By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. Four Rio Rancho residents pressed the governing body Aug. 27 to pull the plug on the city’s Flock Safety camera network, arguing that 19 cameras logging every passing license plate amounts to warrantless mass surveillance — not the crime-fighting tool police describe. Joaquin Montoya, speaking on behalf of privacy advocacy […]
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Posted inPlacitas
Residents protest, commissioners approve: The battle over the Placitas tower
By Rodd Cayton On the advice of an attorney — and against the wishes of dozens of residents who packed their chamber — Sandoval County Commissioners approved an application from parties seeking to erect a communications tower in Placitas. The planning and zoning commission in May denied the conditional use permit that would have allowed […]
Posted inRio Rancho
Rio Rancho police credit ALPR cameras with dozens of arrests, vehicle recoveries
By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. Rio Rancho’s automated license plate reader network has grown to 19 cameras citywide, and police say the system — all of it run through vendor Flock Safety — is paying off in stolen vehicle recoveries and arrests. Police told councilors during an Aug. 18 work session that the most recent […]
Posted inRio Rancho
Rio Rancho’s speed cameras are racking up tickets — and maybe too much cash
By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. Rio Rancho drivers are getting caught speeding at a record pace, and the city may soon have more camera-generated cash than it knows what to do with. The city’s newer speed camera network — 10 mobile towers citywide plus three red towers installed on Highway 528 in June — has […]
Posted inRio Rancho
City clerk calls for election overhaul after costs blow past budget
By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. Rio Rancho’s record-breaking mayoral runoff didn’t just set turnout records — it also busted the city’s election budget by more than $100,000, City Clerk Noel Davis told the Governing Body during an Aug. 18 work session. Davis, who’s held the clerk’s office a little over two years and just ran […]
Posted inRio Rancho
Vacancy ahead: Councilor Lenentine’s resignation triggers appointment search in District 2
By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. District 2 has a vacancy on the horizon. Councilor Jeremy Lenentine announced Aug. 19 he’s resigning for family considerations, with his last day in office set for Nov. 12 — handing Mayor Paul Wymer the job of finding a replacement under the same fast-track process that seated Councilor David Mann […]
Posted inElections & Politics
Hull says he is ‘fully committed’ to working with Texas Gov. Abbot to stop New Mexico aid for Texans seeking abortions in New Mexico
By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. & New Mexico Political Report— Republican gubernatorial candidate Gregg Hull says comments he made at an Aug. 11 Hobbs meet-and-greet about working with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on abortion are being taken “out of context,” though in a phone call with The Paper. he confirmed he opposes state funding for […]
Posted inSandoval County
Sandoval County locks in cheaper bonds for landfill gear, Project Ranger land
By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. Sandoval County commissioners have approved nearly $11.3 million in new bonds to buy landfill equipment and settle up land costs tied to the Project Ranger site, both coming in at lower interest rates than the county had budgeted for. Commissioners adopted an ordinance authorizing up to $9.5 million in gross […]
Posted inSandoval County
Rio Rancho Democrat drops out of HD23 race, cites ‘vile tactics’ from GOP
By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper.Democrat Elise Falanga Taylor is ending her campaign for New Mexico House District 23, saying she won’t let what she calls “vile tactics” from Republicans overshadow the issues at stake. Incumbent Rep. Alan Martinez, the House Minority Whip, denies he or his campaign had anything to do with it. In a […]
Posted inTown of Bernalillo
Bridging the gap: Legislators and educators unite for childcare reform
By Rodd Cayton What happens when several state legislators and childcare advocates gather in one room in Bernalillo? “Great success and great fun,” says Kate Noble, president and CEO of Growing Up New Mexico. Her organization focuses on strategies for improving the lives of children from the prenatal stage to age 5. Growing Up New […]