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 […]
Congress & Federal Gov.
Posted inUncategorized
Will ABQ get ‘Safe Haven Baby Boxes’?
Albuquerque may be on its way to getting baby boxes — usually installed in fire departments under the promise of giving parents a way to anonymously surrender their baby. City Councilors Renée Grout and Klarissa Peña want Albuquerque to become the next city to get Safe Haven Baby Boxes and plan to bring a resolution […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Edgewood, Local Government, Uncategorized
Commissioner Advocates For Keeping Carnuel Ramp Open
A New Mexico Department of Transportation plan to close a freeway ramp near Carnuel has residents of some East Mountains communities concerned. Department officials said in a public meeting in June that the bridge, which crosses the Tijeras Arroyo, is in poor condition. The NMDOT proposes to permanently remove the westbound off-ramp, and route traffic […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., New Mexico Statewide News, Westside Albuquerque
Leger Fernàndez votes against voter ID bill
This story is republished from NM Political Report, a nonprofit news outlet, as a part of our commitment to bringing you the best in independent news coverage that matters to Albuquerque. By Nicole Maxwell The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act seeks to require proof of United States citizenship to register to vote in federal elections, but opponents […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Jobs, Workers & Economy
How many hours of work does it take to afford an apartment?
A New Mexican earning the state’s minimum wage of $12 an hour would need to work 60 hours a week to afford a one-bedroom apartment at the fair market rate of $942 a month. In order to work a typical 40-hour workweek, the renter’s hourly wage would need to be $21.81. Albuquerque metro area renters, […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov.
Albuquerque to be home to a national cemetery
By next year, veterans will be able to be buried right here in Albuquerque at a newly constructed national cemetery. Albuquerque will be the new home to the third national cemetery in the state — joining the Santa Fe National Cemetery and Fort Bayard National Cemetery in providing a burial place for veterans. The U.S. […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Local Government
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 […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Courts, Justice & Safety
How many fireworks complaints did the City receive this week?
Residents filed far fewer complaints about illegal fireworks on July 4th and the days leading up to it this year than they did last year — and there were significantly fewer outside fires. Lt. Jason Fejer, a spokesperson for Albuquerque Fire Rescue, said in a news release that all reports of illegal fireworks were routed […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov.
Let’s Get Bold About Fixing Education
The most overused word in the recent primary was “bold.” Candidates were claiming they had bold solutions for New Mexico’s myriad problems and failings. Then we got the Kids Count report, reminding us that New Mexico is again 50 out of 50 in children’s wellbeing. The bare statistics in that report show that New Mexico […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Local Government
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 […]