Posted inLocal Government

Commission publishes first-of-its-kind behavioral health ordinance

Bernalillo County residents may soon see a different, more efficient network aimed at helping them meet their behavioral health needs. The Board of Commissioners on Tuesday approved the publication of an ordinance that would create a behavioral health authority that would unify county behavioral health efforts. Vice Chair Eric Olivas said before the meeting that […]

Posted inLocal Government

WHAT TO EXPECT: Commissioners try to revisit controversial process to hire county manager

If at first you donโ€™t succeed โ€” try again. Bernalillo County Commissioners Steven Michael Quezada and Walt Benson will try to get a controversial resolution on the agenda for the commissionโ€™s Tuesday meeting to allow it to revisit the process to hire a county manager. The two commissioners will need some help from their colleagues […]

Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Local Government

City seeks input on food ordinance changes

Albuquerqueโ€™s Environmental Health Department is seeking the publicโ€™s input as the city prepares to update its food service and retail ordinance. Stakeholders and interested parties have the opportunity to review the draft ordinance and accompanying rules document and provide input. The updated ordinance will replace the cityโ€™s existing food safety laws ordinances. The new ordinance […]

Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Local Government

Business licenses, permit fees would rise under mayorโ€™s proposed budget

Under Albuquerque Mayor Tim Kellerโ€™s proposed $1.37 billion budget, the cost of a business license and some building permits would increase. The proposed increases are estimated to generate about $6 million in revenue from the cityโ€™s Planning Department, which oversees permitting, development reviews, code enforcement and more.  The proposed fiscal year 2025 budget for the […]

Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Housing & Homelessness, Local Government

What to know: ABQ’s first pallet home campus

The city unveiled plans Monday to develop a transitional recovery housing campus with 50 pallet homes, but with just a handful of specifics. Since then, weโ€™ve heard from City Desk ABQ readers wanting to know more so we tracked down some answers.  The project โ€” the first of its kind in Albuquerque โ€” was allocated […]

Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Local Government

Councilor wants to expand successful gun violence intervention program to county

The City of Albuquerque is hoping to soon partner with the Bernalillo County Sheriffโ€™s Office to create a Violence Intervention Program for the unincorporated areas of Bernalillo County.  City Councilor Nichole Rogers will introduce legislation at the next meeting to allow the city to apply for a $1,392,698 grant from the New Mexico Department of […]

Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Housing & Homelessness, Local Government

The mayor said the city needs new 5,000 homes. His budget proposes less than 200.

In 2022, Mayor Tim Keller announced his goal to have 5,000 housing units across the city by 2025 to help with the cityโ€™s affordable โ€œhousing crisis.โ€ So far 165 affordable units have been built and the next fiscal yearโ€™s budget includes funding for 195 housing units โ€” still far short of the goal. Katie Simon, […]