By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — A small group of West Old Town residents is challenging the City of Albuquerque over a segment of the ABQ Rail Trail, a multimillion-dollar marquee project. Although the group wants to halt the planned extension through their neighborhood, the city owns the property, forcing residents to navigate municipal bureaucracy […]
NM.news
Posted in+Arts & Culture
Albuquerque’s Juneteenth Celebration Is Bigger Than Ever. Here’s What’s Planned
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Music, food vendors, art and community celebrations will soon fill the Duke City as Burqueños and visitors from across New Mexico gather for what organizers expect to be the largest Juneteenth celebration the city has ever hosted. What started as a community gathering has grown into a citywide tradition. […]
Posted inCity Desk ABQ
Denied again: Why the ABQ City Council killed the same sales tax hike twice
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Burqueño voters will have one fewer question on the November ballot after the City Council narrowly rejected a proposed $113 million gross receipts tax increase, marking the second defeat for a measure that had already been revived once. The City Council voted 5-4 Monday to kill Resolution R-26-43, a […]
Posted inBernalillo County
After years of issues at MDC, Bernalillo County adds a new piece to the healthcare puzzle
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — For years, Bernalillo County has poured millions of dollars into fixing healthcare at the Metropolitan Detention Center, bringing in a new medical provider and overhauling its behavioral health system. Despite millions of dollars in new investments, turbulence continues at MDC. The facility has cycled through three wardens since 2022 […]
Posted inNM.news
After three police shootings in five days, City Councilor questions APD, ACS mental health response rules
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Imagine calling 911 for help during a mental health crisis only to have the encounter end in death. That happened in May when the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) shot and killed a man after his family called for help because he was threatening to harm himself. The shooting was […]
Posted inEnergy
Fact Check: What do we really know about Blackstone’s plan to buy PNM?
Editor’s note: In August 2025, New Mexico’s largest utility, privately-owned PNM, asked state regulators for permission to sell to a subsidiary of Blackstone, a private equity firm which has offered $11.5 billion for the company. Since PNM is a public utility, the sale must be approved by the Public Regulation Commission and that process has […]
Posted inCity Desk ABQ
Albuquerque’s record $1.5 billion budget heads to the state, without Keller’s signature
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Burqueños and city workers can breathe a sigh of relief as the city’s new $1.5 billion budget becomes law without the stroke of the mayor’s pen. The plan avoids resident trash fee hikes, locks in funding for core community services from public safety to senior programs and includes upcoming […]
Posted inCity Desk ABQ
Why did the city cancel 311 on Sundays? Councilor quizzes mayor’s office after getting no answer
City Desk ABQ: How that story came together Jesse Jones is a local government reporter with City Desk and The Paper. This column covers his work uncovering what’s behind a news tip he received about City Hall. Whether you’re reporting graffiti, looking for a swimming pool schedule, seeking homeless services or trying to track down […]
Posted inCity Desk ABQ
How a new zoning ordinance could send future Burque smoke shops up in smoke
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Smoke shops and cannabis dispensaries have become a common sight in many Duke City shopping centers, but city leaders may soon make that boom go up in smoke. Concerned about the increasing concentration of 21-and-over shops, a city councilor is proposing new zoning rules that would limit how many […]
Posted inLocal Government
ABQ councilors try again on tax hike — but this time, voters will decide
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Following the defeat of a similar measure in March, a pair of City Councilors are reviving a nearly half-percent sales tax proposal to fund neighborhood improvements and city services. The measure would ask Burqueños to pay slightly more in exchange for neighborhood infrastructure upgrades and higher pay for city […]
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