$1 million public records payouts continue to irk City Council

At Monday’s city council meeting, Councilor Louie Sanchez questioned the city administration about why it paid over $1 million in Inspection of Public Records Act settlements last year.  City Desk ABQ reported on the high dollar settlements last month. On Monday, Sanchez said it’s important for the council to know what’s happening with these payouts […]

Council approves additional funding to help with increasing number of migrants

Helping asylum seekers and migrants and recognizing the impact of the atomic industry on downwinders topped the short Albuquerque City Council meeting held on March 18. Migrant Help An increasing number of migrants arriving in Albuquerque — “due to unforeseen circumstances at the southern U.S. border” — since early fall has stretched thin the nonprofit […]

One man’s quest to help solve the city’s homelessness problem

The campaigning hasn’t stopped, but now the focus is homelessness. Daymon Ely, an attorney and former three-term state representative, has spent the past 12 months developing a proposal to address homelessness in Albuquerque. The problem is well documented: There are more people living on Albuquerque’s streets, some with severe mental health and addiction issues, and […]

Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., New Mexico Statewide News

Tribal nations receive $120 million to fight climate-related threats

By GRAHAM LEE BREWER Associated Press The Biden administration will be allocating more than $120 million to tribal governments to fight the impacts of climate change, the Department of the Interior announced Thursday. The funding is designed to help tribal nations adapt to climate threats, including relocating infrastructure. Indigenous peoples in the U.S. are among […]

Posted inHousing & Homelessness, New Mexico Statewide News, State Government #nmgov

Legislature put ‘big infusion into housing’

New Mexico’s dual crises of a decrease in affordable housing and an increase in homelessness were hot topics in Santa Fe at the recently concluded legislative session. The New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority, one of the state’s most effective weapons in the fight, was the recipient of some key funding from lawmakers. The somewhat enigmatic […]

How do you fire a chief of police?

After three false starts, Councilor Louie Sanchez is getting some traction in getting the City Council to chastise Chief Harold Medina after what he calls a pattern of mismanagement and scandals.  This week a vote of no confidence moved forward out of an important city committee — but Sanchez acknowledges that Medina is not going […]

Posted inNew Mexico Statewide News, State Government #nmgov

Republican New Mexico Senate and House leaders won’t seek reelection

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The top-ranked Republicans in the New Mexico House and Senate won’t seek reelection this year as their party seeks a stronger footing in the Democrat-led Legislature. Senate Republicans are reckoning with the first election since a redistricting plan from Democrats merged GOP-led districts. Senate Republican leader Greg Baca of Belen […]