Ledes from the Land of Enchantment

New Mexico gov. wants bail reform, more officers statewide | Local News

ALBUQUERQUE – Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham praised her administration’s achievements and outlined two of her top priorities for the upcoming legislature during a meeting of some of New Mexico’s key players in the commercial real estate industry on Tuesday.

Lujan Grisham, who is running for re-election in 2022 and has been pounded by critics for crime – including a record-breaking number of murders in Albuquerque – told members of a commercial real estate group best known by the acronym NAIOP they would “stand up.” take part in national public safety initiatives.

“No. 1 we will ask for $ 100 million to go into a fund that would collectively enable us to employ 1,000 additional nationwide civil servants. It’s not just the state police, ”she said during a lunch for the New Mexico Chapter of the Commercial Real Estate Development Association.

Bail reform is also required by the governor. Lujan Grisham said she has appointed “a good number” of new judges, from the district court to the supreme court, and bail reform has been an issue in every previous interview.

“We are going to ask the legislature … to define who is and who is not,” she said. “Right now we are working on a bill that says if you commit a crime with a gun … you are not safe enough to get out of jail before your trial. We think this is going to be a sea . ” Change.”

Lujan Grisham, who arrived for lunch about 30 minutes after her scheduled start time at 12:30 p.m., spoke with a mask. They were required to enter the Albuquerque Marriott Ballroom.

Lujan Grisham said she wanted to ensure that New Mexico does not reduce or remove “meaningful” constitutional protection.

“But we don’t want any violent criminals on our streets either,” she said.

While public safety will be “the focus” during the 30-day budget meeting, Lujan Grisham said her administration will also pursue an “economic aspect” that will focus on efforts to make New Mexico what it is referred to as the “hydrogen hub for the United States.”

“It’s the next big sector,” she said, “if we don’t find ways to decarbonise [transportation]”All the work we do in the oil and gas industry has limited value to the entire state on climate change and the environment.”

Although Lujan Grisham’s push on hydrogen has raised concerns among a coalition of environmental groups, the governor said it could be a godsend for the state.

“It means billions in revenue, possibly hundreds of billions, are flowing through our state over the course of a decade or two,” she said.

Stuart Hamilton, who was Angel Fire Mayor from 2008 to 2012 and is now General Manager of Goodman’s Interior Structures, said the governor’s focus on hydrogen stood out in her remarks.

“It is good that they are looking forward to other things and not just the old: How do we regulate oil and gas?” he said. “They are looking for other options.”

During her speech, the governor announced that John Garcia, executive vice president of the Home Builders Association, had been elected as cabinet secretary for the General Services Department. He said he should take up the position on November 1st. Garcia said he served as secretary for tourism and economic development in Gary Johnson’s administration.

Lynne Andersen, president of the New Mexico chapter of the Commercial Real Estate Development Association, said the group has invited the governor to speak to its members every year since she was president for the past 26 years.

“It is important to hear from the highest person in our state who controls much of what affects development and economic development in New Mexico,” she said.

Andersen said many of the people who visited at noon Tuesday were owners of locally owned businesses.

“Unfortunately – I add that I think the state needs to understand – is that these companies often leave the state to keep their business going in New Mexico because Texas has very different rules and regulations than Arizona , Colorado, Utah, who are much more receptive to business and personal affairs than sometimes New Mexico, “she said.

Andersen said the governor’s speech touched on issues beyond the “commercial real estate world”.

“We need to create more jobs,” she said. “We have to build a higher standard of living for the whole state, and my boys are doing that.”

While the governor’s remarks were generally well received by the industry group, Lujan Grisham was again greeted by around 20 protesters outside.

“We’re sick of tyranny,” said Kathy Carrillo, a 54-year-old business owner from Albuquerque. “We’re tired of mandates [stemming from the coronavirus pandemic], taking away our freedoms. Everything it stands for is wrong, and if we don’t get up now we will lose everything. “

Carrillo wore a t-shirt that read “New Mexican Lizard People Unite” on the front, a nod to a joke Lujan Grisham had made when a large group of protesters disrupted an event in June when it officially announced that they would be re-elected to become.

“I just have to say,” said Lujan Grisham at the time, “I’m sorry that we chose the same place where the QAnon Lizard People meeting took place.”

Carrillo said some of the governor’s critics “totally accepted” the attribution.

“QAnon, you know, that’s something completely different, but we are the lizard people,” she said. “Keep it up. We do that. We turn bad for good, and we will continue to do so. ”

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