Commentary from Maurreen Skowran , Westside Albuquerque. Skowran is a Marine veteran and former candidate for Albuquerque City Council. This letter is provided as opinion/commentary from the author. You can submit your own: editor@citydesk.org The November release of Visit Albuquerque’s 10-year destination master plan, created by the company JLL, outlines strategies for cultural heritage and […]
Commentary
Culture war issues take time and understanding
Some 30 years ago, around a Thanksgiving dinner table, a gentleman in my family stated this opinion: Gay people should not be allowed to be schoolteachers because they wanted to recruit children into their way of life. The gentleman was then about 50-ish and had never had more than a superficial acquaintance with anyone he […]
Project 2025 and the new look of disaster recovery
In Roswell’s newly opened FEMA office, people who lost homes and vehicles in October flooding and people who are still trying to get the mold and muck out of their living quarters hope the government will help them get back on their feet. In Ruidoso FEMA ensnared flood and fire victims with red tape. And […]
Letter to the Editor: Senators Heinrich and Lujan should be applauded for their votes on Israeli weapons resolutions
Submitted by Terry Hansen, Milwaukee I want to thank Senators Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Lujan for voting to halt the transfer of offensive weapons to Israel because of its transgressions in the war against Hamas, including Israel’s blocking of U.S. humanitarian aid to Gaza. Unfortunately, despite their courageous votes, the resolutions did not pass. This spring, the […]
Letter to the Editor: State Must Act to End Unlawful and Discriminatory Property Tax Practices
Submitted by Kenneth and Kathleen DeHoffBad Coyote Farm, Corrales In September 2024, the 13th District Court ruled that the Sandoval County Assessor’s mass appraisal method for Corrales is unlawful, confirming what we’ve experienced firsthand since moving here in 2021. As longtime Sandoval County residents, my wife and I trusted the assessor to fairly value our […]
Days of the Mama Lucy Gang and Cowboy Coalition
In 1984 New Mexico voters took a turn to the right, sending more moderates and conservatives of both parties to the Legislature. Back then the parties entertained a greater range of ideas. After voters had spoken, conservatives had a new opportunity take back the House. Rep. Jerry Sandel, a conservative Democrat from Farmington, became the […]
Super rich appointees, politicos will set policy for ordinary Americans
Billionaires’ and multi-millionaires’ increasing presence in the Senate and in the Trump Administration? Yes, it’s true. First up is Sen. Rick Scott of Florida. Scott’s net worth is near $350 million, making him the richest U. S. senator. He made his money in for-profit healthcare when he was CEO of Columbia/HCA hospitals. Part of his […]
One million reads and beyond
As editor of City Desk ABQ, I’m proud to announce a major milestone: We’ve received one million reads since the organization launched in January. What that means is even before we hit our one-year anniversary, we’ve delivered to readers a long list of stories they couldn’t find anywhere else. When City Desk launched, the goal […]
One million reads and beyond
As editor of City Desk ABQ, I’m proud to announce a major milestone: We’ve received one million reads since the organization launched in January. What that means is even before we hit our one-year anniversary, we’ve delivered to readers a long list of stories they couldn’t find anywhere else. When City Desk launched, the goal […]
The illogic of asylum seeker detention
About once a month, several volunteers from Albuquerque and Santa Fe travel to one of New Mexico’s immigrant detention prisons. They are from VIDA, Volunteers for Immigrants in Detention Albuquerque (abqvida.org). They go to provide comfort and solace for incarcerated asylum seekers who are mostly abandoned in a prison where conditions are miserable. They are […]