Fresh off moving into its new headquarters, the Albuquerque Community Safety Department has a new — yet familiar — director. Jodie Esquibel, who had been the department’s acting director since March, officially took the permanent position Friday. In a press release announcing Esquibel’s selection, Mayor Tim Keller said ACS is transforming public safety in the […]
Elise Kaplan
Posted inAlbuquerque, Courts, Justice & Safety
How many fireworks complaints did the City receive this week?
Residents filed far fewer complaints about illegal fireworks on July 4th and the days leading up to it this year than they did last year — and there were significantly fewer outside fires. Lt. Jason Fejer, a spokesperson for Albuquerque Fire Rescue, said in a news release that all reports of illegal fireworks were routed […]
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Here’s how much councilors, commissioners and school board members make
At the last City Council meeting, Councilor Klarissa Peña proposed an amendment to change the way salary increases work so all councilors receive a raise at the same time. Currently, some make more than others after the Citizens’ Independent Salary Commission — the commission that determines their salaries — decided last year that councilors needed […]
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ABQ RIDE Connect gets five electric vans
ABQ RIDE’s microtransit service is the agency’s latest division to go electric. City officials and transit staff announced the addition of five electric vans to its fleet on Tuesday. The 2023 Ford E-Transit units will be the main rolling stock of the ABQ RIDE Connect pilot program. “ABQ RIDE is committed to zero emissions to […]
Posted inCommentary, Opinion
Letter to the Editor: We should grow the Valle de Oro
This letter is provided as opinion/commentary from the authors. You can submit your own: editor@citydesk.org We created the Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge hand-in-hand with Albuquerque’sSouth Valley community. In just one decade, lands that were once home to a dairyoperation next to a heavy industrial zone have blossomed into one of New Mexico’s mosttreasured […]
Posted inAlbuquerque, Housing & Homelessness
Albuquerque Health Care for the Homeless ups roving outreach
The city’s unhoused population — particularly near Downtown — often get health care and other services at the main campus of Albuquerque Health Care for the Homeless (AHCH). But in recent years, the nonprofit’s street outreach has expanded and reached scores more. Of 1,212 people experiencing homelessness who were contacted through outreach between July 2021 […]
Posted inLocal Gov.
What projects will county residents vote on this November?
Bernalillo County voters will get to decide in November whether to support $40.5 million in capital projects ranging from a wrought iron fence to several new athletic fields. On June 25, the Board of Commissioners approved the list of projects for the general obligation bond issue and the questions that will be placed on the […]
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A veto is coming on the council’s voting proposal. Here’s what you need to know.
Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller plans to veto the City Council’s proposal to change the city’s voting system this week, but if councilors vote the same way they did initially, they will have enough votes to override it. The council can override a veto with a majority — five — plus one vote. At their last […]
Posted inAlbuquerque, Education
It’s official: A new superintendent takes the reins at APS
The transition of leadership at Albuquerque Public Schools is now official. Gabriella Durán Blakey, who had been the district’s acting superintendent since March, took over Monday as the head of an organization with 141 regular public schools, more than 70,000 students and a staff of more than 10,000. “I’m honored to step into this position […]
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ABQ advocates, officials weigh in on Supreme Court decision on homelessness
Advocates for those experiencing homelessness in Albuquerque reacted to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling Friday with concerns about what it might mean for the city’s unhoused population. City officials, meanwhile, were also considering the implications of the decision. The court issued a decision Friday in the highly anticipated Grants Pass v. Johnson case. Siding with […]