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.”
On Wednesday, after the Piñon Post exclusively reported on a statewide protest against Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s breadlines at grocery stores due to a 75-person capacity limit, the Governor has loosened the restriction to 25% capacity at grocery stores and big-box stores.
Thousands of New Mexicans shared the Piñon Post’s story about the protest which was planned for this Saturday, December 19th at 11:00 a.m. in Albuquerque, Las Cruces, Clovis, Santa Fe, Portales, Edgewood, Roswell, Farmington, Alamogordo, Ruidoso, Grants, and Carlsbad. It appears all that noise from Piñon Post viewers led the Governor to let up on her restrictions. The mainstream media refused to cover the planned protests by multiple groups across the state.
The new orders by the New Mexico Department of Health read as follows:
The state’s emergency public health order on Wednesday was amended to accommodate slightly increased capacity inside essential retail spaces, such as grocery stores and certain other large “big box” retailers that generate a percentage of their revenue from consumable food and drink products, as cold weather grips most of New Mexico.
In accordance with the state’s graduated red-to-green system of measuring the risk of viral spread in specific counties, the changes establish that essential retail spaces:
May operate at 50 percent of maximum occupancy at the Green Level
May operate at 33 percent of maximum occupancy at the Yellow Level
May operate at 25 percent of maximum occupancy at the Red Level
Previously, essential retail spaces could operate with either a limit on maximum occupancy or a specific number of customers at one time, whichever was smaller. The change eliminates the latter provision.
Lujan Grisham said, “With colder weather here, we want to ensure that people aren’t gathering in lines for an unsafe length of time, especially in communities where there are fewer retail options for essential needs. We are grateful to the numerous companies and stores across New Mexico that have made every effort to keep their customers, employees and communities safe.”
However, when the strict grocery store limits originally took effect, the weather was well into the 40s and on some days below freezing. The Piñon Post reported on many people, including elders and those with pre-existing conditions waiting in the cold lines to retrieve basic goods such as bread, eggs, milk, and toilet paper.
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.”
On Wednesday, the pro-energy group Power The Future released Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s power bill, which revealed that the Governor has not been living by the “Green New Deal” standards she had enacted through her “Energy Transition Act” signed in 2019.
“New Mexico’s Energy Transition Act requires utilities to provide no less than 20 percent renewable electricity to customers and set a deadline of nearly one year ago,” according to Power the Future.
The September energy bill provided by Power the Future shows that the Governor’s residence at 58 Mansion Drive in Santa Fe only uses 13.7% renewable energy, falling far short of the 20% mandated in her bill, yet “taxpayers are still paying more to keep her lights on,” says the group.
The documents they obtained show the Governor’s electric bill for August 2020 was $2519.02 compared to August 2019 when it was $1766.63. The jump in price for New Mexico taxpayers is over 42%.
“The Governor isn’t living by the standards she sets for New Mexico’sfamilies. Even worse, those same families not only have to pay for the Governor’s skyrocketing electric bill, but also their own,” said Larry Behrens, Western States Director for Power The Future. “Keep in mind, the Governor’s hypocrisy takes place at the same time New Mexico ranks among the worst in the nation for unemployment.”
During her Democrat National Convention speech, Lujan Grisham’s pre-recorded remarks were shot behind a field of solar panels, where she claimed “time is running out to save our planet” and that Americans must “embrace the clean energy revolution our country, our young people are crying out for, and the leadership the rest of the world is waiting for.”
Lujan Grisham was previously snubbed for the U.S. Department of Health in former Vice President Joe Biden’s fictitious cabinet, leading her to announce her intention to run for re-election in 2022. She is likely to enact more sweeping anti-oil and gas proposals if she remains the Governor.
The Governor’s energy bills for August and September are linked here.
Photographs of former U.S. Rep.-turned Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham meeting with Chinese officials are calling into question the politician’s ties to the Chinese Communist Party and what exactly she spoke about with these Chinese diplomats.
In August of 2017–eight months after announcing her run for New Mexico’s governorship –Lujan Grisham was spotted at a photo-op at the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing. It appears she was the only U.S. representative on the trip, and she posed multiple times with China’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Zheng Zeguang. For reference, other photographs of world leaders posing at the same location can be found here.
New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zheng Zeguang. pic.twitter.com/onXqEbcuvE
It is unclear why Lujan Grisham met with the Chinese foreign diplomat or why New Mexico media was dead silent on the gubernatorial candidate’s foreign trip to the nation.
