Posted inJobs, Workers & Economy, Westside

Increasing homelessness has Westsiders looking for answers

Those experiencing homelessness in Albuquerque often naturally congregate near areas where food, clothing, transit, medical care and addiction services are available. Two of the most highly trafficked areas are in Downtown and across the city’s International District. But on the city’s Westside, the stretch of Coors Boulevard from Central Avenue to I-40, has emerged as […]

New housing program offers quicker permits — without the additional fee

Those building new housing projects now have access to the Planning Department’s “Fast Housing” tool online to quickly find areas of town that qualify for expedited permits without additional fees. The Planning Department provides an optional, fee-based program called “FasTrax” — $1,000 minimum — to accelerate the plan review process and ensure completion by specific […]

It’s official: New Albuquerque Community Safety director appointed

Fresh off moving into its new headquarters, the Albuquerque Community Safety Department has a new — yet familiar — director. Jodie Esquibel, who had been the department’s acting director since March, officially took the permanent position Friday. In a press release announcing Esquibel’s selection, Mayor Tim Keller said ACS is transforming public safety in the […]

Here’s how much councilors, commissioners and school board members make

At the last City Council meeting, Councilor Klarissa Peña proposed an amendment to change the way salary increases work so all councilors receive a raise at the same time.  Currently, some make more than others after the Citizens’ Independent Salary Commission — the commission that determines their salaries — decided last year that councilors needed […]

Battling loud cars with technology

Nick Ferenchak likes his quiet — whether sleeping at night or hiking in the Sandia Mountains — and he has a plan to preserve his quietude from noisy vehicles. Ferenchak, an assistant professor in the Gerald May Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering at the University of New Mexico, is the president of Not-A-Loud, […]