Coronavirus

Gov. MLG threatens new lockdown if New Mexicans don’t wear masks in their own homes

19 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Thursday, during Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s COVID-19 press conference with Health Secretary Dr. David Scrase. They announced new coronavirus cases and 21 deaths they claim are due to COVID-19. During the briefing, Lujan Grisham brought up her frustration with New Mexicans not following her strict public health orders. 

“You’re going to hear from medical professionals that say you should get too used to wearing a mask, even indoors in your own home because too many of us are asymptomatic, and we just don’t know,” said the Governor.

“And you have to stay away from other individuals. I cannot tell you how many times we all see — all of us — on social media where people are taking photos without their masks right next to each other and saying, ‘Well… you know, I was six feet… I had a mask on.’ You were right next to another human being. You cannot get close to other humans. If you are six feet — within six feet of another New Mexican, you are too close. You are increasing the opportunity for this virus to spread,” continued Lujan Grisham.

The Governor added, “I implore all of us. These are the things that will make the difference. If we do not do them, more drastic decision making will occur and we will have a horrible November and a dramatically bad December. And nobody in this state deserves that.” 

.⁦@GovMLG⁩ threatens new lockdowns if people do not wear masks in their own homes “You cannot get close to other humans.”

“It’s hard for me to remain patient,” said Dr. Scrase. “We are preparing all of our institutions for an Italy-like situation in the next couple weeks.” He also said he predicts the COVID-19 pandemic to extend well over another year’s time. 

NM Health Secretary Dr. David Scrase predicts COVID-19 to go on for another year, saying hospitals will have “Italy-like” response to the pandemic.

Lujan Grisham also threatened small businesses with a new public health order, saying, “For every single business that has somehow picked one of the public health options for an essential business and ignored the five-person gathering, that’s no longer going to be a loophole. This wasn’t intended to crest opportunities for folks to further spread COVID. So that’s going to get done immediately. It’s going to affect a whole number of businesses.” 

The Governor added, “And you know we’re doing our crackdown, and you know that we’re doing our enforcement,” adding, “More is coming because those opportunities for us to do less because we are doing more in mask-wearing, social distancing, and other public health hygiene didn’t occur.” 

.⁦@GovMLG⁩ renews threat of new lockdown since she claims her “crackdown” on small business and individuals not complying with her public health orders hasn’t been effective.

Lujan Grisham also complained about local Law Enforcers unwilling to enforce her mandates.

Dr. Scrase spoke about a “wedding” and “potluck” being a “spreader” infecting 15 people and urging support of the Governor’s lockdown. 

Although new public health orders went into effect today, the Governor’s strong stance on a potential new lockdown appears inevitable, based on her comments during the press conference, especially with her bleak outlook on the months of November and December.

Gov. MLG threatens new lockdown if New Mexicans don’t wear masks in their own homes Read More »

Heinrich refuses to wish Trump well during COVID-19 recovery, bashes him instead

5 Comments / New Mexico, News / By

On Friday, every single member of New Mexico’s congressional delegation, except for one, commented on President Donald Trump’s and First Lady Melania’s COVID-19 diagnosis, with most writing their thoughts and prayers, while some gave back-handed words of goodwill. 

There was one member of New Mexico’s delegation who did not comment on the President’s and First Lady’s diagnosis: Senator Martin Heinrich. 

Even some of the farthest left Democrats, Ben Ray Luján and Deb Haaland wrote words of encouragement. Luján wrote, “Sending my wishes for a quick and full recovery to President Trump and the First Lady and staff,” while Haaland said, “I wish the President & the First Lady well, and I hope their positive tests remind us that no one is untouchable.” They also mentioned masks, and Haaland even wrote, “During that time essential workers, single moms, & healthcare professionals have put their health on the line to pay the bills & serve our communities. COVID19 attacked our country because our President refused to seriously acknowledge it.” 

But instead of commenting on the President and First Lady being diagnosed with coronavirus, he chose to bash President Trump for his administration “fast-tracking” mining permits. 

He wrote, “You just need to look at all of the damage to our clean air and water caused by poorly planned abandoned mines around the West to understand why it’s a bad idea to fast-track mining projects without proper review.” He added, “One more short-sided, greedy, and destructive move by this White House.” 

So, while President Trump is recovering from COVID-19 at Walter Reed Medical Center, New Mexico’s junior senator could not even murmur the slightest statement of good will toward the 45th Commander-in-Chief, instead choosing to bash him over a policy position. 

Former Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton staffers and others on the left have wished death upon the President, and the Senator’s silence does not help the country heal as the Commander-in-Chief–the leader of the free world–suffers from the Chinese-born virus.

