Public protests, dozens of speakers urge city not to terminate Pete’s Place lease; council holds executive session on leased property

Dozens of speakers pressed the Santa Fe City Council to retain the Interfaith Community Shelter (commonly called Pete’s Place) at its current site and to coordinate any changes openly with existing local providers.

The council convened extended public comment focused almost entirely on Pete’s Place after the agenda included an item involving identification of city property for homelessness responses. Current and former staff, volunteers, board members and shelter residents described the shelter as an established community resource that provides meals, casework and day services. Lehi Rand, board chair of the Interfaith Community Shelter, said the board agrees the current Cerritos and Harrison site is not ideal for the long term but asked for transparency about options and for the city to work with local providers in planning a transition if one is necessary.

Multiple speakers described the shelter’s continuity of services and relationships with other local providers. Joyce Benavides, an employee at Pete’s Place, said removal of the lease would “put many individuals at risk of death,” and volunteers and partner agencies including La Familia Medical Center and Casa Milagro told the council they currently provide on-site or closely coordinated services. Executive director Karina Lopez (identified in public comments) told the council the organization and its employees learned of the city’s possible lease action through limited channels and described staff concern at receiving late notice.

Following public comment, City Attorney Erin McSherry asked the governing body to enter executive session “to discuss the premises located at 2803 Sireos Road, which is currently leased to Interfaith Community Shelter Group,” citing the New Mexico Open Meetings Act provision for discussions about disposition of real property. The governing body approved the executive-session motion and later reconvened in open session.

After reconvening, a councilor moved to disclose the contents of the executive session. That motion failed. Several councilors explained their votes: supporters of disclosure said public uncertainty and rumors were damaging; opponents said staff work and incomplete information made partial disclosure unhelpful and preferred to let staff complete the work and publish a cohesive package.

What the council decided at the June meeting: no final decision to terminate or transfer the Pete’s Place lease was announced in open session. The governing body entered executive session to discuss the leased property at 2803 Sireos Road and later declined a motion to release the executive-session contents. City staff and sponsors told councilors they expect to return with a fuller written package and recommended steps for public review.

Ending: Residents, volunteers and health providers urged immediate transparency and said they should be partners in any transition. Councilors and staff said more work remains and that the public will be given written information when the staff package is complete.