Albuquerque, August 18—Numbers don't lie, and a new report released by the New Mexico Restaurant Association proves Gov. Lujan Grisham has badly damaged the state's important restaurant industry, the latest vestige of the Governor's incompetence and ruthless action against New Mexico small businesses.

The report shows nearly one-fifth of New Mexico's restaurants—about 1,100—have permanently shut their doors in the past two years as a result of Lujan Grisham's impulsive and illegal COVID policies.

According to Gross Receipts Tax data from the Taxation and Revenue Department, there were 5,776 restaurants in 2019. Last year there were 4,683.

Lujan Grisham's horrible and illegal policies have taken a big bite out of our economy. During COVID out-of-state big box retailers were allowed to stay open while New Mexico's small businesses and restaurants were forced to close.

"This governor has snubbed hard-working New Mexicans throughout her tenure. She remains a callous governor who hasn't cared about shuttering businesses or devastating the lives of New Mexico restaurant owners, employees and their families," said Republican Party of New Mexico Chairman Steve Pearce. "She has shattered thousands of lives, and the number of closed restaurants speaks for itself. Lujan Grisham's rash and illogical decisions during COVID have severely crippled this vital industry. Small businesses will always be the heartbeat of New Mexico's economy."

According to the Small Business Administration, New Mexico small businesses employed 54% of the state's private workforce.

The painful closings came despite multiple calls from bipartisan lawmakers to change the Emergency Powers Code to include the State Legislature in the decision-making process. Lujan Grisham has continued to bypass state lawmakers with her stubborn and selfish actions.