Heinrich refuses to wish Trump well during COVID-19 recovery, bashes him instead Read More »

New Mexicans react to President Trump and First Lady Melania testing positive for COVID-19

Leave a Comment / New Mexico, News / By

Early Friday morning, President Donald Trump announced that he and First Lady Melania Trump have tested positive for COVID-19, writing, “Tonight, @FLOTUS and I tested positive for COVID-19. We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this TOGETHER!” 

“Get well Mr President! Prayers for you and the First Lady” wrote Sandoval County Commissioner Jay Block.

“Pray for our President and First Lady,” wrote Republican candidate for Congress in the Third District, Alexis Martinez Johnson. 

“Prayers for President Trump!” wrote the Republican Party of New Mexico.

Republican Party of New Mexico Chairman Steve Pearce wrote:

Cynthia and I are lifting up the President and First Lady in prayer tonight! We pray that they have a speedy recovery and remain healthy. We are in this together!

Instead of wishing the President well, Rep. Deb Haaland instead retweeted a post about the U.S. Census. 

Sen. Martin Heinrich did not comment, but rather tweeted about air quality in U.S. schools.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham tweeted the following statement:

My thoughts are with the president and the first lady. I’m wishing them a speedy and full recovery. This virus is vicious. It can and will infect anyone. We’ve all got to double down on safe practices and look out for each other. Please wear a mask.

Sen. Tom Udall wrote the following:

We all wish the President and the First Lady a quick recovery from this dangerous virus— it truly can affect anyone. #COVID19 is spreading in New Mexico, so we all must follow public health guidelines, wear a mask, physically distance, and keep our communities safe.

Rep. Xochitl Torres Small wrote on Twitter:

I am wishing President Trump and the first lady a quick recovery. Nathan and I are praying for their health and their family in this difficult time.

Rep. Ben Ray Luján tweeted out this statement:

Sending my wishes for a quick and full recovery to President Trump and the First Lady and staff. Now more than ever, it’s important to avoid large gatherings, wear a mask, and stay safe. This virus has touched so many of our families, but we can beat it — together.

Rep. Deb Haaland, who was the last of the federal delegation to comment, authored a snarky back-handed greeting on Twitter, writing:

Over the past many months thousands of Americans have suffered from this virus. During that time essential workers, single moms, & healthcare professionals have put their health on the line to pay the bills & serve our communities. COVID19 attacked our country because our President refused to seriously acknowledge it. This virus is deadly, & very real. I wish the President & the First Lady well, and I hope their positive tests remind us that no one is untouchable. We must listen to the scientists & do all we can to stop this virus. #MaskUp

New Mexicans react to President Trump and First Lady Melania testing positive for COVID-19 Read More »

Lujan Grisham cries ‘Trump recession’ while NM has 34.5% higher unemployment rate than nation

12 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics published the August unemployment numbers. While the country’s rate has fallen significantly from 10.2% in July to 8.4% in August, New Mexico continues to remain stagnant at 11.3%, which is 25% higher than the national rate, and the sixth-highest in the nation.

While other states’ economies are opening back up, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham still is keeping a tight lockdown, with extremely gradual reopenings, such as at Thursday’s presser where she announced “limited” youth sports to start, ice hockey rinks to open, and pumpkin patches to resume. 

However, the Governor’s lockdown has forced thousands of businesses to close and New Mexico working families to suffer while she has spent away the Federal stimulus funds granted to the state for COVID-19 relief. Last week, she asked Congress for yet another bailout, which was met with fury from local business owners due to her irresponsible budgeting.  

Larry Behrens from Power the future said of the 11.3% New Mexico unemployment rate, “It’s no coincidence that at the same time New Mexico’s unemployment rate is among the highest in the country our energy workers are struggling. Radical environmentalists and their allies in Santa Fe may celebrate when an energy worker loses their job, but behind our abysmal unemployment rate are real families who are hurting.”

On Wednesday, Lujan Grisham attempted to brush off her state’s failed economy under her leadership by blaming what she called the “Trump recession” hurting Hispanic and Latino communities in a tweet. She claimed Trump’s “failed pandemic response” led to suffering in these communities, despite the President taking early action to combat the COVID-19 pandemic while Democrat presidential candidate Joe Biden (who Lujan Grisham endorsed) blasted Trump as “xenophobic” for restricting travel from China, where the virus originated. 

Now, while the country is getting back on track to economic progress, Lujan Grisham’s New Mexico lacks behind as the 45th in unemployment, despite her claiming “We’re doing about the same economically as Arizona” in her Thursday press conference. Arizona, led by Republican Gov. Doug Ducey, has a much lower unemployment rate than New Mexico. All of New Mexico’s neighboring states have lower unemployment rates, with Arizona at 5.9%, Colorado at 6.7%, Texas at 6.8%, and Utah at 4.1%.

