NMBC sent an open letter to Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham in April 2020, signed by 19 Mayors from around the state, pointing out that health orders to indefinitely close businesses and require people to stay at home, ignored many crucial health implications. The letter warned that such mandates would do more harm than good. A recent report to the NM Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) confirms (unfortunate but predictably) that we were right.

More people died last year in New Mexico from alcohol (1,770) and drug overdoses (766) and suicides (513), a total of 3,049 lost lives from these causes than died from Covid (2,477). Source: NMDOH & CDC. The LFC was told 'it was the pandemic' that contributed to the surge of overdose deaths in NM because of increased social isolation and disruption to treatment outreach.

Now running for re-election, the governor is touting how her "bold leadership" during the pandemic has saved lives. This while again using mandates under the banner of "public health" that puts thousands of jobs in jeopardy and continues to isolate many New Mexicans. NMBC urges the governor to focus on the needs of all New Mexicans; the "cure" should not be worse than the virus.