City Desk | July 31, 2025

Your daily dose of local democracy. Here’s what you need to know to about how ABQ works (and doesn’t) today in 3 minutes or less.

For over a year, the city has argued that they are turning the corner on bus safety in ABQ and they point to rising ridership as proof that people who actually ride the bus keep coming back.

But a few recent high-profile incidents — including a city bus driver sent to the hospital after being attacked near UNM in May and a city driver arrested for killing a passenger on a Westside route earlier this month — haven’t helped.

So that got us thinking: Are the city’s public transit routes really safe?

City Hall Reporter Jesse Jones dug into the data and found out that some of the city’s latest efforts may be sprouting results.

That’s our feature story today explaining one big thing that helps you understand how ABQ works (and doesn’t).

ART security calls skyrocket, but actual violence plummets – City Desk ABQ

Less than three weeks after a city bus driver fatally stabbed a passenger near Coors Boulevard, new data shows security calls to Albuquerque’s transit system have jumped 81% over the past year. The July 9 stabbing followed an argument on board that spilled onto the street. Surveillance video shows the 41-year-old driver pursuing the passenger, described as […]

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What else we’re reading this afternoon..

APS (and several other local school districts) are breathing a sigh of relief after the Trump administration released $44 million in federal funds for English-language, homeless students services and after-school programs just days before the new school year starts.

nmpoliticalreport.com

New Mexico schools receive $44 million in released federal funds – New Mexico Political Report

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AFR rescues a person from an underground storm drain downtown. How did they get in there? – City Desk ABQ

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Albuquerque honors cycling educator killed in hit-and-run with facility renamings – City Desk ABQ

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Sanchez calls for APD to cooperate with federal agents after voting to preserve anti-cooperation law – City Desk ABQ

New Mexico

nmpoliticalreport.com

Governor plans special session to shield New Mexicans from federal budget cuts – New Mexico Political Report

nm.news

On the Navajo Nation, the list of mystery wells continues to grow

nmpoliticalreport.com

Sen. Luján leads Democratic push to reverse health care cuts affecting 89,000 New Mexicans – New Mexico Political Report

Opinion & Analysis

nmpoliticalreport.com

Investing with purpose: Building New Mexico’s future – New Mexico Political Report

Submitted by Senator Pete Campos, D-Las Vegas

citydesk.org

Albuquerque’s Cooling Ordinance: A Good Start That Needs Strengthening – City Desk ABQ

Nathaniel Matthews-Trigg, MPH, CEM is a founding board member of Healthy Climate New Mexico and a heat-health technical expert.

At City Desk, we’re not here to write a story about what already happened. We’re here to explain who makes decisions that impact our city and how you can engage in the conversation. Do you have an idea for a story or want to know how something works in ABQ? Email me at pat@newmexico.news and we might turn it into a story.

Did you miss something? It’s all here at citydesk.org