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs wrote of the meeting, “On August 14, 2017, Vice Foreign Minister Zheng Zeguang met with visiting member of House of Representatives Michelle Lujan Grisham of the US Congress and her delegation. Both sides exchanged views on China-US relations and topics of common interest.”
Zheng Zeguang, a member of the Chinese Communist Party, has been a harsh critic of President Donald Trump and the freedom of the people of Hong Kong. He opposed President Donald Trump’s signing of the Hong Kong Autonomy Act on July 15, 2020, and demanded the U.S. ambassador to China “correct the mistake.”
According to the Congressional Research Service, “The [Chinese] Foreign Ministry does not publicly disclose the full membership of its Communist Party Committee. Zheng Zeguang is the only top Foreign Ministry official whose public biography discloses membership of the Ministry Party Committee.”
In April 2019, four months after assuming the governorship, Lujan Grisham posted about a meeting she had, apparently in Albuquerque, New Mexico at Sandia Resort and Casino, with Chinese Consul General, Ambassador Zhang Ping. It appears she even gave the ambassador a New Mexico pin, which he wore in a photo with her.
On Twitter, she wrote, “I was glad to have a productive conversation with the Chinese Consul General, Ambassador Zhang, on the importance of trade and building international economic partnerships between China and New Mexico.” It is unclear what exactly the Governor promised the Chinese, or what “economic partnership” she had brokered.
I was glad to have a productive conversation with the Chinese Consul General, Ambassador Zhang, on the importance of trade and building international economic partnerships between China and New Mexico. pic.twitter.com/ONB2aeItD4
According to reports, Zhang Ping “voiced concern about the ‘America First,’ zero-sum game approach of the Trump administration.” Not only that, Ping praised communist Chinese Dictator Chairman Xi Jinping, while also praising socialism:
He lavishly praised Chairman Xi, calling him a “great leader with great vision that will lead the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation” then underlining that China will take a different path than the US—socialism with Chinese characteristics. Ironically, while Zhang drew the clearest ideological lines, he spent a lot of time accusing the US and claiming it was the Americans who had a “cold-war mentality” and a “zero-sum game” view of the world.
The “different path” Ping refers to is “a deep belief in” and “faithful practice” of “Communism and socialism with Chinese characteristics.”
The close ties between Gov. Lujan Grisham and Chinese officials beg questions as to why she has been so close to the foreign nation and also why she has refused to blame China for concealing the deadly COVID-19 virus before it broke out into the world. The enemy nation covered up the pandemic to hoard medical supplies, as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security later found out.
Former U.S. Senate candidate Elisa Martinez wrote on Twitter in response to the newly resurfaced photographs, “Perhaps they funded her campaign for Governor while maintaining ‘relations and topics of common interest.’”
This photo was taken while she was a member of Congress. Perhaps they funded her campaign for Governor while maintaining “relations and topics of common interest.” @CodeMonkeyZpic.twitter.com/0QOUVQEYnB
According to multiple reports, other Democrat and anti-Trump governors also met with Chinese leaders with “direct ties” to the Chinese Communist Party. Chinese influence may have been present in Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s COVID-19 response, as her silence on Chinese responsibility is deafening.
As well, she has not said a word publicly about protesters in Hong Kong protesting for freedom from the oppressive Chinese government, which is responsible for countless human rights abuses, not to mention re-education camps for Uyghurs and others. Lujan Grisham’s alleged cousin, Rep. Ben Ray Luján has spoken out about China’s human rights abuses while Lujan Grisham has remained silent.
The above artwork is not an actual photograph of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham in Hawaii. It is a composited image.
On November 20, a rumor began floating around on social media that Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham was in Hawaii at that time. As all good reporters do, the Piñon Post reached out to the Governor’s press secretary, Nora Sackett, and communications director, Tripp Stelnicki, to ask for comment on the claim.
Despite repeated requests for comment from Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s office, there was no response to our emails and calls.
There was not much information to go by to verify the unsubstantiated rumor that the Governor was in Hawaii, however, a possibly pre-recorded interview between Lujan Grisham and PBS’ Judy Woodruff, aired on the 20th. This may suggest the Governor was not in Hawaii, at least on the days prior to the interview hitting the airwaves.
