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, […]

Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Courts, Justice & Safety

Whistleblowers outline allegations of nepotism and retaliation within Albuquerque’s police academy

By SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN Associated Press Several members of the Albuquerque police academyโ€™s training staff who were dismissed from their duties last summer filed a lawsuit Wednesday outlining allegations of nepotism and retaliation by leadership within the force. The whistleblower complaint centers on a requirement that male cadets shave their heads with a razor daily. […]

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

City survey shows residents concerned about direction city is headed

Albuquerque residents say theyโ€™re concerned about the city’s direction, and although many feel that city leaders have put forth good ideas on how to address those issues, 61% of residents polled feel the city is unresponsive to their concerns. Thatโ€™s the gist of the cityโ€™s annual survey, released Tuesday. When asked how they feel about […]

Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Courts, Justice & Safety

Mayorโ€™s proposed budget includes 5% more funding for police

Under the mayorโ€™s proposed budget, funding for the Albuquerque Police Department would increase by $13.4 million โ€” 5.2%. The proposed budget of $271.5 million includes funding for 1,000 sworn police officers and 725 civilian employees. Much of the proposed increase has to do with personnel, including cost of living adjustments, an increased cost of insurance, […]

Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety, New Mexico Statewide News

MLG Announces Special Legislative Session to Focus on Public Safety

Associated Press / SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) New Mexicoโ€™s Democratic governor on Wednesday announced a mid-summer special legislative session on public safety after many crime initiatives languished. In an emailed statement, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said she’ll call legislators back to Santa Fe on July 18 “to finish what they started during the 30-day legislative […]

Posted inJobs, Workers & Economy, New Mexico Statewide News

US court rejects a request by tribes to block $10B energy transmission project in Arizona

By SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN Associated Press / ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) A federal judge on Tuesday rejected a request by Native American tribes and environmentalists to stop work on a $10 billion transmission line being built through a remote southeastern Arizona valley that will carry wind-generated electricity from New Mexico to customers as far away as […]

Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Local Government

Family summer plans get more expensive under mayor’s budget

Summer plans are about to get more expensive with Mayor Tim Kellerโ€™s proposed budget seeking more money from golfers, swimmers and animal lovers. The mayorโ€™s proposed budget is $23.7 million higher than last yearโ€™s budget of $1.37 billion. Almost $2 million of that will come from proposed fee hikes on some of the cityโ€™s most […]