Juniper St. residents ask for roadwork info

Residents say town needs to advocate more for their neighborhood as U.S. 180 project moves forward

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Two residents of Silver City's Juniper Street neighborhood spoke at a recent Town Council meeting, expressing concerns about proposed changes to the intersection of Hudson Street and Silver Heights Boulevard as part of a U.S. 180 project led by the New Mexico Department of Transportation. The residents said the town needs to advocate more for their neighborhood, which would see its direct access to nearly half of the town restricted. They felt the town was dismissive of their concerns and that the public engagement process has been lacking.

Why it matters

The proposed changes to the U.S. 180 intersection would significantly impact the Juniper Street neighborhood, affecting emergency access, daily commutes, neighborhood connectivity, local businesses, and overall quality of life for residents. The town's response and level of advocacy for the neighborhood has become a key issue.

The details

The NMDOT proposal would change the Hudson Street and Silver Heights Boulevard intersection, blocking drivers from traveling straight up Hudson Street to Juniper. Residents Janna Mintz and Mick Smith said the town needs to do more to communicate information about the project and incorporate public feedback, as the neighborhood feels excluded from the process. They said the town has given the impression that significant changes are unlikely due to funding constraints, making residents feel "pressured, cornered and excluded." The mayor acknowledged receiving many complaints from the District 1 neighborhood and said he had written to NMDOT about their concerns.

  • The project began securing funding in early 2024, nearly two years before residents were informed.
  • A stakeholder meeting was held on Feb. 6, 2026, which the mayor was not initially invited to.
  • A public meeting is scheduled for Feb. 19, 2026 from 6-8 p.m. at the Grant County Veterans Memorial Business and Conference Center.

The players

Janna Mintz

A resident of the Juniper Street neighborhood who spoke at the Town Council meeting about the need for clear communication and transparency as the U.S. 180 project moves forward.

Mick Smith

A resident of the Juniper Street neighborhood who spoke at the Town Council meeting, expressing frustration that residents were left out of the planning process for the U.S. 180 project.

Simon Wheaton-Smith

The mayor of Silver City, who acknowledged receiving many complaints from the District 1 neighborhood about the U.S. 180 project and said he had written to NMDOT about their concerns.

Angelina Salaiz

The newly appointed District 1 councilor, who the residents said was not invited to stakeholder meetings during key stages of the design process.

Victor Nañez

The District 4 councilor, whom the mayor suggested should conduct a survey of residents in his district about the U.S. 180 project.

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What they’re saying

“I want to emphasize the importance of clear communication as this project moves forward — particularly about who meetings are for, how public input is incorporated and when updated materials become available. Clear distinctions help avoid confusion and build public trust.”

— Janna Mintz, Juniper Street resident (scdailypress.com)

“This project began early in 2024 with securing funding, yet residents were not informed that this intersection would even be affected until the very beginning of 2026 — nearly two years later. We've been told that the funding timeline constraints mean significant changes will be unlikely, and that if we do not accept the design as presented, we risk losing the funding entirely.”

— Mick Smith, Juniper Street resident (scdailypress.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.