Since the Governor’s office refused to offer a response to the Piñon Post, we were forced to file an Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA) request, to which we were given no records tying Lujan Grisham to a Hawaii getaway. We did, however, uncover interesting conversations between the Governor’s staffers, showing their true feelings about the people of New Mexico.
Reporters from other networks (not the Piñon Post) asked Lujan Grisham’s office if she was in Hawaii, and were given responses from the communications team — something never before afforded to the Piñon Post.
KOB 4 News’ Jaden Torres asked press secretary Nora Sackett, “Nora, we have received several emails from people stating that the governor was seen at the airport about to leave on a flight to Hawaii this weekend. She said they have several friends that are flying through and they spotted her, supposedly. Reaching out to confirm this allegation, or debunk it. Appreciate the time!”
The Governor’s press secretary offered a lengthy answer claiming the Governor took no such trip while bashing Republicans and judging the asker of the question for being at the airport:
In my perfect dream world you would first ask any one of those people to show where they got this supposed information from. The governor is at home in Santa Fe, where she very clearly was in her livestreamed press conference just yesterday. She is not leaving her home – as all New Mexicans have been instructed to do to stop the spread of the virus. She has not left the state since before the outset of the pandemic. People saying things on the internet doesn’t make them true. Please feel free to encourage Republicans on Facebook on my behalf to get new hobbies 🙂 Also please remind your viewers that no one should be traveling through any airports right now unless it is for absolutely essential purposes!
Brittany Bade of KRQE 13 News asked Sackett, “We are getting inundated with messages from people who are very upset, claiming that the Governor is in Hawaii. I’m not seeing that information anywhere and it’s probably just coming from a random Facebook post, but I’d like to clarify. Is the Governor in Hawaii?” Sacket replied with the same condescending answer sent to KOB’s Jaden Torres.
In another email exchange, the Governor’s “Special Assistant,” Chris Garcia in an email titled “Let’s go to Hawaii” told communications director Tripp Stelnicki, “Taking calls on a fake FB post that the GOV is in Hawaii.”
Stelnicki replied, “We’ve gotten asked about it. Sooo dumb. I’m at her houe [sic] right now– can confirm, not in Hawaii!”
It cannot be proven for certain if the Governor was in Hawaii, however, based on the PBS interview and internal correspondences between the Governor’s staff, it can be concluded that Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham likely was not in Hawaii on November 20th.
Also revealed in these conversations, both internally and externally, the Governor’s communications team has no issues with being open about their disdain for Republicans and reporters merely asking questions.
Yesterday, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s press secretary, Nora Sackett, retweeted a post showing screenshots of a conversation between people asking if they will take the COVID-19 vaccine when it is available.
The conversation shows one person saying they were tested five times, while another person responds with “You weren’t given a vaccine because it isn’t out yet cousin.”
Sackett wrote in her retweet, “I’m crying but also I want to die,” adding in a subsequent tweet, “Also there is like a not insignificant chance these are New Mexicans I swear to god.”
The post appears to be insinuating that Sackett thinks those in the conversation are stupid while joking that they are likely New Mexicans.
Also there is like a not insignificant chance these are New Mexicans I swear to god
A far-left state representative, Elizabeth Thomson (D-Albuquerque), commented, “Yikes. Some education is obviously in order. Unfortunately, all of the disinformation is rampant and strong.”
Yikes. Some education is obviously in order. Unfortunately, all of the disinformation is rampant and strong.
However, those on the right have taken offense to the off-color joke by the press secretary, with one commenting, “This is the disdain that @GovMLG and her staff have for New Mexicans. While New Mexicans die, her staff insinuates that New Mexicans are stupid. PATHETIC. #nmpol #nmleg”
This is the disdain that @GovMLG and her staff have for New Mexicans. While New Mexicans die, her staff insinuates that New Mexicans are stupid. PATHETIC. #nmpol#nmlegpic.twitter.com/tqa0DDrj1s
State Rep. Rebecca Dow (R-Truth or Consequences) wrote, “Wow! I don’t know why I keep feeling shocked by the behavior of the governor’s communication staff. They continue to show their distain [sic] for New Mexico residents. #nmpol #nmgov #nmleg”
Wow! I don’t know why I keep feeling shocked by the behavior of the governor’s communication staff. They continue to show their distain for New Mexico residents. #nmpol#nmgov#nmlegpic.twitter.com/9dVceyYj5w
This is just the latest condescending comment toward New Mexicans coming from the Governor’s press office, with communications director Tripp Stelnicki belittling a local television news reporter.
