In a special meeting Monday, the Las Cruces City Council reviewed current and future projects to be funded by tax increment development district funds.
Projects currently in the works include improvements to the parking lot located behind the Rio Grande Theatre, the implementation of an online permitting system and a redesign of Campo Street.
The city is also using TIDD funds to light trees up and down Main Street for the 2020 holiday season. City Interim Destination Downtown Program Manager Liz Vega says the new lights will be put up in place of other decorations, such as the usual Christmas tree, due to the pandemic.
“We have the holiday lights that will be going up in the downtown area,” Vega said. “This is in lieu of the plaza decorations that we unfortunately won't be able to do because of the pandemic this year. They’re just high touch point areas and promote gathering. So instead…all of the trees on Main Street, we're going to light them up with Christmas lights. And these would be lit starting Saturday, December 5 and go through January 6.”
Councilor Kasandra Gandara expressed her excitement about the new lights, telling the council she has received many questions asking why the lights have never extended down the entire street.
“For at least a couple of years, I've been advocating for these lights,” Gandara said. “I was so excited to see that we are finally going to get the lights up and down Main Street. I think they will be beautiful. And obviously not the best substitute for the beautiful tree and the tree lighting ceremony, but I completely understand that. So I'm thrilled that we're able to do this. I think it'll make the business community there extremely happy and proud.”
And lights might not be the only new addition coming to Main Street. In a discussion about upcoming TIDD funded projects, the council discussed a proposal to put cameras along Main Street. Councilor Gandara believes the cameras will be a welcome safety upgrade for the community.
“The security cameras I think are really important, specifically to that area,” Gandara said. “Often I get a lot of concern, right, and I think having that one particular huge camera, if you will, at the Plaza has been a deterrent for a lot of things, but it can't capture all up and down, north and south, right, of that area.”
Councilor Johana Bencomo brought up concerns that increased surveillance could lead to racial profiling.
“There is no evidence that says surveillance actually decreases crime,” Bencomo said. “Who's monitoring the cameras? Is it going back to LCPD? Like are there going to be new policies in place to ensure there's no racial profiling? I feel like there's steps that should be taken.”
Mayor Ken Miyagishima has been an advocate for the installation. He says the goal of the project is to make citizens feel safer.
“We're getting a lot of reports from a lot of the patrons, specifically a lot of the women that were feeling a little bit intimidated because it was dark and they were a little scared,” Miyagishima said. “They're just more to let people know, ‘Hey you know what, there's cameras out here,’ so hopefully that deters crime. I don't think it was going to be used for any profiling.”
The council also discussed a variety of other future projects, including the installation of shade structures in the Plaza De Las Cruces as well as a redesign of both Church and Water Street.
