Santa Fe City Councilors discuss armored police vehicles, obelisk, safe outdoor space program

SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – It was a busy night for Santa Fe City Council that started with councilors acknowledging the two victims of violent crime in the city in the last month including the victim of the Sonic shooting and 83-year-old Gordon Wilson who was killed outside Best Buy.

The council considered a proposal to spend $1.9 million on armored vehicles. A number of people came out to speak against the proposal saying it would only lower trust in police. Only a few people spoke out in favor of it.

Constituents also came out in large numbers to give their input on the future of the obelisk in the center of the plaza. A bill was introduced to the city council that looks into the feasibility of moving the Solider’s Monument to the Santa Fe National Cemetery. If passed, the fourth plaque with the word “savages” would be removed.

More than a dozen constituents came out to speak against the proposal. “To relegate this and move this to veteran’s cemetery essentially buries that history. I’m very much opposed to this,” said a speaker.

Those who spoke against the proposal also asked the council to wait until litigation surrounding the protest that took down part of the obelisk in 2020 is complete. The proposal will now head to committee and go back to the council for a final vote at the end of the month.

City Councilors unanimously passed a motion to expand their safe outdoor space pallet shelter program . Over $800,000 will be allocated for the expansion and give privately owned properties the ability to host 64-square-foot shelters for Santa Fe’s homeless population. In March 2023, Santa Fe Mayor Alan Webber approved the pilot program to purchase 25 pallet homes.

City officials said the pilot program has been successful. “We’ve seen a rise in seniors needing housing, we’ve seen a rise in people with disabilities too. This is really an opportunity to be proactive and work with our community and partners to provide housing,” said Community Services Director Maria Sanchez-Tucker, City of Santa Fe.

The funding will allow for 100 more pallet shelters and new hygiene stations.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.