By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. Placitas residents turned out in force and won as Sandoval County’s Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously rejected a permit for a 75-foot Verizon cell tower, siding with a community that flooded the hearing room and submitted hundreds of written objections. About 50 residents arrived an hour before the meeting started, […]
Local Government
Posted inLocal Government
Edgewood residents launch petition to disincorporate town
What happens when a town wants to unburden itself from the responsibilities of being a town? Or if residents conclude, as some in Edgewood have, that it’s time for the town government to go away? A group of Edgewood residents, including Former Mayor John Abrams, say it’s time for the town to vanish. Abrams said […]
Posted inPlacitas
After years of overpayment, Placitas secures victory as ESCAFCA ends tax collection
“This is good, but not the end.” Placitas resident Mike Neas Wednesday expressed relief that a local flood control authority board is looking for a solution to an overtaxation issue that has caused property owners to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars more than they should have. Neas, who earlier this month filed a formal […]
Posted inRio Rancho
Rio Rancho governing body set to adopt $452 million budget, approve Sadie’s restaurant
By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. Rio Rancho residents will see direct impacts from city spending decisions Thursday night, when the Governing Body meets to adopt a $452 million spending plan for the coming fiscal year. The Governing Body meets at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 28, at Council Chambers, 3200 Civic Center Circle NE. The session […]
Posted inLocal Government
Edgewood eyes millions in cuts to plug overspending gap
By Pat Davis and Jesse Jones, The Route 66 Independent – For years, Edgewood commissioners have relied on leftover Covid-era federal government handouts and previous year budget surpluses to pay for new town services including police, parks, events and streets without raising the taxes to fund them long-term. With just a month until the end […]
Posted inSandoval County
Sandoval County commissioners take up budget, land sale and new salary board Wednesday
By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. Sandoval County residents who want a say in how the county spends more than $60 million next year — or who want to weigh in on who sets commissioners’ own salaries — have a chance to speak Wednesday night when the Board of County Commissioners holds its regular meeting at […]
Posted inLocal Government
After Lindy’s collapse, Councilor Baca pushes $5,000 vacancy fines, maintenance rules for Downtown buildings
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Residents and visitors can’t help but notice the empty buildings Downtown; the sudden structural failure of the Lindy’s building made those eyesores into a public hazard. Now, a councilor who pushed for stronger regulations on vacant and unkept properties Downtown other councilors removed from a prior bill. Sponsored by […]
Posted inCorrales
New District 4 councilor will be chosen soon
Corrales Mayor Fred Hashimoto has announced his process for filling the seat of late Village Councilor John Alsobrook II. Chapter 3, Article 12 of the New Mexico Statutes Annotated 1978 gives the mayor responsibility for filling a council vacancy. In his weekly message to the community, Hashimoto wrote that anyone interested in the position should […]
Posted inCity Desk ABQ
Council said no to more safe outdoor spaces but Mayor Keller started one anyway. Now the funding and future may be in jeopardy.
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Almost a year ago, Mayor Tim Keller told reporters the city needs 100 more Safe Outdoor Spaces for its homeless population but the city council has never gotten on board with authorizing zoning and ordinance changes to get anywhere close. Even now, the city has only one privately run […]
Posted inCity Desk ABQ
Why Burqueños might feel safer on buses
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Burqueños riding public transit may be feeling safer lately as new ABQ Ride data shows security calls across the transit system are dropping even while ridership continues to grow. Data reviewed by City Desk from ABQ Ride’s third-quarter report shows safety calls dropped 21% from last year, averaging 1,871 […]