Basic necessities such as milk, eggs, meat, and toilet paper are often no longer on the shelves when those that have waited in lines finally get inside,” write the organizers.

The Piñon Post has exclusively reported on the long lines at grocery stores, which Gov. Lujan Grisham’s office claims are merely “Republican talking points.” Tripp Stelnicki, the Governor’s communications director, claimed the long lines are simply a “minor inconvenience.”

The protest will happen from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in 12 cities across the state, including at the Albuquerque Costco on 1420 N Renaissance Blvd NE, the Las Cruces: Wal-Mart at 1550 S. Valley Dr., and at other locations in Santa Fe, Portales, Clovis, Edgewood, Roswell, Farmington, Alamogordo, Ruidoso, Grants, and Carlsbad.

To participate in this protest, please contact Sarah Smith at ConcernedforNM@gmail.com for more information.

‘Breadline volunteers’ to hold statewide ‘service protest’ against MLG’s grocery store capacity limits Read More »

ABQ City Hall: Protest opposing COVID crackdown bill turns into celebration after councilors nix it

2 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Monday, the Albuquerque City Council was set to vote on Ordinance 20-40, a strict COVID-19 enforcement bill that would make it a misdemeanor to disobey public health orders. 

The Piñon Post reported last week on the proposal, and countless New Mexicans wrote the Albuquerque City Council demanding they withdraw the bill.

On Monday, the Piñon Post learned from City Council staff that “the sponsors have chosen to take it off the agenda for today,” but they “have not said” if they will place it back on the agenda. Later that day, it was formally announced that the bill sponsors, Councilors Isaac Benton and Cynthia Borrego had withdrawn the proposal. 

A group of patriots was already planning on organizing outside of City Hall to protest the ordinance. However, that protest turned into a celebration of the proposal being nixed. 

Protesters came with American flags, Trump flags, and patriotic gear. Here is a picture of the schene:

ABQ City Hall: Protest opposing COVID crackdown bill turns into celebration after councilors nix it Read More »

After backlash, ABQ City Council drops bill jailing people for non-compliance with COVID mandates

8 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

The Piñon Post has learned that Ordinance 20-40, sponsored by Councilors Isaac Benton and Cynthia Borrego, which would mandate fines and jail time for those not following public health orders, will no longer be considered at Monday’s 3:00 City Council meeting.

According to City Council staff, “the sponsors have chosen to take it off the agenda for today,” but they “have not said” if they will place it back on the agenda. 

Our reporting was followed-up by a formal announcement from the Council, reading, “City Councilors Cynthia Borrego and Isaac Benton have announced that they are withdrawing O-20-40, relating to enforcement of Public Health Orders. They will turn their attention to creating an educational campaign to assist community compliance with Public Health Orders.”

The proposal would have charged all who “knowingly obstruct, impede with, or interfere with any City employee’s officer’s or agent’s enforcement of any public health laws, orders, or restrictions” with a misdemeanor, which is subject to a fine not exceeding $500 or by imprisonment not exceeding 90 days or both. 

The backtracking on the proposal appears to be, at least in part, due to public outrage, with many reaching out to city councilors demanding they vote against the proposal. The New Mexico Republican Party shared a post on Saturday urging supporters to contact councilors to oppose the bill.

Albuquerque residents were planned to protest the bill at 12:00 noon on Monday, however, according to one organizer of the protest, it will now be “turned into a celebration.” 

Regardless, if citizens would like to contact City Council members regarding the proposal, their emails can be found below:

Mayor Tim Keller: MayorKellerIQ@cabq.gov

Councilor Lan Sena, District 1: lansena@cabq.gov

Councilor Isaac Benton, District 2: ibenton@cabq.gov

Councilor Klarissa Peña, District 3: kpena@cabq.gov

Councilor Brook Bassan, District 4: bbassan@cabq.gov

Councilor Cynthia Borrego, District 5: cynthiaborrego@cabq.gov

Councilor Pat Davis, District 6: patdavis@cabq.gov

Councilor Diane G. Gibson, District 7: dgibson@cabq.gov

Councilor Trudy Jones, District 8: trudyjones@cabq.gov

Councilor Don Harris, District 9: dharris@cabq.gov

After backlash, ABQ City Council drops bill jailing people for non-compliance with COVID mandates Read More »

MLG and Dems try to come out as heroes with last-ditch special session after they decimated state

11 Comments / Editorial / By

Last week, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham called for the state Legislature to convene for a special session for what she claimed is for COVID-19 pandemic relief. A later press release from the Governor’s office lists multiple items she wants to be passed during the special session, including $194 million in direct unemployment assistance, $100 million in grants to small businesses, $15 million in emergency housing assistance, $5 million for “emergency food bank services,” a “$5 million for direct economic assistance to low-income residents, in the form of a one-time $750 disbursement per household, who did not receive an “economic impact payment” from the federal government,” and funding for the implementation of these initiatives.

