Dozens of Doña Ana Co. residents speak up at late night public safety town hall

America Terrazas speaks about public safety issues at the Doña Ana County colonia where she lives. She made the comments during a town hall in Las Cruces hosted by NM Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on July 25, 2024. (Photo by Danielle Prokop / Source NM)

LAS CRUCES – Hundreds of Southern New Mexicans packed into the Las Cruces Convention Center Thursday evening for over five hours of public discussion on public safety.

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham held the first in a series of town halls to hear from community members that live in the southern part of the state. She heard stories about inadequate police responses, theft at local businesses, and poor or absent infrastructure services in Doña Ana County colonias.

“We need a place for kids to have fun, not to go kill themselves,” America Terrazas told the governor.

Terrazas explained that she lives in a Doña Ana County colonia where there is a need for street lights, paved roads and other infrastructure to improve safety for residents and access to emergency services. She pointed to instances of children finding hypodermic needles and drug paraphernalia in public areas in her community.

The governor quickly started committing her office and other state agencies to look into specific situations that attendees like Terrazas shared. She also offered more support for issues that prompted the town hall tour, like people arrested for crimes and re-offending, services for unhoused people and those with behavioral health issues.

So far, Las Cruces is the only stop in southern New Mexico for such discussions by the Lujan Grisham administration.

The convention center ballroom where the event started at 5:30 p.m. quickly filled up with advocates, the governor’s staff and the public. Event staff had to open room dividers and pull out more chairs. The standing room only event went late into the evening.

Lujan Grisham was joined by Third Judicial District Attorney Gerald Beyers, Las Cruces Police Chief Jeremy Story, Doña Ana County Health & Human Services Director Jamie Michael and New Mexico Department of Health Secretary Patrick Allen.

Lujan Grisham noted that infrastructure issues Terrazas brought up are in the works for downtown Albuquerque and committed executive funding to Doña Ana County colonias and rural communities throughout the state for similar projects.

Edward Howell said he believes many of the public safety issues southern New Mexico faces start with bills being drafted with Santa Fe and Albuquerque in mind. Legislation then does not translate to every other community.

Several people brought up frequent experiences with retail crime and property damage to businesses.

Patricia Jimenez, the owner of the Little Shop, said she was pushed out of Las Cruces to La Mesa because of repeated physical threats and property damage.

Las Cruces police chief Story pointed to Operation Not in Vain which will begin in August and last through the end of the year. The effort was organized in honor of officer Jonah Hernandez with the Las Cruces Police Department who was killed while on duty last year.

He explained the operation will target a wide range of crimes, but will include a team working on retail theft.

Lujan Grisham added that there is still a need for more officers across the state, including Las Cruces, which will expand the capacity for the department to respond to calls.

Several people questioned the humanity of the governor’s proposed legislation addressing competency and assisted outpatient treatment. She stood behind the proposals, emphasizing the need for connecting people with mental illness with treatment and removing dangerous criminals from communities.

A couple of community members realized that their stances on these topics were actually in line with the governor’s proposals.

Around 50 attendees stayed at the convention center for over five hours waiting for their turn to talk, Lujan Grisham committed to staying as long as she needed to to hear everyone out. The town hall ended after 10 p.m.

Thursday was just the first in a series of three town halls planned so far. A panel will be in Albuquerque on Monday, July 29 and in Española on Tuesday, July 30.

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