Farmington Mayor Nate Duckett has declared Farmington to be an economic emergency area as a result of COVID-19.
In the declaration, the mayor explains an economic disaster has resulted from the governor’s public health ordered issued March 11 by defining businesses as essential and nonessential.
Doing such, unjustly dictates winners and losers by discriminating against small businesses and specialized retailers. Duckett said these businesses employ, pay wages and provide health care benefits to a large portion of the state’s workforce. Closures of these businesses has led to the highest levels of unemployment in the state’s history and will lead to higher rates of poverty and negative outcomes for families and children.
Duckett commended the governor for exhibiting decisive leadership in the face of a global public health emergency by educating New Mexicans about their role to flatten the curve and protect the integrity of the health care system through social distancing, preventative hygiene practices and the stay-at-home order.
He is now calling on the governor to consider immediate modification of public health orders to permit all businesses to reopen at 20% maximum occupancy, while practicing social distancing.
To read the full declaration, visit www.fmtn.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=547.
