AP Article On Grants, New Mexico Stores Opening

Above, Grants Mayor Martin Hicks this morning. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Associated Press (AP) has posted an article on the stores in Grants, New Mexico reopening, which is what most of the world will see.

It begins with:

GRANTS, N.M. (AP) — The mayor of a small New Mexico city and several dozen supporters rallied Monday as he encouraged business owners to defy a lockdown order by the governor that shuttered nonessential shops to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. 

Grants Mayor Martin “Modey” Hicks vowed last week to allow all small businesses to reopen. The move came as some other rural communities across the country pressured their state and local officials to let them reopen amid rising unemployment and other economic turmoil. 

In Grants, a western New Mexico town of around 9,000 residents, the mayor told protesters the time had come to end the shutdown despite warnings from Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham that it could put people at risk.

Hicks said only a fraction of New Mexico residents have been infected by the virus and it doesn’t make sense to keep small businesses closed. 

“The governor is killing the state over a little bug,” Hicks said at the rally.

To read the full article, go here.

UPDATE:

Later in the day, it was reported by KOAT Channel 7, the governor's Gestapo (New Mexico State Police) reneged on their agreement with Sheriff Tony Mace to stay out of Grants. They came in and served a notice of violation to the city for "violating" the governor's lockdown order. Apparently, the governor leaned on the chief of the New Mexico State Police.

From KOAT:

Shortly after the Mayor declared the city was open, the state police showed up at the town’s golf course and gave them a “notice of violation.” It indicated if they continued to remain open they could be formally cited $5,000. 

That did not stop Mayor Hicks. He rushed to the golf course, told all of the golfers who were coming off to get back on and finish their games. 

“What's wrong? Social distancing guys get a shot of that,” Hicks told reporters while holding his arms up and walking towards a wide open golf course. “How is that for social distancing.” 

“I am going to come back and golf today for sure and haven’t golfed in years.” 

About 20 people were on the course at the time including City Councilor Rick Lucero, who just finished 18 holes.

Mayor Hicks says that if the city is formally cited, he's going to sue the state in court.