Later on Friday, Lujan Grisham sent out an email to supporters bashing President Trump’s leadership during COVID-19, writing “President Trump has single-handedly botched the coronavirus response, refused to take action while knowing how deadly and dangerous COVID-19 would be – and proclaimed he ‘take[s] no responsibility’ and that ‘nothing more could have been done.’”

Lujan Grisham cries ‘Trump recession’ while NM has 34.5% higher unemployment rate than nation Read More »

MLG’s Health Department singles out NM GOP for non-compliance with her public health order

3 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Wednesday, the Republican Party of New Mexico posted a letter received from New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan  Grisham’s Department of Health claiming that the Party was not adhering to the Governor’s public health guidelines, not pointing to a particular instance of compliance, just speaking in generalities. 

The letter, which was sent by General Counsel and Acting Deputy Secretary Billy J. Jimenez reads, “It has come to our attention these requirements have not been adhered to by parties and candidates. Non-compliance with the operative Public Health Order and related directives will result in enforcement actions including fines or citations.” 

The Republican Party blasted the letter, citing leftist demonstrations, including one in front of the Trump Victory Campaign Office, where the Party claims participants were not social distancing or wearing maks. 

The Republican Party’s statement is below:

Below is a letter sent to the Republican Party of New Mexico from the Lujan Grisham Administration that is both wrong and insulting. While RPNM believes peoples’ health and safety are paramount, to warn RPNM about compliance with the Public Health Order is a clear violation of equal treatment under the law. There have been a number of demonstrations and mass gatherings—most recently a BLM event outside a Trump Victory Campaign Office in Rio Rancho this past weekend that clearly show people not wearing masks or social distancing. 

Mass gatherings in Albuquerque that led to destruction of public and private property have been tolerated where people aren’t complying, and the Governor, herself, broke her own Order by wrongfully and deliberately shopping for jewelry when it wasn’t allowed. To single out RPNM is wrong by the Lujan Grisham Administration. Again, the Governor picks and chooses selected groups—with obvious political implications—that continue to violate the Constitution’s principle of equal protection.

The Governor has used her official authority in multiple cases to “pick and choose” enforcement of her public health orders, including the Lea County Sherriff’s Office, multiple restaurants across the state, the people of Española, and others. 

Despite the Governor’s previous “apology” to Españolans for singling them out for supposed non-complicance, her press secretary Nora Sackett blasted the city’s mayor as “self-righteous,” effectively wiping out any believability in the Governor’s apology.

MLG’s Health Department singles out NM GOP for non-compliance with her public health order Read More »

Gov. Lujan Grisham mask shames Española residents: ‘I didn’t see a single mask, not one’

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On Thursday, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham held a COVID-19 press conference where she announced a few new steps to reopening, such as museums being able to function at 25% capacity, restaurants with indoor dining at 25% indoors and 75% outdoors, among a handful of other lesser restrictions.

While she was talking about how New Mexicans need to keep with her strict policies, she made sure to make an example of Española in Northern New Mexico, mask shaming residents for not wearing face coverings, according to her observations from her chauffeured car. 

“Last week, I traveled to Northern New Mexico, and in traveling to Northern New Mexico, I went through Española. I saw a lot of activity in Española and traveling through Main Street going North. 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, not on a wrist, not as people were walking, nowhere! Not one. The only masks I saw were in the car I was in, and we have to do better than that because if we don’t we cannot successfully introduce risk.”

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…”

Her recent criticism of New Mexicans certainly is not a new development, as she previously berated folks for traveling out of state, making examples of restauranteurs in Hobbs who allegedly were not following her indoor dining ban. 

Gov. Lujan Grisham presser reel 1/3: MLG berates elected leaders, criticizes President Donald Trump about masks, shames rural restaurants defying her edicts

Gov. Lujan Grisham mask shames Española residents: ‘I didn’t see a single mask, not one’ Read More »

MLG refuses to reopen NM despite state meeting benchmarks

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On Tuesday, it was reported that New Mexico had finally hit Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s gating criteria to reopen New Mexico. The criteria require there to be an average of 168 new COVID-19 cases in a seven-day period, which the state has met, hitting 155. 

However, despite KOAT 7 crunching the numbers, the State told them “they are using a different number that is based on the date the actual test was taken, and they could not provide the number.”

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s office responded, “We have reached this stage only because of the incredible hard work New Mexicans have undertaken in adhering to the state’s public health guidelines and making the right individual and collective decisions. The gating criteria are not a ‘finish line,’ so to speak, implying that once we reach the gating criteria, we are in the clear.” 

The move by the Governor to dismiss New Mexico hitting the benchmark, while the state refusing to say what numbers they are measuring, shows a lack of transparency and obstruction of critical information New Mexicans deserve to know regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.

If the Governor, as she has so often claims, is relying on data and science, then there should be no problem letting the public know what those metrics that she’s measuring are.

