The city’s Human Rights Board is recommending that Albuquerque’s hate crimes ordinance be updated to include housing status — a reference to those experiencing homelessness or who are precariously housed. The recommendation comes after board members noticed a rise in hostilities toward the unhoused community. The board is appointed by the mayor and confirmed by […]
Local Government
Posted inLocal Government
County manager finalists make final pitches to commission, community
Joseph Lessard says he’s got the diversity of experience to head up the government of New Mexico’s most populous county. Cindy Chavez says her leadership record presents her as the ideal candidate. Marcos Gonzales says he’s invested in Bernalillo County’s future success and is familiar with the challenges facing it. One of them will be […]
Posted inLocal Government
Split commission redoes county manager selection process during tense meeting
The process Bernalillo County commissioners used to figure out how to hire a new county manager has now been redone to please state investigators, but two commissioners are still questioning whether it was legal. The ratification was necessary after the New Mexico Department of Justice sent a letter to the commission saying it had violated […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Local Government
Voters to decide whether City should lower threshold to win an election
After four hours of discussion Monday night, city councilors finally voted on a series of proposed changes to the city charter, including how many votes a candidate needs to win an election. The meeting — the last until Aug. 5 — wrapped up after 1 a.m. Three of the four amendments were approved and will […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Housing & Homelessness, Local Government
Zoning to increase duplexes, overnight shelters fails at City Council
A push to reform the city’s zoning laws to allow more duplex construction has failed for a second year. An amendment to the city’s codes would have greenlighted conversions of existing single-family homes into duplexes in areas designated as urban centers, main street areas and those near mass transit. A measure to allow for new […]
Posted inLocal Government, New Mexico Statewide News
Albuquerque Fire Rescue Sends Crew to Help Fight Ruidoso Fires
The Albuquerque Fire Rescue Wildland Division is deploying resources to Ruidoso to help with the ongoing efforts to fight the South Fork and Salt fires. AFR resources have been requested through New Mexico State Forestry’s Resource Mobilization Plan and the City of Albuquerque Office of Emergency Management. “The Wildland Division is currently preparing to deploy […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Jobs, Workers & Economy, Local Government, Westside Albuquerque
PNM seeks rate increase
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 Hannah Grover Customers of New Mexico’s largest electric utility may pay more for energy in the future. The Public Service Company of New […]
Posted inLocal Government
County manager finalists to meet community
Bernalillo County residents are invited to meet the final candidates for county manager Tuesday evening. Marcos Gonzales, Joseph Lessard and Cindy Chavez are vying to replace County Manager Julie Morgas Baca, who is retiring June 30. HOW TO PARTICIPATE – CANDIDATE FORUM WHEN: 5 p.m. June 18WHERE: Ken Sanchez Commission Chambers in BernalilloCounty@Alvarado Square, 415 […]
Posted inLocal Government
Bernalillo County commission broke transparency law
State investigators determined Bernalillo County commissioners violated the open meetings law when they established a process for choosing a new county manager. This means the commission will have to meet again to re-do their deliberations in public. The New Mexico Department of Justice notified county officials in a letter Thursday that it found the commission […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Local Government
What to expect: councilors expected to vote on city charter, zoning changes
Controversial city charter amendments, zoning changes and legislation to create a commission for the Route 66 Visitors Center — which was built in 2022 but has yet to open — will be debated at the Albuquerque City Council meeting on Monday. City charter changes After postponing them twice, city councilors are expected to vote on […]