A seat to spark change: Albuquerque’s tribute to Rosa Parks on her birthday

Albuquerque will honor civil rights icon Rosa Parks on Wednesday, Feb. 4, with bus tributes and school presentations marking Transit Equity Day and what would have been Parks’ birthday. The city’s transit agency will place Rosa Parks seat tributes on all Albuquerque Rapid Transit buses operating Routes 766 and 777 on Feb. 4. Officials are […]

Scorecard for subsidies: BernCo looks to tie public subsidies to private company benefits

County commissioners reviewed new economic development policies Tuesday aimed at ensuring businesses receiving public subsidies provide measurable benefits to local communities. The Board of County Commissioners heard findings from a steering committee that conducted five community meetings and a countywide survey over the past year. Commissioner Barbara Baca, who led the initiative, introduced a resolution […]

County presses pause on AI data center incentive

Following a lengthy debate over water use, renewable energy and local hiring requirements, Bernalillo County commissioners pumped the brakes on a proposed framework for incentivizing AI and data center projects, voting to defer the item until their next meeting rather than approve or reject it outright. Commissioner Eric Olivas, who sponsored the “Holding Data Center […]

Historic investments and more work ahead: Barbara Baca announces re-election bid for District 1 commissioner

Bernalillo County Commissioner Barbara Baca announced Wednesday she will seek re-election in the June Democratic primary for District 1, which encompasses Albuquerque’s Westside and North Valley. Baca, a lifelong Westside resident and 14th-generation New Mexican, said she is running to continue work on housing, behavioral health and public safety initiatives begun during her first term. […]

County to weigh strict rules for data center incentives

Bernalillo County commissioners are set to revisit a high-stakes resolution aimed at tightening oversight of large data center and AI infrastructure projects when they meet Tuesday in Albuquerque.  The “Holding Data Center Projects Accountable in Our Community” measure, introduced at the Jan. 13 meeting, would condition county incentives on clear community benefits and sustainability standards. Under […]

Foothills residents challenge $35M power project as county decides Tuesday

Bernalillo County commissioners will decide Tuesday whether to uphold a controversial $35 million Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM) substation approval. Several resident groups appealed the Planning Commission’s December decision. The appeals are among six scheduled for a special 1 p.m. zoning meeting Tuesday. Groups, including the Sandia Heights and High Desert homeowner associations, […]