The executive director of the State Ethics Commission found that City Councilor Dan Lewis “likely violated” the Governmental Conduct Act when he applied to work for an association of paving companies whose members were impacted by air quality legislation he sponsored and voted on in his role as an elected official. Under a pre-litigation settlement […]
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What we get wrong about homelessness
If you’re like many in Albuquerque who feel helpless and frustrated when passing by someone experiencing homelessness, author Kevin F. Adler wants you to know you’re not alone. The California-based advocate and author of When We Walk By said he’s found antidotes to the despair and solutions in Golden State cities that would be useful […]
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Downtown businesses want to be looped in; city says it will oblige
A new system devised by the city to more effectively communicate with Downtown businesses and property owners on issues that affect them will soon be tested, officials said Thursday. In March, the Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency (MRA) said it collected the email addresses of more than 500 owners or their representatives in a door-to-door canvass through […]
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Demolition begins at Downtown’s unsightly pedestrian tunnel
Two projects that have been discussed for many years across multiple city administrations took a physical step toward reality Wednesday when demolition began at the pedestrian tunnel linking East Downtown under the railroad tracks to the Central Avenue corridor at First Street. The project also marks the first phase of construction for the highly-anticipated Rail […]
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Woodworkers build doghouses for those in need
Two Albuquerque city councilors teamed up with area woodworkers to help shelter dogs. Albuquerque City Councilors Tammy Fiebelkorn and Dan Champine announced in a news release that they have teamed up with the Albuquerque Woodworkers Association (AWA) and the city Animal Welfare Department (AWD) to build more than 30 doghouses for people in need with […]
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Multigenerational center first of several new projects planned for NW Albuquerque
City leaders celebrated a key Westside project with a groundbreaking ceremony for a new multigenerational center to be built near Cibola Loop and Cuba Road NW. The center, expected to open in August 2025, will bring to the area city services and programs aimed at residents of all ages. Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller said access […]
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Albuquerque City Council approves $1.4 billion budget
Budget bumps, popsicles and postponed charter changes dominated the lengthy Albuquerque City Council meeting May 20. In the end, a $1.4 billion budget was approved for fiscal year 2025. Budget Ups and Downs A big chunk of the five-plus hour meeting was spent working out the dollar details. After a couple of hours of discussion […]
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Lawsuit: City leaders attempted to use Risk Management as a ‘slush fund’
A former city manager within the Risk Management Division filed a whistleblower lawsuit against the City of Albuquerque on May 17 citing intimidation, false accusations and disregard for workplace safety laws concerning asbestos at the Gateway Center. The lawsuit was filed by Jeanette Chavez, an official within Risk Management who was one of the first […]
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Officials who flagged asbestos dangers at Gateway Center told to stay home, given sick leave as city fined by state
At least two senior officials who raised concerns about the city’s mishandling of asbestos exposure during the construction of the Gibson Health Hub were threatened with reassignment and then quietly placed on sick leave. Both officials were made unavailable to answer questions from the city council and others about the administration’s actions that resulted in […]
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City charter changes could create chaos
Proposed changes to the city’s charter have stirred up an old-time controversy. Several Albuquerque city councilors are asking for a slew of changes to the city’s charter that would go to the voters. The stack of charter amendment proposals will be debated at their May 20 regular meeting. If approved, the changes will go to […]