Resolutions Project
Update From New Mexico On Passing Local "Resolutions Of Condemnation"
From Hopium Community Member Dr. Deborah Potter 6/21/25
Dear Hopium Community,
I am so excited to provide this update from New Mexico about local jurisdictions passing resolutions to condemn actions of the executive branch.
Our work to pass this resolution was inspired by Hopium’s A Letter To America and Owning The Fourth initiatives.
On Tuesday June 24 there is a hearing on the resolution Defending our U.S. Constitution and Separation of Powers by the Bernalillo Board of County Commissioners (see below). The Chair and Vice Chair are the co-sponsors, and the Chair’s changes are already incorporated. I am testifying at the hearing and asking many local Democrats to support the resolution. As of Friday, about 12 county residents have told me that they have submitted written comments or are on the agenda to testify in person. Some have shared copies of their powerful statements, including Veterans, lawyers, and Democratic Party leaders. The public comment period is open through about 4 pm MT on Monday and the hearing will be livestreamed. The vote to adopt the resolution will be at the next Commission meeting in August: it has strong support and is very likely to pass.
There will be two more resolutions from County Commissions in NM. We have a Commissioner to sponsor it in Santa Fe County who will find his co-sponsor, and a Doña Ana Co. Commissioner has the resolution in hand. I anticipate that both resolutions will progress toward hearing.
Others from Hopium are working at the county or city level in their communities. To the best of my knowledge, we have resolutions in planning or in progress in NM, AZ, WA, NJ, NC, MA, CA, MN, IA. On Wednesday, the day after the hearing in Albuquerque, a resolution will be introduced for consideration by a MA City Council (Rachel Poliner). The proclamations in AZ have been revised and resubmitted.
Hopium shout-outs! Thanks so much, Randy Gold in AZ, for sharing information in the chat that got me started, getting me in touch with Phin for a copy of the draft document, and staying in touch for additional comments. Cynthia Baughman and Wise Assumer in Las Cruces, have been helping me with contacts in NM. Julie Melton might testify in Santa Fe and Kate O’Shea can help in Las Cruces. Thanks for sharing information also goes to David E, Diane Romino, Elizabeth T, Michael G, Gary Fifield, Kate, and perhaps others. Sarah Peck, John Payne, and Audrey Leviton asked for copies of the resolution, so I am curious about their plans.
Let’s keep in touch and help one another. You can contact me by direct message on Substack: https://substack.com/@nmhope2024
Deborah Potter
Alameda, New Mexico
6/21/25
You will be able to watch the Bernilillo County hearing live on Tuesday at 5pm MTat www.Bernco.gov/live or www.youtube.com/user/BernalilloCounty; and the Santa Fe country hearing will be streamed live at 2pm MT here. Below is info on how to give public comments and testimony and attend these hearings;
Bernalillo Co. (NM CD1) 6/24/2025 5:00 PM Administrative Meeting
Ken Sanchez Commission Chambers Bernalillo County @ Alvarado Square 415 Silver Ave. SW Albuquerque, NM 87102
Resolution Defending our U.S. Constitution and Separation of Powers Doc. 24889
Co-sponsors: Chair Eric Olivas of District 5 and Vice Chair Adriann Balboa of District 3
online form for written public comments by 5 pm Monday June 23:
https://www.bernco.gov/boards-commissions/public-comment/
In-Person or Virtual Public Comments: 2 min. including name and address. Participants must sign up at https://www.bernco.gov/boards-commissions/speak-at-a-meeting/ or on phone by calling 505-468-7000
………
Board of County Commissioners of Santa Fe County
Hybrid In-Person and Virtual Meeting 2pm MT
Santa Fe County John Gaw Meem Historic Building
Commission Chambers, 2nd Floor
102 Grant Avenue
Santa Fe NM 87501
Simon Interviews Deborah Potter For Hopium
Resolution Title: Defending our U.S. Constitution and Separation of Powers
May 27, 2025
WHEREAS, the Bernalillo County Board of Commissioners believes that the U.S. Constitution is the basis for our democratic republic and our civil society;
WHEREAS, the first three articles of the US Constitution establish three “separate but equal” branches of the United States government;
WHEREAS, the Bernalillo County Board of Commissioners acknowledges the unconstitutional consolidation of power in the Executive Branch by Executive Orders and willful misdeeds such as but not limited to: the revocation of birthright citizenship; freezing of federal spending approved by Congress; shuttering of federal agencies; demonstrating a pattern of usurping the duties of the legislative branch; violating due process rights of persons in the United States; infringing upon civil service protections for federal employees; threatening deportation and/or prosecution based on political views; ignoring or disobeying judicial mandates; politicizing law enforcement and the military; and generally expressing contempt for the separation of powers, freedom of speech, and equal justice under the law;
WHEREAS, the New Mexico Department of Justice has filed multiple lawsuits against specific Executive Orders and willful misdeeds 1-18;
WHEREAS, each member of the Bernalillo County Board of Commissioners swears an oath to the U.S.Constitution and those elected to public office thus have a duty to protect and defend the U.S. Constitution and the rights of residents within their jurisdiction that are being harmed by violations of the constitution;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED:
That the Bernalillo County Board of Commissioners:
1. Declares its support for the role of the United States Congress as a coequal partner of three in our constitutional Democratic Republic.
