Coronavirus

MLG’s new COVID-19 rules estimated to force 20% of New Mexico’s restaurants into permanent closure

55 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Thursday, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham issued new restrictive health orders for the state, which included a restriction for restaurants to only be allowed to serve customers outside and at 50% capacity — a crippling blow to the industry, according to New Mexico Restaurant Associaton CEO Carol Wight. 

Wight estimated that about 700 restaurants (or 20%) will be forced into permanent closure, with little to no safety net to catch the newly restricted businesses. 200 restaurants have already closed for good since the start of Lujan Grisham’s lockdown. “She doesn’t have the latest number but estimates New Mexico will lose 20% of its restaurants – or 700 restaurants – with the new regulations in place,” reports KOB 4. Wight also said “Restaurants aren’t where COVID is being spread. We’re just not the problem, and [Michelle Lujan Grisham] punishing us for it.”

Another startling point Wight revealed was that Gov. Lujan Grisham never even took the time to speak to the restaurant industry before closing it down. “My board is putting together a letter to ask her to sit down with us and really think this out because she never did talk to the industry about this,” she said. 

Now restaurateurs are being forced into a panic, as they previously were allowed to get back to work on June 1st, meaning they had hired back members of their staff and begun regular shipments of food and supplies to their establishments.

According to Carol Wight, it is going to be much harder on restaurants than the previous lockdown. “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?’”

Lujan Grisham’s latest set of lockdowns includes a 14-day mandatory quarantine for out-of-state visitors, which is already negatively affecting the hotel industry. Joe Schepps, president of Santa Fe’s Inn on the Alameda said, “We had 157 room night cancellations in the 36 hours after the governor’s announcement.”

Jeff Mahan, executive director of the Santa Fe Lodgers Association blasted the Governor’s lockdown, with a similar criticism to Carol Wight’s of the NM Restaurant Association. “Why are you bringing an entire industry down to its knees?” said Mahan. “The data doesn’t justify such a severe 14-day quarantine.”

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MLG gives conflicting advice about gathering in groups

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During Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s Thursday press conference, she announced new regressive restrictions on New Mexicans, this time banning indoor dining at restaurants, banning contact sports for kids going back to school in the Fall, forcing people working out to wear face masks (both at in-person facilities and outdoors, and banning out-of-state visitors from state parks. 

During the press conference, she blamed New Mexicans for a recent spike in cases, which Human Services Secretary David Scrase claims shot up 79% in a recent 16-day period. Lujan Grisham said, “Unfortunately, our state’s dramatically rising case numbers reflect that those behavior modifications and precautions have either not been taken seriously or taken up by enough people.” 

The Governor continued, “Too many of us are still congregating in groups, taking risks with our own lives and endangering the health of our family members, our neighbors and our state.” 

However, some of the Governor’s advice seemed to conflict, particularly that about gathering in groups. Lujan Grisham said, “Please wear facemasks. Please don’t gather in large groups without them,” while later tweeting “Wear a mask. Stay home. Do not gather in groups. Take the risk seriously” 

So, which piece of advice are New Mexicans expected to follow? Are they supposed to not gather in groups, or are they supposed to gather in large groups but only if they have a face mask? The Governor’s advice appears all over the place.

The new restrictions come as new cases of COVID-19 appear to be affecting younger populations more, Secretary Scrase saying that dults in their 20s are an increasing share of the infections. 

Coincidentally, protesters, which Michelle Lujan Grisham applauded for protesting for “racial justice,” some in violent means, are still taking to the streets in protest. Just this week, KRQE 13 reported on a Black Lives Matter protest in uptown Albuquerque. But Lujan Grisham vehemently rejects the notion that these protests are spreading the virus, despite indicators showing otherwise.

According to Pew Research, 41% of those who recently attended a protest focused on race were younger than 30. Nationwide, only 19% of people are in this age group, so statistically, they were overrepresented by over 100% at protests. It just so happens that people contracting COVID-19 are in their 20s and 30s, which lights up directly with the spike in recent cases. However, Lujan Grisham denies it being a factor in the spread of coronavirus. And with the Governor’s conflicting advice, it may give protesters and rioters justification for taking to the streets in protest.

