Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, left, with Sen. Michael Padilla, D-Albuquerque, and Daniel Werwath, a housing policy adviser, testifies in support of Senate Bill 71 in the Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee on Wednesday. (Photo by Eddie Moore / Albuquerque Journal)
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham made a surprise appearance in a Senate committee meeting Wednesday night, a last-ditch effort to save a major component of her strategy to address the state’s housing crisis.
The Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee heard legislation to create an “Office of Housing” within the executive branch, one that the governor said would help coordinate numerous housing programs across state entities and develop a comprehensive plan to address housing shortages.
The state lacks about 32,000 units to house all New Mexicans who need it, according to recent estimates , including those living on the streets and also renting families unable to afford their first homes.
Despite the governor arriving in person to defend the legislation – and then staying to field questions for the three-hour debate – the committee voted against it 5-4.