In a recent move by the Las Cruces City Council, officials have given the green light for the issue of Taxable Municipal Gross Receipts Tax Revenue Bonds. This decision, made during the Monday meeting on January 6 is to generate funds up to $21 million to settle a high-profile civil lawsuit. The agreement, a somber note in the city's ledger, comes from the fatal shooting of Teresa Gomez by then-officer Felipe Hernandez in 2023.
The tragedy, which has continued to freshly resonate through the chambers of local governance, was to be rectified financially with the largest settlement the City of Las Cruces has ever agreed upon in a civil suit. This need to secure the funds was paramount, and the city was compelled to quickly act to satisfy the $20 million settlement with the estate of the late Gomez, as reported by the City of Las Cruces. The bonds that the council approved have a maturity date set no later than June 1, 2046, ensuring that the city's commitment stands for nearly a generation.
The backstory to this economic chapter is wrenching. On October 3, 2023, a situation escalated between Teresa Gomez and Officer Hernandez, resulting in Gomez's untimely death. An ensuing lawsuit was filed by her estate, and investigations by the Las Cruces Police Department and the associated Task Force later substantiated criminal charges against Hernandez. January of 2024 saw Hernandez arrested and charged with second-degree murder, and by May, he was no longer a member of the force.
Amid these serious undertones, councilors also tended to other city businesses. A resolution was passed to transfer a liquor license to Cruces Total Golf, a green flag for the establishment to serve alcohol to patrons. But the issue on everyone's lips was the demand to responsibly echo the sentiment of a city grappling with its conscience. In a decisive action, the council chose to put their financial weight behind their moral position. This decision was not merely a fiscal transaction but a statement, sending resonances into the community they aim to rightly serve and protect.
Aside from the economic and legal processes, the council must also address an administrative hiccup. A resolution poised to address a prior invalid decision about the seeking of candidates for the City Manager's position was postponed. This topic is scheduled to be revisited in an upcoming special meeting on January 13, reflecting a docket still crowded with significant tasks.
