Sunland Park votes on annexation policy

The city of Sunland Park has now voted on a policy in favor of expanding the city by annexation and similar means. But residents of nearby areas feeling threatened by possible annexation came out in force to voice their opposition.

The Sunland Park City Council only voted to approve a policy on using annexation for the city’s expansion Tuesday night. It did not vote to annex Santa Teresa. However, Santa Teresa residents still flooded the council chambers, denouncing what they call “land grabbing.”

Concerned residents filled chambers and overflow seating beyond capacity. Most were there to question and oppose the policy and annexation efforts in general.

Mayor Javier Perea led the discussion and stressed that this was just a general policy statement and not a specific plan of action. Perea tried to address specific questions and concerns, particularly on the benefits of expansion and annexation, which he said could improve emergency services among other things.

But the overwhelming response from the crowd was negative and focused solely on Santa Teresa’s future.

“Its going to cost them so much money,” Santa Teresa resident Stephen Benson said. “Because residents of Santa Teresa are going to fight it. They’re going to fight it with competent attorneys.”

Some residents were cautious, but willing to look into the possibilities around annexation.

“I think that there’s a lot of questions that need to be answered, a lot of research,” Santa Teresa resident Cesar Molina said. “Very good points, people need to be asked what they think. As far as I’m concerned, if I have another emergency, I’d like to know that services can get to my home quick, especially life or death situations.”

The action taken by the Sunland Park City Council was framed primarily as a statement of intent from the city. Perea said any future expansion or annexation attempt will have to include input from residents of the community Sunland Park plans to annex.