Full details about Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s latest restrictions can be found in the press release from her office linked here.

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MLG hits a wall—bipartisan panel to investigate her for abusing emergency spending powers

29 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Tuesday, a bipartisan panel of state legislators on the Legislative Council unanimously voted in favor of a probe into Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s spending during the COVID-19 pandemic, where she reportedly spent $40 million in state money on New Mexico’s response to the virus.

The panel included Democrat Speaker of the House Brian Egolf and Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth, both from Santa Fe, as well as dozens of lawmakers from across the state. 

According to the Albuquerque Journal, “At issue is whether the governor is limited to $750,000 when she authorizes emergency spending in an executive order. Most of her orders are set for that amount, and it’s consistent with what previous executives have done, legislative staff said.” 

By spending 53 times what the state allows, the Governor’s predicament is serious, even in a health crisis, as the panel affirmed on Tuesday. 

Lujan Grisham’s office brushed off the critical issue, saying, “If Legislative Council would prefer a different mechanism for responding to life-and-death emergencies under the laws they write,” the Governor’s Spokeswoman Nora Sackett continued, “they are empowered to make one.”

Democrat Sen. John Arthur Smith, Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, said, “Quite frankly, we need to be drawing a line in the sand on this.”

According to Democrat Rep. Patricia Lundstrom, the Chairwoman of the House Appropriations and Finance Committee, “I have a lot of heartburn… that we have to do research to get information as opposed to it being shared with LFC.”

House Republican Leader Jim Townsend said, “This has been a concern — whether the Legislature is going to protect and provide the appropriate checks and balances to appropriations that occur,”

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MLG posts ‘virtue signaling propaganda’ video telling NM to ‘mask up’—then deletes it TWICE

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On Monday, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham posted what some are calling “virtue signaling propaganda” on her Twitter account, urging New Mexicans to “mask up” by wearing face coverings.

The 26-second video features far-left politicians, including Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller, Lujan Grisham’s cousin, Rep. Ben Ray Luján, Rep. Deb Haaland, among other unidentified people, presumably from the Governor’s “Mask Madness” competition, where New Mexicans submitted entries of them wearing unique masks. 

The video features slogans such as “everyone is masking up,” “protect NM,” “protect yourself,” “protect others,” and “it saves lives” flashing in front of the screen. It is not clear if the Governor got permission from those featured in the video before posting.

So, does this appear to be propaganda or just a benign campaign video promoting mask use? You be the judge: 

Lujan Grisham deleted the tweet a little over an hour after it was posted, however, people had already retweeted and shared their comments about it, as the below tweet reflects. The video was then pulled down a second time.

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MLG helped fuel the COVID-19 case uptick — now she’s doing damage control

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On Wednesday, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced “aggressive enforcement” of her mask order, mandating $100 fines for all who dare defy it, with businesses up against the threat of being charged with a misdemeanor.

And on Thursday, New Mexico Gov. Lujan Grisham took to Twitter to scold people under the age of 40 for spreading COVID-19, citing how “60% of COVID-19 cases reported since Sunday are New Mexicans under the age of 40.” She reprimanded them, writing, “Act right. Do not gather in groups. Wear a mask.”

However, that’s a complete shift from her previous position, where she applauded and praised the “thousands of New Mexicans who peacefully protested in Albuquerque” in late May after the death of George Floyd sparked protests and riots nationwide. She went on to announce that “The state of New Mexico will stand ready to assist local governments in facilitating peaceful protests.”

She also acknowledged that these protests were a violation of her strict mass gatherings policy, but said they were fine she was going to “take a leap of faith” in protecting the protesters blatantly violating her rules.

She said, “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.”

But now, after she has applauded these “thousands” of protesters, some of whom did not wear masks or social distance, she’s backtracking after she’s allowed these mass gatherings of people.

While scolding young folks for spreading coronavirus, she wrote, “Young New Mexicans – you are NOT IMMUNE.” And these young people she’s blaming for spreading COVID-19 most likely spread it because they were at a protest.

According to Pew Research, 41% of those who recently attended a protest focused on race were younger than 30. Nationwide, only 19% of people are in this age group, so statistically, they were overrepresented by over 100% at protests. 

