Operations at Silver City, Ruidoso eateries endangering public health
The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) suspended food permits from two restaurants that opened for dine-in service in violation of the Food Service and Sanitation Act.
Jalisco Cafe in Silver City and Anaheim Jacks in Ruidoso were served notifications of the suspensions by NMED on Friday. Dine-in service is prohibited under the state’s public health order.
“When any business presents an imminent risk to public health or the environment, the Department will not hesitate to use all of its authorities to protect New Mexicans,” said NMED Cabinet Secretary James Kenney. “Unlike these two businesses, the vast majority of restaurants are operating in compliance and protecting public health from the threat of COVID-19.”
“The New Mexico Restaurant Association does not support restaurants opening against the Governor’s orders,” said Carol Wight, Chief Executive Officer of the New Mexico Restaurant Association.
The two restaurants must cease providing food service immediately. Failing to do so may result in legal action from the Department. If these establishments correct the violations, they may request that NMED reinstate their food service permit.
The Food Service and Sanitation Act (NMSA 1978, Section 25-1-9) authorizes NMED to immediately suspend a permit if “conditions within a food service establishment present a substantial danger of illness, serious physical harm or death to consumers who might patronize the food service establishment.”
If you suspect a violation of the public health order, email covid.enforcement@state.nm.us or call your local public safety non-emergency line.
[Editor's Note: The notice of immediate food service permit suspension for Anaheim Jack's is substantially the same as this one.]
May 22, 2020
NOTICE OF IMMEDIATE FOOD SERVICE PERMIT SUSPENSION
Notice is hereby given that the food service permit for Jalisco Cafe (Permittee) permit number 000228 is immediately suspended for violating the Food Service and Sanitation Act. The Permittee is operating in a manner that presents a substantial danger of illness, serious physical harm or death to consumers who patronize the food service establishment for dine in service given the public health emergency declared by the Governor of the State of New Mexico (Executive Order 2020-030, May 15, 2020) and the Public Health Order issued by the Secretary of the Department of Health (May 15, 2020) related to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The authority for this permit suspension is derived from the Food Service and Sanitation Act, NMSA 1978, Section 25-1-9, which states as follows:
The agency may suspend a permit immediately without prior notice to the holder of the permit if it determines, after inspection, that conditions within a food service establishment present a substantial danger of illness, serious physical harm or death to consumers who might patronize the food service establishment. A suspension action taken under this section is effective when communicated to the food service establishment operator or any employee or agent of the operator who is in charge of the premises involved. If there is no designated employee or agent in charge of the premises, communication to any employee physically present on the premises is sufficient communication to make the suspension effective.
The Permittee may request an appeal hearing by submitting a timely written request as specified in paragraphs 35 and 36 of Subsection B of 7.6.2.8 NMAC to:
Hearing Clerk
Office of Public Facilitation
New Mexico Environment Department P.O. Box 5469
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87502 pub.facilitation@state.nm.us
James C. Kenney
Cabinet Secretary
Jennifer J. Pruett
Deputy Secretary
If the establishment continues to engage in food service operations after this Notice is served, the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) may seek relief in district court to enjoin the operation of the establishment. In addition to granting injunctive relief, the district court may impose a civil penalty not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500) on any person who violates any provision of the Food Service Sanitation Act. Each and every violation of the provisions of that act shall constitute a separate offense. NMSA 1978, Section 25-1-12, Enforcement.
Upon curing the violation, the Permittee may request NMED reinstate their food service permit by submitting a written request for re-inspection to:
Jonathan Gerhardt
Food Program Manager
New Mexico Environment Department Albuquerque, NM 87502 Johnathan.gerhardt@state.nm.us
The NMED is authorized and has the duty to execute any provisions of the Food Service Sanitation Act delegated to it under the Act or by the Environmental Improvement Board. The NMED is specifically directed to administer and enforce the provisions of regulations adopted under it. Pursuant to the delegation of signature authority executed by the Secretary of the Environment Department on January 15, 2020, the Environmental Protection Division Director is delegated to sign food permit revocations.
If you have any questions related to this Notice, please contact Sandra Ely, Environmental Protection Division Director, at 505-629-6307 or sandra.ely@state.nm.us.