SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – With tourism season starting, some Santa Fe businesses say they’re seeing a “spike in crime,” and on Thursday, some of those businesses called on city leaders to discuss solutions.
The meeting, convened by the Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce, began with a presentation on organized retail crime. One business owner questioned how authorities could help small businesses, saying, “But you guys have a great system. You work with Walmart, Lowe's, all the businesses. But for us small businesses, the Santa Fe Police Department should record every property crime in their system, because the people who are shoplifting are definitely shoplifting, too.”
The New Mexico Department of Justice has discussed organized retail crime and the software it now uses to track repeat offenders, called “Auror.” But many small business owners feel the city isn't doing enough to help them deal with the everyday issues surrounding their businesses.
The conversation quickly shifted from retail crime to how businesses feel about the homeless and property damage found in their stores. One business owner stood up and said, “It's a frustration we all have.”
“We are working on multiple fronts to identify additional resources to mitigate the impacts of homelessness and homeless people along Cerrillos Road,” Santa Fe Mayor Alan Weber said.
Several businesses have condemned a homeless shelter called Pete's Place on Cerrillos Street. The mayor said the shelter's lease expires in October and the shelter's future is uncertain.
He also advocated for opening new shelter locations with more resources for the homeless.
The Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce was forced to close the meeting after an hour and a half of heated discussion, but said it hopes to hold similar crime-focused forums in the future.
