Sandoval County Commission to send letter asking governor to declare state of emergency for crime, border issues

The Sandoval County Commission voted at its May 22 meeting to send a letter to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, asking for her to declare a state of emergency because of crime and issues at the U.S.-Mexico border.

The goal of the letter is to send an urgent appeal for the declaration of a state of emergency regarding the fentanyl crisis, human smuggling and crime rates in New Mexico.

Commissioners said the state needs to commit more resources to combating these problems.

After some discussion and two amendments, the letter was edited down with a description of the fentanyl crisis being removed.

District 3 Commissioner Michael Meek was concerned about the length and the tone of the letter.

“The undertone is political,” Meek said. “I think we need to say, ‘Yes, governor, you know what’s going on. You’re having a special session. We want you to control these items, and this is how we feel.’”

Lujan Grisham announced in April that she will call the New Mexico Legislature into a special session on July 18 to take up additional public safety protections.

Earlier this month, Lujan Grisham was recorded on a phone call where she had concerns about the border.

In the call, the governor said she wants more border patrol agents around the U.S.-Mexico border.

“For the love of God, put them at the border in Sunland Park where I don’t have a single Border Patrol agent, not one, and people pour over,” Lujan Grisham said.

District 2 Commissioner Jay Block said fentanyl is a big issue in Cuba and it is causing property crimes in Rio Rancho to increase.

“We should be very aware that fentanyl is destroying families, causing the financial ruin of people. I've also talked to the chief of police in Rio Rancho as well. Property crimes are very much affected with fentanyl for these drug addicts trying to sell and get their hands on whatever they can to get their next hit, so this is not a political issue by any means. This is a health issue. And if the governor can do it for guns and take away your constitutional rights but not do it when you lose your life to fentanyl, I find that very ass backwards.”

The issue of sending a similar letter to Lujan Grisham came up at the March 13 commission meeting but was voted down as Chair Dave Heil wanted to see more research about fentanyl and the border.

“In our last discussion was a question about fentanyl deaths. By doing some research with the CDC, we find that fentanyl deaths in Sandoval County are about 24 per 100,000, which not that 24 of any is good; the comparison to Rio Ariba, which is 95 per 100,000, and Bernalillo County is 41 per 100,000,” Heil said. “I think we're doing fairly well, but you know that those things don't seem to be controlled by borders.”

The edited letter ends with, "We appreciate the challenges you face leading our state, and we trust that you will give careful consideration to this matter. Your decisive action in declaring a state of emergency will undoubtedly make a significant impact in safeguarding the lives and futures of the people of New Mexico."

The commission voted 5-0 in favor of sending the letter to Lujan Grisham.

“The county commission today, three Republicans and two Democrats, agreed on everything. I mean, that is amazing,” Block said. “So that shows us coming together and working together. And, man, I really wish our ridiculous politicians in Santa Fe and in Washington, D.C., would do the same thing for our country. So for the people of Sandoval County, tonight you had your local government working for you, and that's a good thing.”