By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — With an uncertain future for power rates and unreliable power grids, Bernalillo County residents may see more stable electricity rates and a stronger power grid, following the approval of a $175 million battery storage project on Albuquerque’s Westside. Bernalillo County commissioners approved an industrial revenue bond, 4-1, March 11, […]
City Desk ABQ
Posted in■ Local Government
Keller nominates Cecily Barker to permanently lead APD, pending City Council confirmation
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — After 22 years of climbing the ranks from patrol officer to the Albuquerque Police Department’s top-ranking officer, Cecily Barker stands one vote away from making history as Albuquerque’s first female police chief. Mayor Tim Keller announced Barker as his official nominee for chief of police on Tuesday, choosing the […]
Posted in■ Local Government, City Desk ABQ, The Paper.
Pueblos and neighbors lose final appeal to block 238-unit development next to Petroglyphs Monument
By Jesse Jones, City Desk ABQ in The Paper. — Bulldozers are officially cleared to start building new housing in Albuquerque. The only problem, say neighbors and pueblos, is that the development will sit next to the Petroglyph National Monument. The Pueblos of Santa Clara and Laguna and the Westside Coalition of Neighborhood Associations (WSCONA) […]
Posted inThe Paper.
Gov, Board give final OK to $114M State Fair redevelopment with a stadium option
Burqueños and the International District moved a step closer to a major Fairgrounds transformation Monday after the state board approved the first phase of a $200 million redevelopment plan that includes a new multipurpose stadium and hundreds of housing units. The New Mexico State Fairgrounds District Board, chaired by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, approved the […]
Posted in■ Local Government, City Desk ABQ, The Paper.
Westside, Rio Rancho drivers have a new $62 million reason to hate rush hour
Thousands of Rio Rancho and Westside drivers who navigate the Unser Boulevard and Paseo del Norte intersection daily are in line for long-awaited relief — but they’ll need to endure roughly three years of construction to get there. Albuquerque officially launched the largest road construction project in its history on March 17: a $62 million […]
Posted inThe Paper.
How many gas stations are too many? Neighbors fight Maverick plan to add 4th to Carlisle, Indian School corridor
By Rodd Cayton, The Paper. — How many gas stations can one neighborhood handle? That’s the question neighbors from 8 neighborhoods living along Indian School Rd. and Carlisle Blvd. are asking. A zoning examiner is now weighing a pair of requests that could lead to a new Maverik gas station on the site that was […]
Posted inCity Desk ABQ
All city businesses now have to say where ICE can, can’t enter. How exactly will that work under new city ICE law?
From local restaurants to construction crews, tens of thousands of Duke City businesses will soon have new requirements added to their annual business license renewal after the Albuquerque City Council approved the Safer Community Places Ordinance on Monday, March 16. Once enacted into law, the city has 90 days to determine how businesses will set […]
Posted in■ Local Government, Arts & Culture, City Desk ABQ, The Paper.
Could new corporate management at KiMo lock out local arts?
By Sara Atencio-Gonzales and Jessie Jones, The Paper. – Concern is growing among Albuquerque’s theatre community over the possible transfer of operations at the KiMo Theatre in Downtown Albuquerque, with many fearing it could limit access for local artists. Vicki Singer, president of the Albuquerque Theatre Guild, explains that the primary worry is how a […]
Posted in■ Local Government
Albuquerque moves quickly to remove César Chávez from streets, public honors following abuse disclosures by Dolores Huerta, others
By Jesse Jones, City Desk ABQ in The Paper. — City officials took swift action Wednesday to initiate the renaming of local sites honoring civil rights organizer and Chicano icon César Chávez following disclosures by fellow activist Dolores Huerta that he pressured her for sex resulting in pregnancies. City Councilor Joaquín Baca told City Desk […]
Posted in■ Local Government, City Desk ABQ
Council kills controversial tax hike after floor amendments slash rate
By Jesse Jones, City Desk in The Paper. — Albuquerque city workers filled the City Council chambers hoping a new tax would fund long-awaited raises, but they left empty-handed. Councilors voted 8-1 Monday night to kill a proposed gross receipts tax increase before the state deadline, shelving a plan meant to fund community projects and […]