Las Cruces mayor stands with governor as special session begins

It’s a long drive from Las Cruces to Santa Fe.

Long enough that Mayor Eric Enriquez noted it as he added his voice to those of other municipal officials declaring the start of the 2024 special session with Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on July 17 at a news conference in Santa Fe.

“This is important to me,” Enriquez said at the news conference. “I just drove four hours to be here because it’s that important.”

Enriquez and other supporters of the special session said this was a key opportunity to address public safety concerns in New Mexico.

The governor proposed legislative changes that include making it easier to involuntarily commit people accused of crimes, reforming criminal competency processes, forcing police departments to produce better statistics, banning panhandling in medians, cracking down on organized crime and setting tougher penalties for selling fentanyl.

“My background is that of a firefighter, fire marshal, law enforcement, fire chief. So, public safety is my background, and fighting crime is important to our community, our county, and our state,” Enriquez said.

But opponents – including civil rights groups Bold Futures, Equality New Mexico, the ACLU of New Mexico and the New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness – condemned the governor’s remarks as scapegoating and perpetuating harmful narratives about New Mexicans who are experiencing homelessness, mental illness and addiction.

“In recent days, the governor has appeared in the media with individuals experiencing homelessness in the background. Instead of villainizing them or using them as props, she could have offered them a meal, or to connect them with services – just as she could be calling for legislation that would address New Mexico’s lack of affordable housing and services,” said Monet Silva, executive director at the New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness in a news release.

“Her decision to focus on punishment and criminalization is cruel, ineffective, and will harm the most vulnerable people in our communities.”

But for Enriquez and others, public safety questions are bolstered by a troubling year in Las Cruces. Enriquez invoked the death of Jonah Hernandez, a Las Cruces Police Department officer who was stabbed to death while responding to a trespassing call.

“This officer was killed by an individual who was unhoused at the time and an individual who had a track record of mental health issues and repeat offenses, and that’s what we’re combating today, Enriquez said. However, the man’s family told local news that he had access to housing at the time of the killing.

It’s unclear how long the special session will last, especially given the opposition from some legislators and civil rights organizations. State law limits them to 30 days, but most last around a week or two.

“I know that coming to a special session is not going to please everyone. But I do know this: if you don’t show up, you’re not going to please anyone,” Enriquez said.