Now, the Governor is doing damage control, trying to distance herself from her previous praise of the protesters taking to the streets in the thousands, saying, “I encourage them to continue demonstrating in a peaceful and safe fashion.” Clearly, they did not heed her advice to protest in a “peaceful and safe fashion,” especially since photographic evidence shows many protesters did not wear masks and were not standing six feet apart.

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Don Jr. addresses the Navajo Nation: Native Americans ‘are the original conservationists’

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On Tuesday, President Donald J. Trump’s son, Donald Trump, Jr. spoke to the people of the Navajo Nation suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic and spoke fondly about his visit during the 2016 campaign to the Navajo Nation. The address was aired over the radio on KNDN 960AM.

“We recognize out of all the tribes, the Navajo Nation had been impacted hardest by the COVID-19 disease,” said Don Jr., standing in solidarity with the victims of the disease.

“I still have the incredible turquoise necklace Rep. Sharon Clahchischilliage and former Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly gave me,” continuing to speak of how he has enjoyed his time visiting the Navajo Dam and hunting in Indian Country.

“As a hunter, I pursued elk and mule deer in your great state,” said Trump. “The Navajos and the Native Americans as a whole are the original conservationists.” He added, “I know I am the son of a New York billionaire, but I don’t spend my time in the cocktail party circuit. I spend it in the great outdoors.”

“No Navajo child should have to leave the Navajo Nation to pursue the American dream,” said Don Jr. He also said the Trump Victory team and his team will have “staff on the grown throughout the campaign,” something many Republican candidates have not done in the Navajo Nation.

“The person that can bring us back up from under the scourge of this virus, disease, this epidemic, is the guy who did it last time — Donald Trump,” Don Jr. said in conclusion. The son of the 45th President’s address to the Navajo Nation is just one of the ways the campaign looks to reach out to Native people in healing during this COVID-19 pandemic.

After the address, an announcer thanked the President for his efforts on behalf of the Navajo Nation, saying, “130 million in federal stimulus COVID-19 funding.” According to the Navajo Nation Department of Health, there are 6,633 positive COVID-19 cases and 311 deaths.

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Our Lady of Guadalupe, ‘Patroness of the Unborn,’ does not belong on pro-abortion MLG’s face

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On Thursday, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (MLG) started off her coronavirus press briefing by showing off her new face mask, which featured had an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

The choice of clothing is surprising, as Our Lady of Guadalupe is a sacred image known as the “Patroness of the Americas” and the “Patroness of the Unborn,” who, since her apparition in 1531 to St. Juan Diego, brought cruel human sacrifice to an end all over the Americas.

In the 1400s and 1500s, babies were ripped out of their mothers’ wombs, their hearts ripped out while still beating, and their skulls thrown down temple pyramid steps. According to the early Mexican historian Ixtlilxochitl, it was estimated that one out of every five Mexican child was sacrificed to the Aztec “gods.” 

Throughout centuries, Our Lady has been the Patroness of the Unborn for her apparition and creation of a culture of Life in the Americas, spreading that message of peace across the world.

But according to the National Right to Life Educational Foundation, over 61,628,584 babies have been killed by abortion. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is an outspoken advocate for killing babies through abortion and has been lauded by multiple abortion up-to-birth groups, such as Planned Parenthood, which have given her endorsements for her gubernatorial and congressional runs. 

In 2019, Lujan Grisham unsuccessfully tried to ram through an extreme anti-life bill, HB-51, which would have legalized abortion up-to-birth for any reason and stripped away protections for women, including underage girls who would not need permission to get the procedure. 

Given Lujan Grisham’s unabashedly pro-abortion stance to end the lives of unborn children through her policy proposals and advocacy, she has no business using a religious figure as sacred as the Patroness of the Unborn Our Lady of Guadalupe, much less place her likeness and image on her face in the form of a mask. 

Pew Research reports that 34% of Christian adults in New Mexico are Catholic, and the Catholic Church’s 2014 numbers show over 1.4 million church members in New Mexico. 