Lujan Grisham is set to address the Democrat National Convention tonight, and she is expected to address, at least in part, her “leadership” during the coronavirus pandemic, which has left countless businesses closed and working families devastated.

MLG refuses to reopen NM despite state meeting benchmarks Read More »

Hours after Judge’s ruling overturning MLG’s restaurant health order, NM Supreme Court kills it

24 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Monday, it was reported that the New Mexico Restaurant Association had won their lawsuit against Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, which accused the Governor of targeting the restaurant industry. 

According to KRQE News, “The lawsuit requested a temporary restraining order that now stops the governor from carrying on with the recently amended public health order. This means for the next 10 days, restaurants can open for indoor dining at 50% capacity. The reason the judge permitted restaurants to reopen for the next 10 days was because the State failed to file any response by the set deadline of July 20.” 

New Mexico Restaurant Association’s attorney Antonia Roybal-Mack said the Governor “is making decisions without fact and as a result of that, those decisions are void,” also saying that the Judge’s order “is the right decision for restaurants.” 

“After the July 30 hearing hopefully (the injunction) can be extended. I think the evidence is going to be clear to the judge and to everybody else that restaurants are not the cause of COVID-19 spread,” said Roybal Mack.

It’s unclear what will happen after the 10-day mark, however, the public health order in question expires on July 30th.

Previously, New Mexico Restaurant Association CEO Carol Wight estimated that the health order would plunge the state’s restaurant industry into further decline possibly wiping out 20% of all restaurants in the state permanently.

After the Court’s decision, New Mexico House Republican Leader Jim Townsend applauded the injunction, saying, “One person cannot make all the decisions for New Mexico, the Governor was elected to work for the people and unfortunately some of her decisions have really hurt New Mexicans.” He continued, “If the Governor and her staff had not made this political, I believe that our state would have continued to slow the spread as we were just a few weeks ago.”

UPDATE, 5:25 P.M.:

Gov. Lujan Grisham petitioned the New Mexico Supreme Court to grant a “Stay of Temporary Restraining Order” following a lower court judge allowing restaurants to reopen indoor dining.

According to KOB 4, “The state Supreme Court granted the stay, and ordered the governor and the suing parties, which including the New Mexico Restaurant Association, to submit their arguments by next week.”

Hours after Judge’s ruling overturning MLG’s restaurant health order, NM Supreme Court kills it Read More »

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

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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.

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

MLG touts her $35M taxpayer-funded ‘free college’ proposal as small businesses struggle to stay afloat

10 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Saturday, the Democrat Party of New Mexico held a virtual “rally” touting their new initiative, “New Mexico for All,” which is a coordinated campaign across the Party to express support for Democrat candidates.

During the call, Democrat U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX) promoted Joe Biden’s campaign, saying that “Joe Biden is a person of strong character, a decent man, a man of compassion, someone that will restore competence and sanity to our government.” In recent months, many people have questioned Biden’s sanity, with a recent Rasmussen poll showing 38% of voters holding the belief that Joe Biden has dementia. 

During the virtual “rally,” members of New Mexico’s congressional delegation patted themselves on the back, including Senate candidate Rep. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), who claimed the only way to correct “injustices” was to vote for Joe Biden in 2020. However, Luján did not mention Biden’s abysmal record on race, which even far-left NBC News and New York Magazine called it “problematic.” 

Rep. Xochitl Torres Small did not mention Joe Biden, but repeatedly mentioned how “proud” she was to “be a Democrat,” despite her previous ploys to appear “moderate” and not following the party-line. She also spoke about how she looks to plus orphaned oil wells and invest in “environmental energy.” 

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham was not physically on the call, but she did have a pre-recorded message play, in which she touted her expensive social justice programs, her free pre-K plans, and her future “effort well underway to provide universal free college to every New Mexico student.” The plan would cost the New Mexico taxpayers an estimated $35 million annually, but that is a rough estimate. She did not mention how she plans to pay for these costly new initiatives, especially as local businesses, have been forced to close — many for good. 

The Governor recently had the New Mexico Legislature convene to fix her $7.6 billion budget passed during the 2020 Legislative Session, in which millions of dollars in spending had to be cut. However, once the budget reached Lujan Grisham’s desk, she vetoed $23 million meant to go to Tribal communities hurting from the ramifications of COVID-19, and she cut $15 million specifically meant to help other Indigenous communities hurting from the effects of the virus.

According to the New Mexico Restaurant Association, approximately 700, or 20% of New Mexico’s restaurants are estimated to close their doors permanently due to her latest order, and nearly every other industry has been hit hard by the Governor’s strict coronavirus mandates.

MLG touts her $35M taxpayer-funded ‘free college’ proposal as small businesses struggle to stay afloat Read More »

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