#nmpol – Page 35

Raising the Pride flag high over Civic Plaza

In honor of LGBTQ Pride Month, Mayor Tim Keller joined city staff and advocates in raising a new flag over Civic Plaza on Friday. The flag includes a yellow triangle with a purple circle to acknowledge the intersex community as well as white, pink, blue, black and brown stripes. The black and brown colors represent […]

This bites: New ankle-biting mosquito may suck ABQ’s summer fun

This summer may bite. For years the Environmental Health Department (EHD) has relied on part-time, seasonal “mosquito technicians.” This year, after seeing a rise in the city’s least favorite residents, it is looking to hire someone full-time. While the species was first documented in the city in 2018, the Aedes aegypti population — also known […]

It’s official: Berry-era homeless jobs program to return

A nationally recognized initiative that provides day labor jobs for those experiencing homelessness has made a comeback in Albuquerque. The idea is based on former Mayor Richard Berry’s “There’s a Better Way” program, which first launched in 2014. Officials said it fills an urgent need in the face of record levels of homelessness across the […]

Should the city lower the threshold to win an election?

On a night when the City Council chambers were packed with advocates speaking out against efforts to amend the city’s immigrant friendly policy, more than a dozen speakers also took to the lectern to criticize proposed changes to the city charter. They referred to the proposal that would allow candidates to be elected with at […]

Advocates celebrate council rejection of immigrant friendly policy reversal

Audience members attending Albuquerque’s City Council meeting Monday erupted in cheers and chants of “sí, se puede” as they marched out of council chambers after a bill that would have amended the city’s immigrant friendly ordinance failed on a 4-5 vote. “We’re so happy. We’re so excited,” said Fabiola Landeros, civil rights and citizenship organizer […]

Photos: Advocates rally against changes to immigrant friendly policy

Chants of “immigrant workers, Burque strong,” could be heard on the corner of 5th Street and Marquette Avenue Monday afternoon, as a group opposing a proposed amendment to the city’s immigrant friendly policy gathered ahead of the City Council meeting. City Councilors are scheduled to vote on the proposal at their meeting tonight. If passed […]

Former San Mateo Inn to be shelter for young adults

The city’s Westside Emergency Housing Center (WEHC) is considered a necessary but harsh shelter for the hundreds of residents who stay there, and its distant location from city services has long been a criticism. The former jail facility has been described as “deplorable” and “scary.” Even though physical improvements are in progress, the WEHC isn’t […]

What to expect: City councilors to debate charter changes and immigrant friendly policy

Proposals to change the city charter and the immigrant friendly policy will dominate the agenda for the Albuquerque City Council meeting on Monday. Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn told City Desk ABQ the meeting would “quite possibly be the worst council meeting on the planet,” and will be “a long one.” HOW TO PARTICIPATE: WHEN: 5 p.m. […]

Photos: Albuquerque Community Safety shows off new digs

The city department formed in 2021 that’s charged with, among other things, responding to situations involving those who are experiencing homelessness has a new home. Albuquerque Community Safety (ACS) is now located in a 10,800-square-foot facility at 1210 San Mateo Blvd. SE, just northwest of its previous location at the Gateway Center at Gibson Health […]

No central point of contact stymie motel voucher program

The clock is ticking on a required city report to address the metro’s inventory of blighted motels and its hotel voucher program — one that’s meant to assist citizens in urgent need of a free room for a night or a short stay, including those experiencing homelessness. Frustrations with unsafe and unhealthy motels and the […]