City Council blasts mayor’s office for new process of addressing constituent’s emails

Albuquerque City Councilors criticized Mayor Tim Keller’s office Monday night for the administration’s new process for addressing constituents’ emailed concerns, which some councilors said is superfluous and inefficient. The city, however, says it’s the most efficient way to track those emails. Councilor Renée Grout said during the meeting that when she has forwarded constituent complaints […]

City Council blasts mayor’s office for new process of addressing constituent’s emails

Albuquerque City Councilors criticized Mayor Tim Keller’s office Monday night for the administration’s new process for addressing constituents’ emailed concerns, which some councilors said is superfluous and inefficient. The city, however, says it’s the most efficient way to track those emails. Councilor Renée Grout said during the meeting that when she has forwarded constituent complaints […]

Posted inNew Mexico State Gov.

Billionaire-backed think tank that pushed homeless crackdowns elsewhere hires veteran NM lobbyists 

by Patrick Lohmann, Source New Mexico As New Mexico lawmakers mull huge reforms to the state’s criminal justice and behavioral health systems, a billionaire-backed think tank has jumped into the fray.  The Cicero Institute is a Texas-based, conservative think tank established by Joe Lonsdale, the billionaire co-founder of data mining and defense tech company Palantir, […]

Posted inNew Mexico State Gov.

Billionaire-backed think tank that pushed homeless crackdowns elsewhere hires veteran NM lobbyists 

by Patrick Lohmann, Source New Mexico As New Mexico lawmakers mull huge reforms to the state’s criminal justice and behavioral health systems, a billionaire-backed think tank has jumped into the fray.  The Cicero Institute is a Texas-based, conservative think tank established by Joe Lonsdale, the billionaire co-founder of data mining and defense tech company Palantir, […]

Posted inHousing & Homelessness, Westside Albuquerque

Bill Aims to Stop Libraries from Banning Books Based on Politics, Ideology

By Nicole Maxwell A bill aimed at protecting public libraries from politically charged book ban attempts is making its way through the Roundhouse. HB 27, the Librarian Protection Act, sponsored by Rep. Kathleen Cates, D-Rio Rancho,  seeks to prohibit public libraries from getting state funding unless they adopt a policy prohibiting the removal of books […]

Posted inHousing & Homelessness, Pueblos, Uncategorized, Westside Albuquerque

Estancia Goes to Washington to Seek Funding 

By Andrea Vasquez  The town of Estancia is planning another trip to Washington, D.C., for funding purposes.  Mayor Nathan Dial confirmed that Estancia is considering a trip to the nation’s capitol to secure funding for one of the town’s new “big ticket item” project.  The project will include a park, pond and pool, with a […]

Posted inNew Mexico Statewide News, Westside Albuquerque

Inside New Mexico’s first diversion program for people who aren’t competent to stand trial

By Ted Alcorn, New Mexico In Depth James Ketcherside approached the bushes behind the Las Cruces fire station where the woman had been spending nights, bracing for resistance but determined to try.  She’d been on the streets for months, since a fight with her husband that ended in her arrest and expulsion from the family […]

Posted inNew Mexico Statewide News, Westside Albuquerque

Inside New Mexico’s first diversion program for people who aren’t competent to stand trial

By Ted Alcorn, New Mexico In Depth James Ketcherside approached the bushes behind the Las Cruces fire station where the woman had been spending nights, bracing for resistance but determined to try.  She’d been on the streets for months, since a fight with her husband that ended in her arrest and expulsion from the family […]

Posted inNew Mexico State Gov., New Mexico Statewide News

Bipartisan wildfire preparedness bill takes stab at looming insurance crisis

By Bryce Dix, KUNM The fire insurance industry faces mounting financial risks as New Mexico experiences more frequent and intense heat waves – triggering massive wildfires. On Tuesday, lawmakers on the Senate Conservation Committee unanimously advanced a bill that takes aim at skyrocketing premiums or policy cancellations by proactivelyplanning for future fires. Overall, large swaths […]

Posted inNew Mexico State Gov., New Mexico Statewide News

Bipartisan wildfire preparedness bill takes stab at looming insurance crisis

By Bryce Dix, KUNM The fire insurance industry faces mounting financial risks as New Mexico experiences more frequent and intense heat waves – triggering massive wildfires. On Tuesday, lawmakers on the Senate Conservation Committee unanimously advanced a bill that takes aim at skyrocketing premiums or policy cancellations by proactivelyplanning for future fires. Overall, large swaths […]