On Sunday, it was reported that former vice president Joe Biden had selected Xavier Becerra, California’s Attorney General to head Health and Human Services (HHS) in his fictitious administration, dealing an epic burn to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who turned down a post for Secretary of the Interior. Now, she appears out of consideration completely.
The New York Times reports:
Joe Biden has selected Xavier Becerra, a former congressman who is now the Democratic attorney general of California, as his nominee for secretary of health and human services, ending a politically delicate search that brought complaints from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus about a lack of Latinos in the incoming cabinet.
Mr. Becerra became Mr. Biden’s clear choice only over the last few days, according to people familiar with the transition’s deliberations, and was a surprise. He has carved out a profile more on the issues of criminal justice, immigration and tax policy, and he was long thought to be a candidate for attorney general.
….
Mr. Biden’s selection of Mr. Becerra comes as the president-elect is under increasing pressure from the Latino community to diversify his cabinet. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico had been thought to be in line for the health secretary’s job, but she apparently fell out of the running. Instead, news leaked last week that Ms. Lujan Grisham was offered, and turned down, the position of interior secretary.
The leak prompted [Rep.] Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico to use a private meeting with top Biden advisers to rebuke the incoming White House chief of staff, Ron Klain, and other senior Biden officials for their treatment of Ms. Lujan Grisham, according to a Democrat familiar with the discussion.
Mr. Luján’s frustration revealed a broader concern that few Latinos have been chosen for high-ranking positions in the Biden administration. Alejandro N. Mayorkas, a Cuban-American and the nominee for secretary of homeland security, has been the only Hispanic selected for a cabinet job.
Lujan Grisham released a statement after the announcement, writing, “As I’ve consistently said, I have the best job in the world as governor of New Mexico.” She added, “I look forward to working with the Biden administration as we tackle the challenges we’re facing here in New Mexico and also across the country; COVID-19, combating climate change, and rebuilding our nation’s economy are just a few of the areas where we need to make significant progress right now.”
As attorney general of California, Becerra has been a rabid anti-life advocate, arguing in front of the U.S. Supreme Court, leading unsuccessful assaults on pro-life pregnancy centers and other measures to end human life in the womb at all costs.
Lujan Grisham had Rep. Ben Ray Luján, her alleged cousin, and other members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus lobbying the 78-year-old former vice president for the HHS post, but due to Gov. Lujan Grisham’s ungrateful snub of the Department of the Interior role, she will now not be a member of the fictitious administration at all.
On Wednesday, it was reported by Politico that Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham was asked by former vice president Joe Biden’s team to be his Secretary of the Interior in his fictitious cabinet, however, she had reportedly turned down the job, according to three sources. She has been lobbying Biden for a role as Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), touting her supposed experience in health care.
Lujan Grisham has locked down the state during COVID-19, which has resulted in high unemployment and countless businesses closed, while COVID-19 case numbers and deaths are through the roof. This alone could disqualify her for HHS. She also grifted the people of New Mexico, along with her close friend and business partner, state Rep. Deb Armstrong, who “won” non-competitive state contracts to handle administrative work for the state’s high-risk insurance pool, despite the program being nullified by the implementation of Obamacare.
Now, the Biden team appears to be snubbing Lujan Grisham after she turned down the Department of the Interior post. Politico reports that the favorite for the role is no longer the New Mexico governor. The publication writes, Rhode Island Gov. “Gina Raimondo is now a top contender to be President-elect Joe Biden’s pick to run the Department of Health and Human Services, according to two people close to the transition.”
“Raimondo’s rise comes as New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is no longer favored for the role, according to one of those sources and another familiar with the discussions.”
However, the discredited “news” network, CNN, is still trying to lobby for Gov. Lujan Grisham’s appointment, with their television host Don Lemon, having Grisham on his program to discuss her potential nomination. Lujan Grisham’s close friend–if not family member–Rep. Ben Ray Luján has also been lobbying Biden to nominate the Governor, which appears to have fallen on deaf ears from the 78-year-old former vice president.
Lujan Grisham’s press secretary, Nora Sackett, took to Twitter on Wednesday to blast “national media” for not correctly reporting the Governor’s last name, re-sharing a tweet that said, “Since it seems to be that time again – the governor of New Mexico’s last name is Lujan Grisham. Governor Lujan Grisham. National media I beg of you to just like google this first before you get it wrong plz it’s not hard.”
