New Mexico Representative John Block has announced his opposition to Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham's subsidized housing initiatives, citing a lack of transparency. Block made this statement in a December 10 post on the social media platform X.
"Stop California-ing our New Mexico! We will not pay for subsidized tweaker/junkie homes! I'll fight this tooth and nail," said Block, District 51 NM State Representative. "Hint: she's trying to sneak these funds though the NMDOH and Finance Authority. Not fooling anyone."
Governor Grisham has advocated for innovative solutions to address homelessness in New Mexico, referencing The Mayfair Hotel in Los Angeles as an example. "That’s why I toured The Mayfair in LA, a converted hotel offering transitional housing and services—a bridge to stability," she said in a post on X.
Jay Block's Tweet on subsidized housing
| https://x.com/RepBlock/status/1866522561334628689
According to the Los Angeles Mayor's Office, the Los Angeles City Council approved the purchase of the 294-room Mayfair Hotel in Westlake in August 2023. This acquisition is intended to provide interim housing for individuals experiencing homelessness as part of Mayor Karen Bass's "Inside Safe" program. The initiative aims to offer temporary shelter with comprehensive on-site services, including mental health care and job training, to facilitate residents' transition to stable housing.
In 2023, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development reported that 3,842 individuals were experiencing homelessness in New Mexico, marking a 50% increase from the previous year. This surge is attributed to factors such as rising housing costs and insufficient affordable housing options.
According to Housing New Mexico, between 2020 and 2023, the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority received $4.1 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the Recovery Housing Program (RHP). These funds are aimed at housing individuals recovering from substance use disorders and have already allocated $2.7 million to projects across the state.
Block accused Governor Lujan Grisham of proposing taxpayer-funded housing for individuals with substance use disorders. In his December 10 post on X, he suggested that the governor was leveraging agencies like the NM Department of Health and Finance Authority to funnel funds for these programs without public oversight.
John Block serves as the Representative for New Mexico's House District 51 and is also known as the Founder and Editor of the Piñon Post. He holds an MBA from Eastern New Mexico University and a BA in Business Administration from Rutgers University, according to his LinkedIn profile.