Now, no one is against pandemic relief for hurting New Mexicans, but the $300 million Gov. Lujan Grisham claims will come from federal CARES Act money appears to be too little too late. Why is this money just now used to help suffering New Mexicans? And where did the other $1 billion appropriated by the federal government go? 

Due to the Governor’s multiple and sporadic shutdowns, which have decimated communities and closed countless New Mexico businesses, not to mention infringing on constitutional rights, it’s no wonder New Mexicans desperately need relief. If businesses were allowed to safely open (while following CDC guidelines as applicable), there would be no need for more relief to hurting businesses because they could remain open. There would be no need for unemployment assistance since employers’ places of businesses would not be shuttered, and there would be no need for housing assistance because people would be able to keep their jobs and pay their rent with their paychecks from their employers (who are allowed to remain open).

The problems the Governor is trying to fix with a special session could have all been negated if she did not twice force the closure of our state, resulting in New Mexico being the most restrictive state in the union. The federal government did its part in providing pandemic relief through the CARES Act, but the states were responsible for disseminating funding to those most affected. 

President Trump revolutionized the production of ventilators, personal protective equipment, vaccines, and other supplies necessary to fight the virus and provided each state with the tools required to combat the deadly COVID-19. Despite packing it full of pork, Congress passed the CARES Act — helping hurting Americans get through the pandemic with relief checks and other funds.

Like other states that are now doing well, both in health and economic strength, Gov. Lujan Grisham should have used the tools provided her by the White House and Congress to shepherd New Mexico through the pandemic. 

However, during her time as governor, Lujan Grisham has scolded New Mexicans, targeted those not following her strict health orders with fines, and locked down businesses time and time again. During the Legislature’s first special session, she vetoed $318 million in federal dollars meant to help Native American tribes and local governments while keeping funding in the budget for her pie-in-the-sky $320 million socialist free daycare program. 

Instead of trusting the people of New Mexico with the responsibility of utilizing all the help available and working as a community to stop the virus, she forced people into complete and total lockdown, resulting in people standing in lines for hours to buy groceries, families separated during the holidays, and countless businesses either fleeing to other states or closing for good, leaving economic devastation. 

The Governor’s failure to govern during this pandemic shows her ineptitude as a leader, with a desire to accomplish her partisan games with a special session rather than trust the people of New Mexico to work as a community to stop COVID-19. But now, if a Republican member of the New Mexico House or Senate dares question Lujan Grisham’s late-in-the-game COVID-19 package, Radical Democrats led by Speaker Brian Egolf and the rabidly left-wing legislators will brand dissenters as opposing helping New Mexicans with relief before the Holidays.

Unfortunately, it’s the Democrats–led by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham–who have deprived New Mexicans of security and freedom ahead of the Holidays because they have sat on $300 million in federal relief while New Mexicans stood in bread lines, lost their jobs, lost loved ones due to the virus or suicide due to the lockdowns, and have been separated due to cruel restrictions. 

Shame on the Governor for putting politics above people during this pandemic, and shame on her supporters who have wilfully and ignorantly given up their rights to a power-hungry tyrant, hell-bent on forging her own political career instead of helping the people of the Great State of New Mexico. 

MLG and Dems try to come out as heroes with last-ditch special session after they decimated state Read More »

MLG to state employees: Beware of ‘extreme risk’ associated with ‘traditional’ Thanksgiving

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On Monday, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham sent a letter to employees of the State of New Mexico, urging them not to gather on Thanksgiving with their families. The letter comes as the Governor has closed down “non-essential” businesses during her latest shutdown and limited “big box stores” and groceries from having more than 75 people per store, forcing people to stand in the November cold for essential items and food ahead of the holiday.

The Governor’s letter read, “This is not a normal holiday season. I know we all wish it wasn’t that way. But it is. Gathering for Thanksgiving this year in the traditional manner poses an extreme risk to the health and safety of your loved ones, your friends and yourself.” She added, “the virus is at large. And it is deadly. I am asking you to please take precautions to protect yourself your loved ones and others.”

The letter continued:

I know it’s hard—really. hard. I know we’re all so tired of this. I am too. I want to hug my family more than anything in the world. We all do. But it’s just not worth the risk right now. We can replace Thanksgiving dinner, but we cannot replace one another. 

So I am asking you to please stay home this holiday and to limit your celebrations to the people who live in your home. If you’re worried about hurting a loved one’s feelings by telling them you’re taking these precautions, I understand. But taking these precautions is the best way to show you care right now. 

