Governor hasn't ruled out another special session as she prepares for town halls
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Jul. 23—Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is holding town halls in different parts of New Mexico to hear from residents about their public safety concerns and ideas on how to make the state a safer place to live.
The town halls, starting Thursday in Las Cruces, come a week after the Democratic-controlled Legislature ignored most of the governor's proposals to address mental health issues and other ills in New Mexico during a special session that was expected to last two to four days but ended in a matter of hours.
Michael Coleman, the governor's communications director, said Lujan Grisham hasn't ruled out calling lawmakers back to Santa Fe for another special session.
"Gov. Lujan Grisham is keeping all her options open," he wrote in an email Tuesday.
The town hall in Las Cruces will be followed by town halls Monday in Albuquerque and Tuesday in Española. All three will be from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
The one in Albuquerque will be held at Central New Mexico Community College's Smith Brasher Hall, 717 University Blvd., and the event in Española will be held at the Northern New Mexico College Event Center, 921 N. Paseo de Oñate.
In Las Cruces, the town hall will be at the Las Cruces Convention Center, 680 E. University Ave.
In a news release announcing Thursday's town hall in Las Cruces, Lujan Grisham said ensuring the safety and security of every New Mexican remains her top priority.
"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," she said.
Coleman wrote the governor promised to continue her fight to keep New Mexicans safe after lawmakers refused to consider her public safety proposals during the special session and abruptly adjourned.
"She is making good on her word, starting with three town halls scheduled in Las Cruces, Albuquerque, and Española," Coleman wrote.
"These public forums will ensure community members have a chance to discuss their public safety concerns, and potential solutions, with the governor and her staff," he added.
Follow Daniel J. Chacón on Twitter @danieljchacon.