Voter fraud is being uncovered across the United States, finding massive fraud in the 2020 election favoring Joe Biden. According to recent reports from Trump Campaign officials, New Mexico is also being looked at for potential election violations, which are expected to come out within the next couple of weeks.
Despite some on the left claiming long lines triggered by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s capacity limits for stores as just a fluke because of Thanksgiving, after the holiday, hours-long lines still remain across the state outside of these stores.
As you can see below, these lines are still forming at stores all across the state, and many wrapping around the buildings.
November 28, 2020: Lowes at 407 Lowdermilk St, Española, New Mexico
November 28, 2020: Smith’s on 600 E 20th St, Farmington, New Mexico
November 28, 2020: Walmart on 1400 W Main St, Farmington, New Mexico
2:11 p.m. on November 28, 2020: Target on 3550 Zafarano Dr, Santa Fe, New Mexico
November 29, 2020: Walmart on 901 Unser Blvd SE, Rio Rancho, New Mexico
3:38 p.m. on November 29, 2020: Walmart on 3251 Cerrillos Rd, Santa Fe, New Mexico
November 29, 2020: El Super on 4201 Central Ave NW, Albuquerque, New Mexico
November 29, 2020: Walmart at 4500 N Main St Ste A, Roswell, New Mexico
November 30, 2020: Home Depot at 10200 Coors Bypass NW NW, Albuquerque, New Mexico
November 30, 2020: Albertsons on 3542 Zafarano Dr, Santa Fe, New Mexico
11:00 a.m. on November 30, 2020: 1400 W Main St, Farmington, New Mexico
November 30, 2020: Target on 4900 E Main St, Farmington, New Mexico
November 30, 2020: Smiths on 8301 Golf Course Rd NW, Albuquerque, New Mexico
November 30, 2020: 460 Nm Hwy #528, Bernalillo, New Mexico
November 30, 2020: 4500 E Main St, Farmington, New Mexico
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s office originally said to the press, “The state is not forcing anyone to stand in a crowded line, as you suggest,” saying long lines at stores were just “Republican talking points” that were “politically motivated. Now, Gov. Lujan Grisham’s communications director, Tripp Stelnicki admits there are long lines, but says they are just a “minor inconvenience.”
Many people standing in-line are elderly individuals retrieving prescriptions, and people buying basic needs, such as food and toilet paper. The Governor’s lockdown has even prompted mainstream media to furrow their brows, such as Fox News’ Laura Ingraham, who chided Lujan Grisham for her treatment of New Mexicans on her Monday show.
On Friday, Gov. Lujan Grisham’s office released their new county-by-county “Red to Green” COVID-19 plan, which has been noted is a major flip-flop in policy on her part. Her staff, which has already adopted a general tone of hostility toward all New Mexicans, is now blatantly condescending local news stations, including the liberal KOB 4.
KOB 4 News sent questions to the Governor’s office asking about the new strategy since they were not allowed to ask questions during the announcement Zoom meeting, as reporters usually are allowed to do. (Not the Piñon Post, however, since we have not been granted such access despite multiple correspondences).
KOB Reporter Grace Reader asked simple questions to Gov. Lujan Grisham’s communications director Tripp Stelnicki, was met with pompous and condescending responses. Some responses questioned the reporter’s intelligence, some blasted county officials, and some answers so short that they didn’t adequately provide responses.
Reader asked Stelnicki, “Will county leaders be notified when they’re good to move to the next color via the state? Or do they need to be checking the DOH webpage every other Wednesday?”
Stelnicki responded with:
The map updates every other Wednesday. If county officials care about the spread of COVID in their communities, they are already checking this map regularly to identify the risks to their constituents so they can protect their communities they represent. County leaders are well-compensated and qualified professionals who are more than capable of reading the public health order and communicating within their own communities.
In another question, Reader asked, “For business owners who are going to be monitoring these developments closely to see what they can and can’t be doing, where do they need to be looking? Does the state have any concern that this county-by-county approach will confuse businesses and patrons about what they’re allowed to be doing?”
