Shuler Hosts Governor Lujan Grisham Town Hall

By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media

The Historic Shuler Theater played host to New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s Public Safety Town Hall Monday evening January 13, 2025, at 5:30 p.m.

This is the twelfth town hall meeting the Governor has hosted across the state. Mayor Neil Segotta welcomed the crowd to the Shuler theater on this cold evening. Governor Grisham then opened the meeting talking about what she wanted to accomplish this evening, especially along the lines of public safety. She went on to talk about data sharing and communication between agencies. She also covered some of the problems in the court system especially repeat offenders.

Grisham also talked about behavioral health and is hoping that the legislature will bring her a big appropriation to help deal with mental illness. She went to add that New Mexico doesn’t have any mandatory treatment programs, and she is hoping that this will change with the upcoming legislature making changes to many of the laws in New Mexico to help deal with these issues.

Grisham is hoping that input from the town halls will give legislature something to work with. After introductions the program was opened up for questions and comments from the audience.

Former Magistrate Judge Warren Walton asked about judges being allowed to do no bond holds and keep defendants in custody. Grisham talked about the constitutional change that was passed that allowed judges to release all defendants from custody. After seeing how this worked the state is working on ways to change this. The Governor is in favor of pre-trial detention but doesn’t feel the legislature is very open to repealing that amendment.

Rich Kuhns asked what the citizens can do to help with the situation. Grisham then explained that drugs are moving through the state on the interstates and is worried about that as she is seeing an increase in crimes in places like Tucumcari. She went on to add that the state is one of the highest in the country for homeless. She went to add that she often stops when she sees a homeless person and finds that they are not locals but are from out of state and they respond that they are here because it’s legal here to do what they are doing. She went on to talk about illegal guns, especially in the hands of kids noting that they are finding these weapons online.

Si Trujillo spoke about the judicial side, especially when it comes to funding the sheriff’s department for court security. He asked if the state could provide funding to the court, so the court could help cover the cost of court security for the sheriff’s office. Trujillo also noted that capital outlay also covers vehicles, and the rural areas go through vehicles because of the area they have to cover. We need help with getting funding for new vehicles. The governor told Trujillo bring me the requests and she will try to fund those requests.

Another spectator asked why the sheriffs don’t get along with each other. Grisham blames the internet for a lot of problems. She went on to talk about how things went during COVID and how many sheriffs refused to enforce some of the policies and how this has overflowed into other laws that have been brought forth. She feels the state is improving on this issue and we have room to improve.

Sue Martin talked about property owners and squatters. She was a victim of this problem as she had a rental that was broken into and had squatters. It seems to her that squatters have more rights than the property owners asking how we can get the laws changed. Grisham wants to take a new look at the laws and make changes that help property owners.

Scott Foreman voiced opposition to a bill governor is pushing about strategic water supply act. He went on to indicate that $75 million to help with produced water. Foreman feels this is a bailout for the oil and gas industry in their problem of water disposal. Grisham wants the industry to pay for disposal of water. She added the industry takes the water over the line and disposes of the water in Texas. She wants the water cleaned up and with current technology can be cleaned up and provide the state with additional water for agriculture. She went on to iterate that the administration isn’t pushing the use of produced water. But it can be cleaned up and used for agriculture.

Bill Allen talked about fire coverage insurance indicating that he is losing his fire coverage insurance along with others and is asking if the state can do anything to help with the loss of this insurance. The state can’t tell a company how to do business but is trying to work with companies to change this. The insurance industry is in trouble, and she said the state is looking at ways to create a fund to cover medical malpractice and fire insurance.

Angie Gonzales talked about praying for those governing us and that they will need our prayers as we go along this next year and help prisoners stay in touch with family. Grisham indicated we are doing good but there is room for improvement in the corrections department.

Rita Encinias also spoke about the high insurance rates then went on to talk about guns and youth getting access to guns. Grisham is adamant about working on some gun laws to try and prevent kids from gaining access to guns. She went on to talk about the red flag laws concerning gun laws. She went to add that there will be more debate on gun violence laws and that there needs to be some clarification on some laws already on the books.