Previously during a COVID-19 briefing, Lujan Grisham warned against hugging loved ones, instructing New Mexicans, “no hugging,” and “do not get close to household members.” 

In another briefing where the Governor announced a two-week lockdown over the Thanksgiving holiday, she shamed mourners for attending funerals, and at another press conference, she instructed New Mexicans to wear masks inside their own homes. She also instructed Thanksgiving gatherings to be fewer than five people, which she later admitted as unenforceable.

The letter from Lujan Grisham to state employees shows her latest attempt at trying to restrict peoples’ freedoms during the holidays, despite COVID-19’s 96% survival rate. 

MLG to state employees: Beware of ‘extreme risk’ associated with ‘traditional’ Thanksgiving Read More »

Lujan Grisham calls for special session next Tuesday for virus relief

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On Thursday, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced her call for a special session to address three COVID-19 topics: housing, small businesses, and unemployment. 

According to the Governor, the special session will be held on next Tuesday only, but possibly it might spill into Wednesday to work on possible $300 relief checks to individuals, relief for housing, and small business grants. 

When asked about the funding of the payouts, the Governor said it would come from federal CARES Act funds. 

In September, the Piñon Post sent a letter to Congress urging them not to grant Lujan Grisham any further federal funding due to her irresponsible virus spending during the first round of COVID-19 relief, which she quickly spent, as well as sate funds she spent without the Legislature’s approval. During her last special session earlier this year, Gov. Lujan Grisham vetoed $318 million in federal virus relief for local governments, including “$23 million for tribal governments and another $15 million specifically for counties in the northwest with large Indigenous populations,” according to the Associated Press.

The Governor tried to amplify the severity of COVID-19, claiming more people have died from the virus than strokes and car accidents, while also saying an American dies every second from the virus. She did not provide sources.

.@GovMLG tries to amplify the severity of COVID-19 deaths, claiming more people have died from the virus than car accidents and strokes.

During the press conference, Lujan Grisham warned New Mexicans about the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, warning people about gathering together and urging them to buy takeout for their holiday meals — the few that are still open after her lockdown. 

“Do not mix up households–coming into contact with non-household members. It is high-risk,” said the Governor. She also barred people from hugging each other.

.@GovMLG during press conference: “No hugging” when “mixing households” over the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday

The Governor later tweeted a list of places she deems non-essential and essential for New Mexicans.

Slide from the Governor’s presentation.

Lujan Grisham calls for special session next Tuesday for virus relief Read More »

MLG locks state down over Thanksgiving, shames mourners for attending funerals

19 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Friday, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham held her weekly COVID-19 press conferences, where she locked down the state for two weeks beginning Monday, November 16 and ending on Monday, November 30th. The lockdown coincidentally goes through Thanksgiving weekend.

Only five people can congregate together, and the Governor urged people not to gather whatsoever. The lockdown includes a total ban on in-person dining and a return to “essential” and “non-essential” businesses, with Big Box Stores allowed to stay open, while mom and pop shops will be closed. Houses of Worship can only operate at 25% capacity, and “non-essential” businesses are forced to reduce in-person activity by 100%.

During her presser, she also shamed mourners for attending funerals for loved ones, telling them their attendance of such solemn occasions were a “catastrophe.” She added that they should have said goodbye to dying loved ones over “FaceTime.” 

“The funerals [are] hard. You, know. I had to give a eulogy to someone who was really important to me. They did a 5-person funeral,” said the Governor. “We had a contact potential problem in the residence, which I disclosed…. I had to give a eulogy to someone I love while keeping out a family member over a telephone over a microphone,” she added.

.⁦@GovMLG
⁩ shames New Mexicans for attending a loved one’s funeral, tells them to say goodbye to them over FaceTime

She acknowledged that the holiday quarantine was a “terrible blow” to the hospitality industry, and also acknowledged that her lockdown was hard to enforce. She says “you really shouldn’t be here” and you should “eat in your hotel room” if you are staying in New Mexico over the holiday weekend. 

“We hate what it does to our economic partners. They did not create this pandemic. They are caught up in a pandemic with very few tools to reduce the spread,” added Lujan Grisham. Future restrictions will be based on county-by-county gating criteria based on COVID-19 cases and counties’ enforcement measures. 

“They aren’t giving states money to support their constituents and residents,” said Gov. Lujan Grisham, bemoaning the Federal government’s inaction to send even more money to the state, despite her squandering the first round of stimulus funds. She said, “Congress failed…. It’s not like they didn’t know.” 

The Governor also noted that she hopes for the Legislature to have a special session soon beginning within “days” to grant state funds for “unemployment support in a specialized state program,” among other things.

MLG locks state down over Thanksgiving, shames mourners for attending funerals Read More »

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