Stelnicki returned with a more long-winded response full of snark, but this time taking a jab at the reporter, appearing to question her ability to read attachments from the Governor’s news release:
Did you read the attachment to the news release yesterday and find it confusing? Please let us know if we can help you understand it. Three colors is not confusing. Checking a website— or asking your county to check a website—once every two weeks is not difficult. Many other states operate precisely this way. Many communities and legislators, particularly Republican legislators, have been demanding exactly this county-by-county framework for months, please make the time to ask them whether they are glad to see it now and hold them accountable to their prior statements on the matter. These questions assume that this method of enacting and publicizing the restrictions is somehow comprehensively different than what has been the case for the last 9 months. It is not. Businesses and anyone else who wants to monitor these developments can look to the exact same places they’ve been looking. The levels will be clearly demarcated on the state’s websites. We are creating web widgets they can use on their own websites.
Reader then asked, “We noticed that for the first time, close quarters businesses are being asked to open at 25 percent capacity or 10 people, whichever is smaller. Can you tell us what forced the 10 people cap to be added to the capacity requirement? Additionally, did you all consider lifting the 75 person requirement on essential retail businesses (I know a lot of people have been upset about the lines at large box stores)?”
As usual, Stelnicki responded by claiming the hours-long lines New Mexicans have been standing in to get basic goods and food are a “minor inconvenience.”
His response in-full:
A line is a minor inconvenience, for which the state is sympathetic. The state is also sympathetic to the overworked nurses and doctors in the state’s hospitals and the thousands of families who are suffering and grieving right now The state will continue to prioritize saving lives and protecting New Mexicans while providing for as much safe economic day-to-day activity as possible.
The Piñon Post reported on the long lines last week after the Governor’s office told KOB 4 that the lines were just “Republican talking points.” The office also claimed, “The state is not forcing anyone to stand in a crowded line, as you suggest.” Coincidentally, Stelnicki now appears to be punishing the television station (a station that has bent over backward to placate the Lujan Grisham Administration at every turn: see below) with his latest tantrum, throwing not only the reporter under the bus, but also county officials, New Mexicans, and Republicans in general for pointing out the Governor’s massive flip-flop on policy.
.@GovMLG’s allies in the mainstream media are working overtime to deliver the Governor’s scare tactics to the people of New Mexico. Objective journalism? Not.
New Mexicans responded to the Governor’s office’s latest snark-fest on Twitter.
State Rep. Rebecca Dow (R-Truth or Consequences), wrote, “Just wow! Her SILENCE towards his condescending tone IS AGREEMENT. Apparently we are not ‘all in this together’”
Matt García Síerra wrote, “Hey NM media, kudos for keeping @GovMLG staffers honest. Their petty responses indicate you’re making them do their jobs. You know, the jobs they’re still cashing in on, while New Mexicans are unemployed.”
It should be noted that Stelnicki and his counterparts in the Governor’s office have full funding and do not face budget cutbacks due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On average, the Governor’s staffers make around $100,000 each annually.
Grace Reader herself even took to Twitter, sharing the Q&A article and writing, “As a reporter, it’s my job to ask questions, especially when your livelihood and health is at stake. Today we asked about the next phase of the public health order, here’s how the state responded to those questions”
The condescending responses by Stelnicki are just the latest from him toward anyone daring to offer substantive questions or points he disagrees with. In April, Stelnicki wrote on Twitter that Republicans are a “death cult.” The Governor’s office did not apologize or respond. However, Stelnicki went silent for months, with Lujan Grisham’s press secretary Nora Sackett speaking publicly for the office in the interim.
Sackett is also known for being hostile to the press, such as in September when Española Mayor Javier Sanchez rebuked the Governor for chiding Españolans on mask-wearing despite only observing the alleged non-compliance from the back seat of her chauffeured car.
Sackett said, “Every media outlet that covered the mayor of Española’s self-righteous op ed will now also cover his flagrant hypocrisy and violation of the public health order, right?”
Before the Thanksgiving holiday, Sackett claimed, “New Mexico Republicans want you and your loved ones to get COVID-19 and potentially die” because the Party called out the Governor’s unreasonable 5-person household limit for gatherings.
It should also be noted that every time the Piñon Post has reached out to Nora Sackett or Tripp Stelnicki for comment, we have never heard a word back, and instead have had to use the Information of Public Records Act (IPRA) any time we have had a question regarding the Lujan Grisham Administration. On average, this process takes two weeks to produce information, and it is mostly not adequate due to redactions.
