The woman who led the Albuquerque Community Safety Department since its inception in 2021 is transitioning to a new role in city government. Mariela Ruiz-Angel is now the Associate Chief Administrative Officer, the city announced Monday. The position was previously held by Bob White, who retired at the end of last year. Ava Montoya, a […]
Housing & Homelessness
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Council approves additional funding to help with increasing number of migrants
Helping asylum seekers and migrants and recognizing the impact of the atomic industry on downwinders topped the short Albuquerque City Council meeting held on March 18. Migrant Help An increasing number of migrants arriving in Albuquerque — “due to unforeseen circumstances at the southern U.S. border” — since early fall has stretched thin the nonprofit […]
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One man’s quest to help solve the city’s homelessness problem
The campaigning hasn’t stopped, but now the focus is homelessness. Daymon Ely, an attorney and former three-term state representative, has spent the past 12 months developing a proposal to address homelessness in Albuquerque. The problem is well documented: There are more people living on Albuquerque’s streets, some with severe mental health and addiction issues, and […]
Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety, Downtown, Housing & Homelessness
Business owner, deputy commander talk crime in Albuquerque’s Downtown
Editor’s note: This is the fourth installment in a series titled Downtown Albuquerque Reboot, about the city’s center, its challenges and the plans to address them. Read about why the area matters here, about vacant buildings here, peruse a photo essay about lowriders here, and end with what the area has to offer here. On […]
Posted inHousing & Homelessness, New Mexico Statewide News, State Government #nmgov
Legislature put ‘big infusion into housing’
New Mexico’s dual crises of a decrease in affordable housing and an increase in homelessness were hot topics in Santa Fe at the recently concluded legislative session. The New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority, one of the state’s most effective weapons in the fight, was the recipient of some key funding from lawmakers. The somewhat enigmatic […]
Posted inAlbuquerque, Housing & Homelessness
Roadrunner CEO: ‘Food insecurity can strike anyone’
Roadrunner by the numbers: Dana Yost was named the president and CEO of Albuquerque-based Roadrunner Food Bank in August 2023. He comes to the city from Tucson, Arizona — a state where he worked in the food bank industry for 13 years. In just a handful of months at the helm, Yost said he’s noticed […]
Posted inEducation, Housing & Homelessness, New Mexico Statewide News
New Mexico group to join White House in tackling hunger, homelessness on campus
A New Mexico group has been tabbed to help the White House in its efforts to address hunger and homelessness. Across the state, college students are not immune to those conditions and neither are faculty or staff. A survey released last year by the New Mexico Basic Needs Consortium found that 17% of students and […]
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City faces new lawsuits from asbestos mishandling at Gateway
The city’s ongoing headache brought on by asbestos issues at Albuquerque’s Gateway Center at Gibson Health Hub continued this week. Three new lawsuits were filed against the city in relation to its mishandling of the cancer-causing material during construction at the 572,000-square-foot center. Located at 5400 Gibson Blvd. SE, the center offers overnight beds and […]
Posted inLocal Gov.
County closer to spending millions in opioid funds
The latest round of opioid settlement funds — $18 million — has made its way to Bernalillo County. Payments total $22.6 million so far. The funds come from historic settlements between states and companies like Walgreens, CVS, Walmart, Kroger, Albertsons and others due to their alleged involvement in the opioid epidemic. According to the New […]
Posted inLocal Gov.
Longtime Bernalillo County Manager Announces Retirement
The long-time county manager Julie Morgas Baca will leave her position on June 28, the end of Bernalillo County’s fiscal year. Morgas Baca was appointed as county manager in 2015. Prior to that, she was president and CEO of the National Hispanic Cultural Center Foundation from 2013 to 2015 and the deputy county manager for […]