City councilors got a little hot under the collar at times during Monday’s regular meeting. They questioned the police chief after an hour plus-long executive session to discuss air quality board litigation then had some heated exchanges with the administration over air quality board issues. Let’s Talk Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina faced off with […]
Local Gov.
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Who will be APD’s new watchdog?
Tackling the problem of revamping the city’s housing voucher program is set to be debated at Monday’s Albuquerque City Council meeting. Also on the government table is taking a look at selecting a director of the struggling Civilian Police Oversight Agency. CPOA Leader Albuquerque’s police oversight agency has been without a permanent executive director since […]
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With smiles and surveys, volunteers count city’s homeless
Car trunks were packed with goodie bags filled with granola bars, gummy bears, crackers and bottles of water as teams of volunteers carpooled to different areas of the city this week. On day and night shifts, they walked sidewalks, cul-de-sacs, alleys, bike trails, arroyos and busy intersections. They looked under bridges, scanned perimeters of vacant […]
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What do you think of the city’s Rail Trail idea? The city wants to know.
The City’s Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency (MRA) published the public comment draft of the comprehensive report “Advancing Inclusive Growth through the Albuquerque Rail Trail,” with the idea of creating a more inclusive and vibrant urban environment in Albuquerque. Now the City is asking the community to read the report and give feedback via a survey at cabq.gov/railtrailequity. […]
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Texts show APD Chief, Mayor Keller discuss plan to “hammer the unhoused”
Amid growing public pressure to address homeless encampments across the city, Mayor Tim Keller invited Police Chief Harold Medina to help develop a two-month plan with “like five moves in two months on the chess baord (sic)” to respond to the growing crisis. “Yes let’s plan we hammer the unhoused but be prepared for the […]
Posted inBernalillo County, Courts, Justice & Safety, Local Gov.
Bernalillo County Sheriff’s deputy arrested after allegedly pointing gun at two people
Two Albuquerque residents were startled as they waited for a friend at a Circle K on Wednesday when—over the loud-speaker of a Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office truck—they were ordered to leave. “Get the fuck outta here,” they reported hearing. “Get the fuck outta here, or I’m going to take your fucking soul.” That’s what police […]
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Joaquin Baca is ready to move forward and make the hard decisions
Joaquin Baca is picking up the torch. Baca, a hydrologist with the U.S. Forest Service was elected in November to fill the City Council seat of longtime Councilor Isaac Benton, who served for 18 years. Baca represents District 2, which includes downtown, Old Town, the West Mesa and Pat Hurley neighborhoods and part of the […]
Posted inBernalillo County, Housing & Homelessness, Local Gov.
County Commissioners tip their hats to a local leader
A salute to Kiki Savaadra, keeping folks safe from arroyo flooding and continuing the 1/16th gross receipts tax for behavioral health initiatives all got the greenlight from the Bernalillo County Commission at its Tuesday meeting. Pennies Add Up A public hearing was held to approve continuing the 1/16th of one cent gross receipts tax for […]
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APD comes under fire at City Council meeting
Allegations of unchecked corruption, lack of leadership, lack of communication and a call for accountability dominated the Albuquerque City Council meeting Monday. Councilors had sharp words for leaders of the Police Department and Mayor Tim Keller after recent FBI raids on the homes of police officers as part of a federal investigation. The investigation led […]
Posted inBernalillo County, Courts, Justice & Safety, Local Gov.
How a cry for food sparked Christmas Day trouble in New Mexico’s largest jail for kids
By Joshua Bowling/Searchlight New Mexico The sun was setting as parents waited for the Christmas Day call from their incarcerated children, unaware of the fraught situation that had broken out hours earlier: a so-called “riot” at New Mexico’s largest jail for kids. The news media were depicting a violent uprising inside the Bernalillo County Youth […]