Construction projects across the state are booming, but contractors say finding enough skilled laborers to fill positions is a chronic challenge. The workforce shortages often cause project delays and increased costs — issues that have motivated officials to propose a fix in Albuquerque. The Apprenticeship Empowerment ordinance would require contractors to dedicate 15% of a […]
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Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Local Government
City Council to tackle downtown vacant buildings, sleeping on sidewalks
A proposal to tackle the vacant building issue and ban people from laying or sitting on sidewalks in Downtown Albuquerque is on the agenda for the City Council’s Monday meeting. The Downtown Vacant Buildings and Properties Ordinance — sponsored by Councilor Joaquín Baca — states that vacant buildings and properties are a health and safety […]
Posted inLocal Government
Contention brewing over zoning change in University area
Albuquerque property owner Augustine Grace wants to convert two of his adjacent residential properties near the University area into a new coffee shop but after pushback from a neighborhood association, the future of the project is in the hands of City Council. At their meeting Monday, city councilors will hear from Grace about his proposal […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Local Government, New Mexico Statewide News
City’s climate action plan aims for a greener future
Ann Simon recalls when her family used to eat most meals outside during Albuquerque summers, whether on a patio or at a park. “I don’t think we’ve done it once this summer, either because it was too hot or there were too many mosquitoes,” she said. “We all know that the climate is different than […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Local Government, New Mexico Statewide News
Raising your voice: The importance of public comment
Go to any Albuquerque City Council meeting and it may seem like the public comment period is a waste of time. Councilors often use that time to grab a drink of water and eyes in the audience gloss over. Despite optics, councilors said they do listen and sometimes take specific action based on what they […]
Posted inLocal Government, Pueblos
What would you like to see built on the corner of Kathryn and San Mateo?
It’s known as a dilapidated part of the city, but it wasn’t always so. Today the stretch of San Mateo Boulevard near Gibson Boulevard to Copper Avenue — like much of the International District — seems to feature as many shuttered storefronts as open ones. Few nearby services are available to neighborhood residents, resulting in […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Local Government
From patrolling the streets to trolling tweets: City Council blasts APD’s social media account
City councilors across the political spectrum blasted responses the Albuquerque Police Department’s (APD) official social media account made to private citizens — calling them “embarrassing” and “never acceptable.” It’s not the first time this has come up. Last year, councilors criticized Mayor Tim Keller’s administration for letting APD make similar posts. “Here we are, a […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Local Government
After pushback, city reduced food truck permit fees
Albuquerque food truck owners can breathe a sigh of relief now that they will not have to pay hundreds more in permit fees. After receiving pushback from multiple food truck operators about the sudden increase in annual permit fees from around $150 to $900, city officials are dropping the fees back down and issuing refunds. […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Features, Local Government
ABQ City Council shoots down short-term rental restrictions
The Albuquerque City Council for a second time voted against a proposal to limit the number of short-term rentals in the city. At their meeting Wednesday night, city councilors voted down on a 3-6 vote a bill that proposed restrictions on short-term rentals in certain parts of the city — specifically in the Downtown, University […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Features, Local Government
Calls for ‘poop patrol’ increase as city tackles human waste disposal
Hundreds of calls to the city’s 311 system with complaints about human feces on public and private property motivated officials to fund a cleanup effort earlier this year. The City Council unanimously passed an ordinance in February with $100,000 in start-up funds for a so-called “poop patrol.” But knowing the funds would quickly be depleted […]