By Andrea Vasquez
The Town of Moriarty opened the doors of City Hall for a town hall meeting on April 17 to chat with Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury about federal policy issues and their effects on the community.
This marked the 13th town hall for Stansbury and her team in the state. She began by thanking the public for the opportunity to connect with thousands of New Mexicans.
She acknowledged the presence of supporters and protesters, emphasizing the importance of democratic dialogue and free expression, and encouraging public participation.
“I know that we have people that came tonight who are supporters, people who are here to protest, which I think is awesome, because that’s what democracy is about,” Stansbury said.
During the meeting, Stansbury introduced local officials from Moriarty and Torrance County and shared her New Mexican roots, background in water resources and education, as well as her motivation to work on rural economic development and protecting land and water rights.
She identified the three main priorities of her office: economic development, community well-being and the preservation and protection of natural resources and historic sites.
Stansbury has served as the U.S. representative from New Mexico’s 1st congressional district for the past three and a half years, during which over $1 billion has been allocated for infrastructure in her district.
“We all want our communities to be safe. We want our families to have opportunities. We want to have dignity as humans, and we need access to health care and behavioral health, and we all want to protect our land and water. That was the platform I ran on. It’s still the work that I do today,” she shared about her journey and commitment when she ran for a State House seat deemed unwinnable.
Updates on projects in the East Mountains region and Torrance County were also provided.
The projects include water upgrades in Mountainair, flood mitigation and community hall repairs in Estancia, funding for a community center in Tierra Amarilla, improved internet access in Cedar Crest, and water support for Edgewood, as well as a sobering center in Albuquerque and an opioid treatment center in the International District.
While sharing stories about her upbringing in Farmington and the first project she ever signed off on—Moriarty’s first fire station—Stansbury spent most of the town hall explaining in detail how the federal government works, and how it is currently not functioning as it should, under the present administration.
She walked through the constitutional separation of powers, making it clear that Congress writes and funds laws and the executive branch implements them. Stansbury also explained that recent executive actions have bypassed these checks and balances.
Other complex subjects, such as immigration, Social Security, the VA, IRS, potential cuts to Medicaid, SNAP and voting rights, were tackled during the 2-hour meeting.
Specific concerns discussed were the mass firings of federal employees (ruled illegal by courts), attempts to dismantle federal agencies without congressional approval and unauthorized access to Social Security and Treasury data.
She also mentioned the implications of withholding federal funds for state projects.
“The whole theory of American democracy is built on the idea of consent of the people… They need your consent to rule,” Stansbury stated.
Challenges in accessing local Social Security offices were noted, along with understaffing and system failures at the Albuquerque office. She affirmed that Social Security cannot be legally restructured without congressional action.
She cited the “Save Act” voter ID law as one of the people’s most frequently asked questions and voiced her opposition to it, mentioning that it violates the Voting Rights Act.
Stansbury assured the attendees that New Mexico has a secure and accessible voting system and it will remain that way.
“We are a nation of laws. We are built on the promise of due process,” she added.
Undoubtedly, one of the most heartfelt topics was the proposed cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
She warned that if passed, it could have devastating effects on the state’s healthcare system and increase food insecurity, which is already a struggle for many families in New Mexico.
“Our democracy is not about the president, it’s not about members of Congress, it’s about all of us,” Stansbury said.
She highlighted that both parties are pushing back against these cuts and that New Mexico’s members of Congress are working hard to stop them.
“It doesn’t matter who you are, all of us have people in our lives who are struggling right now,” Stansbury shared about individuals who are having a hard time with finances, addiction and health care issues.
She also shared the reintroduction of environmental legislation to protect sacred and ecologically significant sites. These include Chaco Canyon, the Buffalo Tract, the Pecos watershed, the Gila watershed and East Mountain sites used by land grant communities.
She intends to prioritize raising awareness about the conservation of indigenous communities and New Mexico’s cultural heritage.
Stansbury urged attendees to contact Republican members of Congress, support relevant organizations, and engage in “everyday acts of resistance” to effect change.
The event concluded with a Q&A session, where attendees who wished to ask a question were given a raffle ticket. The selected participants had the opportunity to voice their concerns about accountability for illegal actions, immigration-related uncertainties and struggles, and issues with Social Security.
Stansbury offered her continued support and assured attendees that services are available to anyone who needs them. She encouraged individuals to contact her office for legal and federal assistance through the official website.
She concluded the meeting with a call to action, sharing a story that holds a special place in her heart.
She drew parallels and inspiration from a story of a Civil Rights pilgrimage, highlighting the power of community organizing and peaceful protest, as organized by the late Congressman John R. Lewis.
During this time, children in Birmingham and Selma faced violent opposition by voluntarily boarding buses and marching for days on end and enduring mass arrests despite their parents’ concerns.
The local sheriff was known for violence against civil rights activists, and thousands of children were arrested, as young as 10 years old, being attacked by dogs and fire hoses. As some of them faced arrest, more continued to show up. Their resistance led to effective change in the country.
Her message of hope, civic engagement, and individual responsibility prompted a standing ovation from the public.
“What I think is so important in this moment, about having courage, is to know that if a bunch of children can show up and face the most imminent danger they could possibly face – and change the course of American history– we all can be brave enough to stand up against what is wrong, right now,” she said in closing.