By Jesse Jones — For nearly 12 months, the City of Albuquerque’s legal department failed to deliver required reports detailing how much the city paid in lawsuits to the City Council. Editor’s note: In researching this story, a Council spokesperson told City Desk that the last report received by the council was “in Q1 2025.” After […]
Author Archives: Jesse Jones
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Can ranked choice voting save Albuquerque a fortune? Supporters will try again for next city election
The Albuquerque City Council uses ranked choice voting (RCV) for its own internal seats. Now, Councilors Tammy Fiebelkorn, Nichole Rogers and Stephanie Telles have introduced Ordinance O-26-13 to extend that same system to citywide elections by November 2027. Under RCV, voters rank candidates by preference. If no one secures a majority, the lowest vote-getter is […]
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Albuquerque is making a new push to create more immigrant-friendly laws. Here’s what’s planned.
Albuquerque officials are launching a comprehensive strategy this spring to protect immigrants amid growing uncertainty about federal enforcement. Mayor Tim Keller and city councilors will introduce an ordinance in early March to permanently ban federal agents from using city resources. The move is part of the city’s Defend ABQ program. Alongside the new law, the city will […]
Posted inRoute 66 Independent
BCSO Sergeant fatally struck during traffic stop in East Mountains: Investigation underway
By Jesse Jones — A Bernalillo County sheriff’s sergeant was killed Monday evening after a tractor-trailer crashed into his patrol unit during a traffic stop on Interstate 40 near the East Mountains, Sheriff John Allen announced Monday night. Sgt. Michael Schlattman, a 13-year veteran of the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, called in the stop just […]
Posted inBernalillo County, Jobs, Workers & Economy
What does it cost to live in ABQ today? Living wage increases for singles, now exceeds $100K for families
By Jesse Jones — Even as wages inch upward across Bernalillo County, many residents still earn far less than what experts say it takes to cover basic needs like rent, food and child care. New data from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s annual Living Wage Calculator shows a single adult needs $21.87 per hour to survive in […]
Posted inNM Political Report
Legislators deliver wins for Gov, land punches against Trump in action-packed 30-day session
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s final regular legislative session started a little rocky but delivered her many of her biggest priorities and legislators introduced dozens of bills responding to federal policy changes implemented under President Donald Trump’s return to office. In the 30-day session, legislators sent the governor bills effectively closing private prisons detaining federal immigration […]
Posted inNew Mexico Legislature #nmleg
Should New Mexico buy PNM? Lawmaker says yes
A state senator has a different idea for the future of New Mexico’s largest electric utility: Have the state buy it. Sen. Harold Pope (D-Westside Albuquerque) introduced Senate Memorial 9 alongside State Rep. Patricia Roybal Caballero (D-South Valley) Friday asking the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (PRC) to pause Blackstone Infrastructure’s proposed $11.5 billion purchase […]
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ABQ legislators push to let City collect millions more in speed camera fines
A bill by two Albuquerque-area legislators moving through the Roundhouse could let Albuquerque keep an extra $2 million to $3 million a year in traffic fines — a shift that would cost the state roughly $5 million and remove current audit requirements. Senate Bill 91, sponsored by Albuquerque Democratic Sens. Heather Berghmans and Antoinette Sedillo […]
Posted inNM Political Report
Competing book ban bills gather dust on the shelf as legislators look toward session end
A bevy of competing book ban bills to govern how libraries respond to requests for removing books have made little progress in the legislature, despite months of build up and organizing by the sponsors. As promised, State Sen. Anthony “Ant” Thornton (R- East Mountains) introduced Senate Bill 49, a pilot project for a content-based library […]
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Will massive new funding push the New Mexico State Fair out of the city?
Jesse Jones, City Desk ABQ — The New Mexico Senate approved nearly $100 million in bonds Friday for the State Fairgrounds redevelopment, advancing a long-debated project. The investment could reshape Albuquerque’s International District with new housing and parks, or it could lead to relocating the State Fair after 87 years in the city. The Senate […]