Lujan Grisham, who claims to be a Catholic herself, appears to be once again shooting herself in the foot with her desecration of Our Lady. This week, it was also reported that she broke her own lockdown orders by purchasing high-end jewelry from an Albuquerque jeweler, Lilly Barrack, a non-essential business. 

Voters head to the polls on June 2nd, and her latest stunt may irk Catholic voters, pro-lifers, and people of faith into participating in the electoral process to elect pro-life leaders. Lujan Grisham has endorsed multiple Democrat candidates for the 2020 election, all of whom are pro-abortion extremists. Some candidates she has endorsed are challenging pro-life Democrats who voted against her 2019 abortion up-to-birth bill. 

Lujan Grisham’s latest stunt seems to be a sick way to spit in the eye of pro-lifers and desecrate a sacred image, which has continually given people hope for the unborn for generations. Our Lady of Guadalupe does not belong on pro-abortion extremist MLG’s face, but unfortunately, her past disregard for rules and norms of respect makes her foul gimmick predictable.

John Block is the editor of the Piñon Post and a longtime New Mexico political activist. With the Piñon Post, John looks to bring true representation to conservatives in the Land of Enchantment and cut through the mainstream media red tape by providing independent, fair, and conservative journalism to New Mexico. Follow John on Twitter @JohnforNM or send him an email at John@PinonPost.com.

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We can end MLG’s abusive reign at the ballot box on June 2nd and November 3rd

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On Tuesday, it was reported that Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham broke her own “stay-at-home” order, where she had a staffer pick up “expensive” jewelry for her from Lilly Barrack on Paseo in Albuquerque. 

According to the article, Lujan Grisham’s aide had picked up the jewelry for her in April, smack dab in the middle of the Governor’s COVID-19 lockdown. Her strict orders forbade “non-essential” businesses from staying open under any circumstances. In late April, Lujan Grisham had fined a small pawn shop in Grants $60,000 for remaining open.

Lujan Grisham also sent her State Police to deliver a cease and desist order on Mother’s Day to New Hope Revival Church’s pastor, Caleb Cooper. The Truth or Consequences church was deputized by Sierra County Sheriff Glenn Hamilton, but the Governor was unrelenting in her crackdown.  

The Governor’s spokesman confirmed that the Governor’s forbidden purchase from the “non-essential” store did happen, saying, “Lujan Grisham did call an employee, saying they had a longstanding personal relationship. The employee came here [Lilly Barrack], got the jewelry and took it home, left it outside their home, and then someone came and picked it up.”

“The governor’s office first said it was a campaign staffer, then later told KRQE it was the governor’s friend, but wouldn’t release a name. They also said the transaction was entirely contact-less, remote, and permissible,” reported KRQE News. 

While New Mexico businesses and churches are being forcibly closed and facing crippling fines, Gov. Lujan Grisham is indulging herself in expensive jewels from a business clearly outside of her stay-at-home order. But small businesses, such as local restaurants are permanently closing by the hundreds, and other businesses are being forced into foreclosure.

New Mexicans can no longer stand Michelle Lujan Grisham’s tyrannical rule, clearly driven by delusional political ambitions of being Joe Biden’s vice-presidential pick. The Governor’s audition for a longshot nomination is more important to her than the wellbeing of the working families of New Mexico, struggling to put food on the table as a result of her despotic orders.

The primary election is just one week away, and New Mexicans have an opportunity to buck the Governor’s tyranny and choose pro-freedom candidates to go and fight for us and our rights in the General Election. Be it through the mail, voting early, or on Election Day, we cannot afford to get it wrong this time — or Gov. Lujan Grisham’s abusive rule is just a taste of what is to come.

If Republicans can take one of the two chambers of the New Mexico Legislature in 2020, we can stave off further detriment to our state by the Tiny Tyrant and protect the freedoms we have left as a people. We will not be scared into submission by Lujan Grisham’s repressive rule — which is why we must VOTE, VOTE, VOTE. 

Some have even contended that we can impeach Lujan Grisham if we secure the New Mexico House of Representatives, with an impeachment petition found at ImpeachMLG.com.

