CITY of ALBUQUERQUE
TWENTY FIFTH COUNCIL
COUNCIL BILL NO. R-23-170 ENACTMENT NO. ________________________
SPONSORED BY: Dan Lewis, Brook Bassan, Louie Sanchez, and Renée Grout
RESOLUTION
title
Urging Comprehensive Legislative Action For Public Safety And Behavioral Health Improvement At The Next Legislative Session (Lewis, Bassan, Sanchez, Grout)
body
URGING COMPREHENSIVE LEGISLATIVE ACTION FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH IMPROVEMENT AT THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
WHEREAS, New Mexico has been grappling with a significantly elevated violent crime rate; and
WHEREAS, it is imperative for the state to take proactive measures to prevent crime and ensure the incarceration of dangerous criminals; and
WHEREAS, New Mexico has recorded substantial revenue surpluses in recent years, demonstrating the state's capacity for substantial investments in public safety and healthcare; and
WHEREAS, the State of New Mexico Annual Financial Report for 2020 indicated a total revenue of $7.8 billion; and
WHEREAS, the Legislative Finance Committee's (LFC) August Money Matters report has projected recurring revenues for FY23 at $11.641 billion, reflecting a significant increase of $1.966 billion or 20.3% from FY22; and
WHEREAS, the same report estimated that revenue for 2024 would reach $12.611 billion; and
WHEREAS, the Legislative Finance Committee Activity Report has noted recurring revenues for FY23 through March at $8.99 billion, a substantial increase of $1.9 billion or 27.7% from the same period in the previous year, surpassing the December estimate by 7.8%; and
WHEREAS, the behavioral health system in New Mexico, particularly substance abuse treatment, has been failing its residents, causing widespread harm; and
WHEREAS, drug addiction has been identified as one of the root causes of crime, necessitating comprehensive efforts to address both property and violent crime; and
WHEREAS, people charged with violent crimes pose a significant threat to our community; and
WHEREAS, in August of 2021, Governor Lujan Grisham unequivocally declared her support for a "rebuttable presumption" as a critical measure to address the revolving door of violent crime that has plagued our state stating, “I believe a rebuttable presumption for individuals accused of violent crimes can be a wedge in the revolving door of repeat violent offenses that have characterized the worst aspects of the crime our state continues to experience”; and
WHEREAS, the State House and the State Senate appropriated $10 million for warrant enforcement; and
WHEREAS, Governor Lujan Grisham said, “If you’re abusing the pretrial system in New Mexico: Your time is up,” in her press release announcing the release of the warrant enforcement funds; and
WHEREAS, repeat violent offenders who use firearms in the commission of their crime pose a greater threat to the public; and
WHEREAS, Alex Piquero, a criminologist at the University of Texas at Dallas, said "A routine finding in the criminological literature is that about half of the crime is committed by a very small fraction of the population.”
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL, THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE:
Section 1. The Governor should consider calling a special legislative session, and the Governor, New Mexico House, and New Mexico Senate should prioritize addressing the behavioral health crisis in New Mexico and create a comprehensive plan allocating the necessary resources to combat the opioid and methamphetamine addiction epidemic, enhance mental health services, and improve addiction treatment access throughout the state.
Section 2. The Governor should consider calling a special legislative session, and the Governor, New Mexico House, and New Mexico Senate is encouraged to prioritize reform of the pretrial detention system including the implementation of a "rebuttable presumption" for individuals charged with murder, gun crimes, rape, human trafficking, or other serious sex crimes.
Section 3. The Governor should consider calling a special legislative session, and the Governor, New Mexico House, and New Mexico Senate should prioritize continued funding of the warrant enforcement program at current levels for the next five years.
Section 4. The Governor should consider calling a special legislative session, and the Governor, New Mexico House, and New Mexico Senate should prioritize passing legislation that imposes a lifetime sentence for repeat offenders who use firearms in the commission of the violent crime after committing a third violent offense.
Section 5. The City Clerk is directed to transmit copies of this Resolution to the Governor of New Mexico, the New Mexico Legislature, and the City of Albuquerque State Legislative Delegation.
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