MLG could reduce housing costs NOW (but she won’t)

08.13.2024

Gov. Lujan Grisham wants you to believe that she is doing what she can to reduce housing costs in New Mexico. She recently touted the new “Office of Housing” which she claims will address the State’s housing shortage (see Tweet below). Of course, we know that Gov. Lujan Grisham cares about lots of things besides housing, especially her “green” agenda. In January with housing prices already spiraling out of control the Gov. rammed new EV charger mandates through her unelected Construction Industries Division. We fought it at the time, but these policies increase the cost of new housing (and apartments) by 10 to 20%.

The obvious move would be to reverse course and end the EV mandates and costly building codes in an effort to spur housing construction.

But, there are other issues. Lujan Grisham has not lifted a finger to reform the New Mexico gross receipts tax which increases the costs of construction. Cities like Albuquerque and Santa Fe embrace NIMBY policies and are never called on it by the Gov. nor are there policies from the Legislature designed to encourage the construction of homes and apartments. Finally, while MLG seems to have suddenly decided that crime and homelessness are an issue, the need to improve public safety especially in Mayor Keller’s Albuquerque is glossed over.

Keller has acquired a 300 room building at San Mateo and Central (the Warzone aka International District). The building IS attractive. It COULD be rented or sold at market rates, but not in its current location which is not attractive to many.