Albuquerque Journal: Editorial
February 26, 2021
For full editorial, visit https://www.abqjournal.com/2363518/governors-gourmet.html...

But as tens of thousands of New Mexicans were denied not only holiday get-togethers but funerals, as they struggled to sign up for unemployment, their tax dollars were being used for tuna steaks, Wagyu beef, liquor and dry cleaning. A governor's spokesman says some of the $6,500-plus grocery bill fed the governor's Cabinet and staff at long meetings during the second half of 2020.

And that begs the question, instead of purchasing high-end gourmet food, why not feed those attendees by supporting our struggling local restaurants that had curbside service?

According to the Santa Fe New Mexican, one of the receipts showed the Governor's Office spent more than $200 during one trip in September to Sam's Club, buying at least five bottles of tequila, two bottles of vodka, two bottles of merlot, a bottle of whiskey and a bottle of gin. Spokesman Tripp Stelnicki said the liquor was bought by a staffer for a holiday party that never took place and so it was never opened.

September seems awfully early to be buying beverages for a Thanksgiving or Christmas party.

...But ordering gourmet grub and gallons of booze while tens of thousands of New Mexicans were unemployed was simply arrogant and out of touch. Doing it with tax funds while the state's unemployment coffers were emptied was just plain wrong.
...
Over the past 11 months, the governor has held lengthy news conferences on a regular basis to provide updates, urge New Mexicans to follow safety protocols and thank them for making sacrifices as we all battle this deadly enemy. She often says "we are all in this together."

But that's a hard message to sell when she is enjoying taxpayer-purchased Japanese beef and classic Canadian whisky while many New Mexicans are just trying to keep their families fed.