Ouch

A state of emergency has been declared in New Mexico‘s largest city, as the governor calls in the National Guard to help combat out of control crime.

 

Action by the Democratic governor clears the way for dozens of guard members to help the Albuquerque Police Department starting next month.

 

About 60 to 70 soldiers will be stationed in largest city, home to over a quarter of the state, for six months to a year, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham told reporters Tuesday.

 

Grisham pulled the trigger after the chief of police asked for assistance at the end of March, as the city of dealing with a fentanyl crisis, violent crime and growing homelessness problem.

 

Some of the troops will be assigned to Central Avenue, part of the historic Route 66.

 

The area is known as ‘The War Zone’ by locals, and is the site of homeless encampments and open-air drug use.