2. Supports and encourages the Congressional delegation of the State of New Mexico to lead their colleagues to stand up and reclaim their Constitutional duty to be an equal partner in the administration of the U.S. government, to work hand-in-hand with the Judicial Branch to ensure that the US Constitution is not violated by the Executive Branch, and to ensure that illegal or unconstitutional actions that have occurred are overturned.
3. Directs the County Manager to provide this resolution to the office of each members of the New Mexico Congressional Delegation.
Citations:
1. "Attorney General Raúl Torrez Sues Trump Administration for Defunding Medical and Public Health Innovation Research" (Link) Feb 10, 2025
2. “Attorney General Raúl Torrez Seeks Court Order to Immediately Stop Trump Administration’s Illegal Tariffs” (Link) May 7, 2025
3. “Attorney General Raúl Torrez Joins Lawsuit Challenging Trump Administration’s Dismantling of National Volunteer Public Service Agency, AmeriCorps” (Link) April 29, 2025
4. “Attorney General Raúl Torrez Sues Trump Administration to Stop Illegal Tariffs” (Link) April 23, 2025
5. “Attorney General Raúl Torrez Sues Trump Administration for Blocking Access to Hundreds of Millionof Dollars in Education Funds for States" (Link) April 11, 2025
6. “Attorney General Raúl Torrez Sues the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and its Secretary Robert F. Kennedy to Maintain Public Health Grants” (Link) April 1, 2025
7. “New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez Joins Bipartisan Effort to Protect Veterans’ Education Benefits” (Link) March 20, 2025
8. “New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez Joins Nationwide, Bipartisan Effort to Reinstate the U.S.Refugee Resettlement Program” (Link) April 21, 2025
9. “Attorney General Raúl Torrez and Multistate Coalition Win Temporary Block on Mass Firings of Federal Probationary Employees” (Link) March 14, 2025
10. “New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez Joins Bipartisan Letter Opposing Amendment Which Would Prohibit States from Enforcing Artificial Intelligence Regulations” (Link) May 16, 2025
11. “Attorney General Raúl Torrez and Multistate Coalition Win Temporary Block on Mass Firings of Federal Probationary Employees” (Link) March 14, 2025
12. “Attorney General Raúl Torrez and Multistate Coalition Secure Court Order Blocking Trump Administration from Freezing Federal Funds” (Link) March 6, 2025
13. “New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez Leads Landmark Multistate Lawsuit to Stop Elon Musk’s Unconstitutional Power Grab” (Link) February 13, 2025
14. “STATEMENT from Attorney General Raúl Torrez regarding Attorneys General Filing an Action Against DOGE” (Link) February 9, 2025
15. “Attorney General Raúl Torrez Announces Initial Victory in Lawsuit Challenging President Trump’s Illegal Federal Funding Freeze” (Link) January 31, 2025
16. “New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez Announces Temporary Restraining Order in Response to Trump Administration Federal Fund Freeze,” (Link) January 28, 2025
17. “Attorney General Raúl Torrez Challenges Unconstitutional Executive Order Ending Birthright Citizenship” (Link) January 21, 2025
18. “New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez Releases Guidance on Immigration Enforcement for Community Leaders” (Link) January 22, 2025
19. “SCOTUS Says Trump Violated Venezuelan Migrants’ Rights With Attempted Removals” (Link) Jacob Knutson