A MESSAGE TO THE COMMUNITIES OF ANGEL FIRE, EAGLE NEST, RED RIVER, TAOS,
TAOS SKI VALLEY, QUESTA, COLFAX COUNTY AND TAOS COUNTY
FROM YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS
We, as your County Commission Chairpersons, and Town and Village Mayors, have pledged to do all that we can to keep
our residents safe and to minimize the spread of the virus within our communities. Together, we are fully committed to
following the Public Health Orders issued by the Governor and Secretary of Health of the State of New Mexico that are
now in effect through April 30th. Important changes and additions are as follows:
• Short-term vacation rental of rooms, apartments or houses must cease operation until at least April 30th.
• Hotels, Motels, and RV Parks that are permitted to continue to operate have now been ordered to decrease their
occupancy to 20%. Keeping these facilities open will o er housing to much needed health care workers who are coming
to help expand medical capacity, and local healthcare workers who can’t return to their home for fear of infecting their
families after being exposed. These facilities are also housing other essential workers, such as companies constructing
critical infrastructure in our communities like water, sewer and roads, so that these workers aren’t going back and forth
each day between the job sites and wherever they may live that would increase the risk of inter-community transmission.
Last of all, they are providing temporary housing for local families that cannot stay in their home because a member of
their household may have tested positive for the virus and is being self-quarantined at the family home.
• Under the new Public Health Order the list of businesses that must close to the public has also grown, the defnitions
of “essential” and “non-essential” businesses has been further clarified to provide better guidance, and those that remain
open must limit the number of persons allowed in the store at any one time as a percentage of their licensed occupancy,
and must observe minimum distancing between patrons, both in the store and for those waiting in-line to enter a store.
• Those that  y to New Mexico are required to self-isolate for 14 days, and this order may be made mandatory by state
agencies charged with its enforcement, if neglected. Additionally, we are formally requesting that EVERYONE exercise
appropriate preventive practices and self-isolate when coming to New Mexico from out of state.
• The Governor and Health Secretary have ordered that all New Mexicans avoid any unnecessary travel, especially
overseas or to states that are known COVID hotspots. Importantly, this includes all non-essential travel to known actively
infected COVID-19 areas within New Mexico.
Each of us have received many requests from our permanent residents to close our communities to second home
owners. Simply put, there is no legal authority to do so.
The Governor and Health Secretary have stated that community spread is already occurring in almost every county and
that all New Mexicans should STAY AT HOME AT ALL TIMES for the duration of this public health outbreak. Unless you
have a job that allows you to continue to go to work, or you need to leave your home for reasons that are absolutely
necessary for your health, safety, or welfare, you are asked to stay home in self-isolation. This includes ALL of us, even
elected o cials. No one is exempt.
The models being used by the State show that New Mexico will be entering its peak around April 24th.
Since the virus requires weeks to incubate, what we do now will determine who will get infected, how severe the impact
will be, whether our rural services will be overwhelmed, how many might die as a result of our actions, and how long it
will take us to recover.
We recognize and applaud all of our businesses that have found creative ways to continue to both serve the public and
keep your lights on, to continue to pay your employees, or that have sacrificed so much when you have closed your doors
to keep the rest of us and your employees healthy and alive.
To all of our first responders, doctors, nurses, store clerks, stockers, delivery drivers and countless others who are working
long hard hours making sure that our needs are met, that we continue to be safe, and we have food on the table, we
sincerely say “THANK YOU!”
As your elected offcials, we want you to know that your local governments, your hospital and your first responders have
your back. We are prepared for this. We hear your concerns, frustrations and ideas and are acting on them, as are the
Governor and Health Secretary. Together, we can handle this. Working together, with your cooperation, we will beat this.
Chairman Tom Blankenhorn, Taos County • Chairman Bobby Ledoux, Colfax County
Mayor Jo Mixon, Angel Fire • Mayor Richard Cordova, Eagle Nest • Mayor Linda Calhoun, Red River
Mayor Dan Barrone, Taos / State Representative, District 42
Mayor Christof Brownell, Taos Ski Valley • Mayor Mark Gallegos, Questa