Listen, if you can afford to flock to Walmart or Costco to hoard toilet paper during COVID-19, you can show up to the polls or send in an absentee ballot for pro-freedom Republican candidates. Our future and our freedom are hanging in the balance and the only way to keep those freedoms is by utilizing the freedom men and women have died for: our right to vote. If you need to find more information or register to vote, find all the resources you may need here.

John Block is the editor of the Piñon Post and a longtime New Mexico political activist. With the Piñon Post, John looks to bring true representation to conservatives in the Land of Enchantment and cut through the mainstream media red tape by providing independent, fair, and conservative journalism to New Mexico. Follow John on Twitter @JohnforNM or send him an email at John@PinonPost.com.

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MLG says Biden campaign has been vetting her for VP

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On Tuesday, it was reported that Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has been telling her allies that the Joe Biden campaign has been vetting her for vice president.

Politico writes, “Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham told allies in recent days that Joe Biden’s campaign has begun vetting her for vice president, according to a source familiar with the conversations.”

“Mayra Macías, executive director of Latino Victory Project, an organization that endorsed Biden ahead of the Nevada caucuses and is dedicated to electing Latinos, said she is aware of at least one lawmaker advocating for Lujan Grisham,” the story continued.

When asked on Easter Sunday about her being chosen as Biden’s vice presidential pick, she said, “I think that you want a vice president who was much like former vice president Biden. He knew how to govern, he had done a ton of work as a senator and in local government as well, and I think those are incredible attributes.” 

“I will do whatever it takes to support a Biden administration, and I’m looking forward to a federal administration that can do a national strategy in good times and in bad times both,” she continued. 

Multiple high-profile members of Congress floated Lujan Grisham’s name for the VP nod, as well as that of freshman Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV). It’s unclear what will come up during the vetting process, but her stake in a consulting company that ripped off the taxpayers and her connection to the Los Padillas gang are sure to come up in her record.

The news comes as Lujan Grisham has turned New Mexico into one of the strictest states under lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic, despite few cases in the state. She has mandated all New Mexicans wear face masks, which has garnered criticism from many citizens. 

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Scornful MLG mocks critics of her face mask mandate

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On Sunday, a scornful Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham took to Twitter to criticize New Mexicans questioning her strict face mask mandate.

Her tweet read:

“You: ‘Masks don’t do anything’

Medical and scientific experts and professionals:

‘If 80 percent of us adopt a simple homemade face mask, we could reduce #COVID19 deaths by 17-45 percent over two months.’

Wearing masks saves lives. #MaskUp”

Lujan Grisham’s face mask requirement began on May 15th, “requir[ing] everyone to cover their faces in public, with exceptions for eating, drinking and exercise.”

“If New Mexicans don’t help us as we ease restrictions, we’ll see cases rise, and as they rise, we’ll have to shut down again. That’s the only tool I have,’’ Lujan Grisham said in a statement. “If I can’t get New Mexicans to protect vulnerable populations, to protect our seniors and children and minority populations and homeless populations and essential workers and health care workers and first responders and so many more, I will do whatever it takes to protect them. But you can help me. And if we all do this together, we can keep easing restrictions in a safe manner and go on living in a COVID-19 world.”

Sunday’s tweet came after multiple leaders in New Mexico criticized her strict face mask mandate. Eddy County’s Sheriff Mark Cage said, “This is America. Make your own decisions, make your own informed decisions as an adult. If I am not wearing a mask and you feel that you could be comprised by being around me not wearing a mask, then you have the right to move away from me.” 

House Minority Leader Rep. Jim Townsend (R-Artesia), said Lujan Grisham could be overstepping her authority by mandating everyone wear face masks. “That’s troublesome. There’s a number of other entities that challenge whether it’s a proven method,” he said.

On Sunday, hundreds of New Mexicans gathered in Truth or Consequences at the New Hope Revival Church to openly defy the Governor’s previous cease and desist order given to the Church for holding services despite her order. The Church was previously deputized by Sierra County Sheriff Glenn Hamilton, but received the citation from the State Police regardless.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s Sunday tweet appears to be her best attempt at strong-arming citizens into complying with her latest mask mandate. Many citizens from across the state are refusing to comply.

This is a developing story.

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