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"Two years with little financial support is unacceptable. Heinrich's hands off approach is a stark contrast to my father's approach to the Cerro Grande fire victims." - Nella Domenici |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 19, 2024
SANTA FE, NM - U.S. Senate candidate Nella Domenici delivered a letter to Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham demanding action to assist of the victims of the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire. As the two-year anniversary of the fire approaches, Nella outlines a plan to address the bureaucratic backlog of victims' claims, urging the governor to call for a special session. Nella's plan calls for the state to advance 80% of the victims' payments. In turn, the state would be reimbursed by FEMA and assume the role of advocating for the victims' claims and working/negotiating with FEMA's bureaucrats. In the letter, Nella Domenici writes that the federal government is not doing enough to assist the victims and urges the state to step up during a special session to finally get meaningful financial reimbursement for damages and move forward with their lives. Nella also criticizes Senator Martin Heinrich for failing to deliver a real financial solution for New Mexican victims. "I want to call your attention to the unfinished business of the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire victims," writes Nella Domenici. "During the regular budget session I wrote to you advocating that the state take a more active role in helping the victims of the fire. I reiterate that plea."Nella continued: "These New Mexicans have been living in limbo, battling the bureaucracy, and waiting for their claims to be processed. It will be two years on April 6, 2024, since the U.S. Forest Service lost control of the fire that resulted in the largest wildfire in New Mexico's history, the destruction of more than 900 homes, thousands of acres of timber. "FEMA is a federal bureaucracy at its worst. These victims have been treated like rip-off scammers trying to take advantage of the government instead of the honest citizens, asking that the government take responsibility for destroying their homes, livelihoods, and communities. I strongly disagree with Martin Heinrich's repeated praise of the claims process as was reported by Source New Mexico and ProPublica in January 2023. His hands off approach is a stark contrast to my father's approach to the Cerro Grande fire victims." Read the full letter below. |
Honorable Michelle Lujan Grisham Governor, State of New Mexico 490 Old Santa Fe Trail, Room 400 Santa Fe, NM 87501 Dear Governor Lujan Grisham: I understand you are contemplating calling a Special Session of the New Mexico Legislature to deal with unfinished business regarding crime and other issues. I want to call your attention to the unfinished business of the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire victims. During the regular budget session I wrote to you advocating that the state take a more active role in helping the victims of the fire. I reiterate that plea. These New Mexicans have been living in limbo, battling the bureaucracy, and waiting for their claims to be processed. It will be two years on April 6, 2024, since the U.S. Forest Service lost control of the fire that resulted in the largest wildfire in New Mexico’s history, the destruction of more than 900 homes, thousands of acres of timber. FEMA is a federal bureaucracy at its worst. These victims have been treated like rip-off scammers trying to take advantage of the government instead of the honest citizens, asking that the government take responsibility for destroying their homes, livelihoods, and communities. I strongly disagree with Martin Heinrich’s repeated praise of the claims process as was reported by Source New Mexico and ProPublica in January 2023. His hands off approach is a stark contrast to my father’s approach to the Cerro Grande fire victims. The Cerro Grande fire was also caused by the federal government. As Senator, my father often met with the Director of FEMA with a firm message of pay claims as quickly as possible. The philosophy was “the federal government burned it down, the federal government must pay to rebuilt it.” There was a team of his staff dedicated to making sure this happened with weekly meetings to follow-up on progress. Years later, the Government Accounting Office found no fraud. In my January 29, 2024, letter, I called on you and the state senators and representatives from the affected counties to support legislation that allows victims to assign their claim (or any other process consistent with the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Act) to the state by filling out a one-page form in English or Spanish. The victims would then be promptly advanced 80% of their claim by the state. Any amount eventually received by the state from FEMA on behalf of a victim above 80% will also go to the victim. If the FEMA award is less than 80%, the state will absorb the loss. The legislation would include provisions necessary to satisfy the New Mexico Constitution’s Anti-Donation Clause. It may require an amendment to the Anti-assignment Act as well. The state would assume the role of advocating for the victims’ claims and working/negotiating with FEMA’s bureaucrats to get the state reimbursed from the federal government. This approach would help the victims get on with rebuilding their lives by finally providing the funds they need to do so. The New Mexico Attorney General has already taken a step in this direction. He is holding office hours several days a week in Mora and San Miguel Counties to help victims with their claims. It would be a logical next step for the state to make the advance payments to victims and then deal with FEMA. This is long overdue, and it is the right thing to do while holding the federal government accountable. Since President Biden has promised you that his Administration will make the victims whole, providing an advance to the victims with state funds is a prudent approach. This issue is as important as legalizing marijuana for recreational purposes, which was the subject of a Special Session and I urge you to consider helping the victims of the fire during a Special Session. Sincerely, Nella Domenici |
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