Community orgs plan to attend governor’s town hall, but members of the public still unaware

Las Cruces from the foothills of the Organ Mountains in Doña Ana County. (Photo by Leah Romero for Source NM)

LAS CRUCES – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s first public safety town hall is tonight in Las Cruces, but some members of the public are seemingly unaware of the community discussion.

The town hall was announced by the governor’s office Monday, four days after the hours-long special legislative session called by Lujan Grisham to pass several public safety bills. Instead, legislators passed House Bill 1 providing additional wildfire and flood relief funds to the Ruidoso area. Then they adjourned. 

“The town hall in Las Cruces this Thursday is an opportunity to hear directly from New Mexicans grappling with the state’s crime problem and collaborate as a community on effective strategies to enhance public safety statewide,” the governor’s office said.

Additional public safety town halls planned by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham

Monday, July 29

5:30 p.m.  – 7:30 p.m.

Albuquerque

CNM Main Campus

Smith Brasher Hall

717 University Blvd. SE

Tuesday, July 30

5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Española

Northern New Mexico College Event Center

921 N. Paseo de Oñate 

Representatives from community action organizations throughout the state, including the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico, plan to attend.

However, the news about the event slowly got to the public.

Robin Teran said she had not heard about the community meeting and was not likely to attend. 

“I don’t tend to attend these things as much as I do read about them afterwards, find out what was said, what was decided,” Teran said. 

Teran is originally from Las Vegas, Nevada and has lived in Las Cruces since 2015. She said she generally feels very safe in southern New Mexico and has experienced only a few instances of crime. 

“I don’t know if that’s because of where I come from or what that might be,” she said. “I would say the one thing that we have had issues with in crime are the porch pirates, people going through your mailbox. I’m not sure what can be done about that.”

Sharon Clear agreed that she “basically” feels safe in her community, particularly with having previously lived in Los Angeles. She moved to Las Cruces in 2008. Clear was also unaware of the meeting, but said she would typically consider attending events centered around public safety discussions. 

“I feel safe here. I pretty much love New Mexico,” Clear said. 

However, she said she would like to see more action taken to assist unhoused people. Affordable housing is under construction near her home, she said, but more needs to be done, particularly when people step out into the street asking for money.

“You worry about hitting them,” Clear said. 

Nicole Martinez, executive director of Mesilla Valley Community of Hope, a nonprofit organization in Las Cruces that facilitates services for the unhoused community, said there is a need for more affordable housing as well as flexible services that can weather legislative change.  

“The rhetoric lately seems to be that if we push for housing and expanded mental health services as opposed to punitive, costly and mandatory measures, that we are against public safety. And that’s just not the case,” she said.

Alex Comandante has only lived in Las Cruces for four months and owns a food business, Tainos Roast House. He said his issues with safety are not with people in the community, but with the government. 

“I think we’re being oppressed. Maybe not by the City of Las Cruces, but I’m talking in general,” Comandante said. “I don’t feel as much threat from anybody like, individuals or the community, you know, right. To me, they’re nice people.”

Today’s town hall will be held at 5:30 p.m. at the Las Cruces Convention Center, 680 E. University Ave. and live streamed from the governor’s Facebook page.

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