April 13, 2020

To:  Governor Lujan Grisham

From: A New Mexico Small Business Owner

 

Dear Governor Lujan Grisham,

As your administration continues to take action to decrease the spread of the Corona-virus, we as small business owners (and the families of those working for these business) are at or nearing a point of no return.  To put it bluntly: Your decisions are destroying the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands in our state who own or work for small businesses. We simply cannot continue under these harsh restrictions.  

New Mexico is one of the least densely populated states in the country and yet we have mandates from your office that are as strict as that of highly populated states. Your policies are holding our economic, social, and spiritual well-being hostage. Governor, the numbers don’t add up to justify your office’s mandates and the removal of our freedoms.

The business that supports my family, and my employees’ families, is facing a very high probability of closing (after 31 years of serving our community) if these restrictions are not lifted very soon. I know I am not alone in this.

Is your plan to destroy New Mexico’s small businesses and push our already poor state into further dependence on government programs? If so, well done!

Why can national box stores, convenience stores, restaurants, and breweries all be allowed to have revenue streams with modified operations and occupancy during this time, while businesses like mine go without income?

People are gathering in public parks, yet you’ve closed state parks, golf courses, and our beloved Quality Waters on the San Juan River. People need to get outside, yet you’ve limited the number of places they can go. So more people are gathering and shopping in fewer places. Isn’t that the opposite of what you say you’re trying to accomplish with these policies?

People of the Four Corners are driving to Colorado, Utah, and Arizona to fish, golf, and hike while still responsibly practicing social distancing. You are not stopping people from engaging in these activities, you are just sending them across state lines to spend their money elsewhere.

You say, “We’re all in this together.” But as I look at the effect of these excessive restrictions, it truly seems that some of us are being asked to gladly sacrifice everything, while government and government employees are asked to contribute nothing!

The businesses that you have shut down do not take the Corona-virus lightly.  However, I’ve heard the absurd argument that if you challenge any of your Corona-virus restrictions, we are putting profit over the lives of vulnerable New Mexicans.  This is complete and utter garbage. Myself, and other small business owners do care about those who are vulnerable to this virus, but we also care about the thousands of our small businesses which are on the verge of financial collapse. Are you prepared for the devastation of foreclosures, evictions, repossessions, and bankruptcies that a we as small business are facing and the ruined livelihoods of thousands when the debt collectors are set free to come after us with no income and very real bills to pay?

Further, good people that need to be attending AA or NA meetings are being isolated by your policies, their very lives are at stake. A state that struggles with drug addiction will likely see spikes in DUI, domestic abuse and incarceration.

Many New Mexicans are fighting for their lives and well-being financially, emotionally, physically, and spiritually… And not because of COVID-19, but because of your extreme policies.

My hope is that this letter gets your attention, as very small businesses (like mine) will not survive another extension of your restrictions. Most businesses that have fewer than 10 employees are not members of trade organizations and we don’t have high-powered lobbyists that work to protect our interests – we rely on our elected officials. Our small business economy is dying and it seems that you couldn’t care less!

Governor, please do the right thing for New Mexico and reduce these insane restrictions now. Allow our businesses to operate in a responsible way at reduced capacity. Reopen outdoor spaces so people are no longer crowding city parks, and so people stop spending their recreation dollars in neighboring states.

Respectfully,

Mark Garcia

Small Business Owner and Concerned Citizen of NM

 

These economic concerns are very important to New Mexico. Please sign on to our petition and if you are a business owner, copy the text of the letter above and email to the Governor at covidpress@state.nm.us to make sure that your voice is heard. And also, please share this petition on social media and via email to any business contacts to make sure that our concerns are not pushed to the wayside before we move past the point of no return.