By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Smoke shops and cannabis dispensaries have become a common sight in many Duke City shopping centers, but city leaders may soon make that boom go up in smoke. Concerned about the increasing concentration of 21-and-over shops, a city councilor is proposing new zoning rules that would limit how many […]
Local Government
Posted inCorrales
New rules at last? Parking ordinance update headlines Corrales council meeting
By Rodd Cayton, Corrales Comment Will Corrales finally update its parking ordinance? The Village Council Tuesday will take the matter up once again, nearly four months after putting it off due to concerns about possible unintended consequences of a previous draft ordinance. Residents have been asking the council to address the problem of commercial parking […]
Posted inEdgewood
Campaign to disincorporate Edgewood gains momentum after chaotic commission meeting
By Rodd Cayton, The Route 66 Independent — As sparks fly at town commission meetings, organizers of an effort to disincorporate Edgewood are moving toward their signature goal. Former Mayor John Abrams, a member of the Reboot Edgewood campaign, told the Route 66 Independent a petition that would start the process has more than 400 […]
Posted inBernalillo County
BernCo balanced its budget, expands free programs without raising taxes
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — For Bernalillo County families already stretched by rising costs, the new county budget aims to lighten the load, with no tax hikes and more free programming at community centers. Faced with an $8.5 million budget gap, county leaders balanced the $857.7 million budget without raising taxes or cutting services, […]
Posted inLocal Government
ABQ councilors try again on tax hike — but this time, voters will decide
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Following the defeat of a similar measure in March, a pair of City Councilors are reviving a nearly half-percent sales tax proposal to fund neighborhood improvements and city services. The measure would ask Burqueños to pay slightly more in exchange for neighborhood infrastructure upgrades and higher pay for city […]
Posted inEdgewood
Commissioner Murillo walks out of meeting; Commissioners learn he directed changes to fire agreement, now jeopardizing implementation
By Pat Davis, Route 66 Independent – Patience and time are both in short supply in Edgewood these days as the town’s commissioners struggle to pass a simple ordinance to implement a new fire service agreement they already approved with Santa Fe County. Commissioners received a letter from Santa Fe County last week rejecting their […]
Posted inLocal Government
Planning for the 4th of July? What you need to know about ABQ’s fireworks rule
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — As Burqueños prepare to celebrate the nation’s semiquincentennial — the United States’ 250th birthday — they’ll have to navigate Albuquerque’s rules on what fireworks can legally be set off in their neighborhoods. Recent wildfires across New Mexico and within city limits may have firefighters on alert, but city fire […]
Posted inLocal Government
Santa Fe County says Edgewood’s changes to fire ordinance violate agreement, threatening emergency services, again, before they start
EDGEWOOD, N.M. — Santa Fe County officials have rejected a revised ordinance proposed by the Town of Edgewood to fund fire and emergency medical services, warning that the town’s unilateral changes violate their Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) and state law. The ongoing dispute threatens to leave Edgewood residents without primary fire and EMS coverage from […]
Posted inLocal Government
Return of the ‘ankle-biters’
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Duke City residents looking forward to patio season may think they got through an unusually quiet spring bug season unscathed, but Albuquerque — currently ranked 38th on Orkin’s Top 50 Worst Mosquito Cities List — local health officials expect to see a spike in mosquito populations very soon. The […]
Posted inLocal Government
City Council ejects speakers in raucous debate, before approving new Albuquerque minimum wage
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Burqueños workers making minimum wage have something to be excited about – if they have patience – after the Albuquerque City Council approved a $3 increase to the city’s minimum wage Monday night after a packed and at times raucous meeting that drew so many people that some were […]