Rising Crimes in Santa Fe: Small Businesses Call for More Support from City Officials

As the tourism season begins in Santa Fe, local businesses are reporting a rise in crime. In response to these concerns, the Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce called a meeting to discuss potential solutions. The gathering attracted many business owners who were eager to address the challenges they were facing.

The meeting began with a presentation on organized retail crime, and one business owner expressed frustration at the lack of support from city officials for smaller businesses. Despite efforts by the New Mexico Department of Justice to track repeat offenders through a software program called “Auror”, small business owners felt that more needed to be done by the City of Santa Fe.

The discussion quickly shifted to the topic of homelessness and property damage occurring at local businesses. Many business owners voiced their frustrations with these issues, while Santa Fe Mayor Alan Webber discussed ongoing efforts to address homelessness along the Cerillos Road Corridor.

Some businesses accused a nearby homeless shelter called Pete’s Place of contributing to the problem, with the mayor mentioning that their lease is up in October and plans for their future are uncertain. He also announced plans to open a new shelter with more resources for the homeless.

After an hour and a half of heated discussion, the meeting had to be ended, but the Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce expressed interest in hosting more forums focused on crime in the future.