Fire chief from Angel Fire asked about red flag warning laws and putting some teeth in them to allow law enforcement officers to enforce these restrictions. Also asked about the 48 hours waiting period concerning mental health issues. Grisham responded that she felt we are good on these things.

Monty Gore, Colfax County Manager, noted that law enforcement needs laws that we can enforce giving the example that the sheriff couldn’t charge an individual with a given law because the person committed the crime with a knife instead of a gun. He also asked about ankle monitoring statewide not just in a given county. Grisham noted that the ankle monitoring depended on the contractor and that there are problems that can be worked out.

Dean Torres talked about drug issues all over the county, noted that the problem is getting worse and mentioned he was a victim of the problem in that his vehicle had been broken into. He asked if a task force could be created to deal with the issue. Grisham noted this is a great big problem and would love to create a task force and deal with it. She noted that New Mexico has had some big busts, but we can do more and that the dealers haven’t spent enough time in custody and thus are back on the street dealing again.

Synthia Molina asked about improving technology in public safety including GIS systems. Grisham noted that not all agencies participate in all these areas with new technology. Grisham noted that there needs to be more improvement in cellular and broadband in the state.

Jose Lopez asked about camera systems with AI for crime areas and has the state considered using infrared cameras to detect fires. The state has cameras around and Grisham is highly in favor of it. More cameras have been added and more are needed, and she has had more cameras placed around state facilities.

Rick Clark asked about the southern border and will you be willing to work with the Trump administration on closing the border. Grisham wants the congress to pass a bipartisan immigration bill. Grisham added that if you want to get a criminal out of my state, I’m all for it. She isn’t in favor of mass deportation due to the disruption it could cause families. She doesn’t want to see families separated but if you’re a bad actor its time to leave.

Warren Walton spoke about medical care expressing concern about having to fly patients out for better care. He asked what the state can do to help bring better care to the area. Grisham stated they are looking at getting more money for medical care. The money that the state has given for some medical care has run out and they are looking for more. They are looking for more money and ways to deliver better medical care. The state is looking at reciprocity for licensing so a doctor can practice in other states as well as in New Mexico. The state needs to work better at getting more doctors to practice in the state.

Todd Tatum, Colfax County Commissioner, talked about the volunteer fire and EMS personnel. He noted that the small department is held to a high standard like paid departments, and they have equipment on the truck that they can’t use due to a lack of water. He also talked about the sheriff’s department and the need to pay them better and noted that Springer had three officers but could hardly pay for one officer. Grisham noted that the state is trying to help. She is aware that pay is an issue and there are things in the works to handle this problem.

Robert Gonzales talked about the I-25 project on Raton Pass and asked why it is taking so long to finish. Grisham wasn’t sure about the time frame and how much money had been made available for the project. Grisham noted that they are having a hard time getting money from the Feds for roads. She also noted that they are having issues getting construction crews and doing the work. She also noted that there have been several proposals to increase the gas tax, but the state needs to look for other funding other than the gas tax.

Laura Trimble asked about signage on the roads and that many are badly faded. Grisham noted that many of the signs have been replaced along the interstate and is committed to looking at replacing signs and will start on Highway 72.

Connie Martinez noted that she can no longer get a mammogram in Raton and that she must go to Santa Fe or Albuquerque to get this done. Grisham noted that female health issues are a problem, and she committed to looking into this issue and we will figure something out.

One parent talked about his special needs child and was frustrated that he couldn’t get his son educated. He has been home schooled for the last year and half. Grisham is also frustrated with education and is especially concerned about special education issues. She went on to say that she wants her special education secretary to come out and see what she can do to help with the issue.

Pam Martinez spoke about an elderly neighbor whose furnace had recently failed and that it took two days to get someone to come look at it and then it was going to take a week or more to get the repair parts. Grisham asked if the lady would be willing to move to a motel for a couple of days till the furnace was repaired. Martinez said not likely, and Grisham looked at Segotta sitting next to her and asked him to look into this as he is the director of the Aging and Long Term.

The meeting ended after 9:00 p.m. Monday evening after a 25-minute late start.