Drivers looking to get onto Interstate 25 from westbound Montgomery Boulevard will have to change their plans. The loop ramp at that interchange will be permanently closed Tuesday night as part of an ongoing project on I-25. Moving forward, westbound drivers will need to turn left onto the frontage road to enter the freeway. Crews […]
Albuquerque
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City brings back routine food inspections
Inspectors with the Albuquerque Environmental Health Department are back at ensuring the city’s diners aren’t getting dangerous vittles. The department had scaled back its efforts and conducted only pre-opening and complaint-based inspections while a new food safety and retail ordinance was put into place and inspectors were trained on the new rules. Routine inspections were […]
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How one ABQ student got the city’s attention over pedestrian safety
Sometimes it may seem that public concerns brought to city officials go willfully unheard. But one University of New Mexico student’s persistence and determination on pedestrian safety got her a scheduled meeting with city development heads. Like most students with busy schedules, Jackie Davis risks jaywalking across Central Avenue near UNM. After noticing hundreds of […]
Posted inAlbuquerque, Housing & Homelessness
Do you need a place to sleep? Here’s a map of shelters in Albuquerque
The question of how many beds are available for people experiencing homelessness has emerged as a sticking point as cities across the country grapple with how to tackle the issue. With this in mind, City Desk ABQ called around to 14 shelters identified by the City of Albuquerque and the New Mexico Coalition to End […]
Posted inAlbuquerque, Housing & Homelessness
Keller aims to expand homeless, recovery services
Mayor Tim Keller used the occasion of his State of the City address Aug. 17 to highlight a series of initiatives (some new, some in progress) that are designed to improve the lot of those experiencing homelessness — including adding or bolstering four city-run facilities to serve different populations. The Metro Homelessness Initiative (MHI) is […]
Posted inAlbuquerque, Local Gov., New Mexico Statewide News
Bernalillo County sees first West Nile virus death this year
Officials announced Friday the first death from West Nile virus in Bernalillo County. Albuquerque’s Environmental Health Department and the Bernalillo County Planning Development Services Department announced in a news release that the woman who died was 65 years old, which is within the age range of people most at risk. The release stated the city […]
Posted inAlbuquerque, Housing & Homelessness
A dearth of public bathrooms is more than just an inconvenience
At Mayor Tim Keller’s State of the City address, he said there are an estimated 5,000 people living on the streets in Albuquerque. For those thousands — along with other city residents — locating a public restroom can be a challenge. While there’s no shortage of proposed solutions, city officials and advocates alike say none […]
Posted inAlbuquerque, Housing & Homelessness
Housing shortage could put brakes on new short-term rentals
The surge of short-term rentals and the rise of companies such as Airbnb has made it more difficult to find a home to rent or a house to buy in Albuquerque. The issue has spurred city councilors to propose a bill to limit the number of short-term rentals in certain areas, but others say it’s […]
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Ranked choice voting explained
Ranked choice voting has been adopted in cities such as Santa Fe and Las Cruces but the idea of implementing the voting system has been voted down by Albuquerque city councilors for years. The City Council most recently voted against ranked choice voting — a system that allows voters to rank candidates by preference on […]
Posted inHousing & Homelessness, International District
International District could see $50 million boost from feds
The buzz has been building among city officials and International District residents about the prospect that up to $50 million in federal money could be funneled into an area that desperately needs it. The city and the Albuquerque Housing Authority (AHA) were recently awarded a $500,000 Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant through the U.S. Department of […]