Jesse Jones, Author at City Desk ABQ

County Commission Urges Governor to Declare State of Emergency

Sandoval County Commissioners have officially let the governor know how they feel about crime on the border. In response to escalating crises of fentanyl, human trafficking, and border-related crime, the Sandoval County commissioners approved a letter at the May 22 meeting asking Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to declare a state of emergency. After a discussion, […]

Commission Takes Action on Cuba Water Emergency

The Sandoval County Commission on May 8 approved an emergency/disaster declaration to address a water supply crisis in the Village of Cuba. The emergency item was added to the agenda due to an ongoing situation in Cuba where residents were without water and had been facing low water pressure for three weeks. “By doing this […]

Pages of History: The Murder of George Silva

The murder almost a century ago of a prominent Bernalillo businessman is the inspiration for a new fictional novel coming out June 28. Author Mattison Casaus’ first novel, A Piece of the Town, intricately weaves a narrative that blends truth and fiction about the 1932 murder of George Silva and the iconic Silva’s Saloon in […]

Sandoval County Holds Voter Roll Event

To proactively ensure the accuracy of voter rolls and facilitate a seamless election process, the Sandoval County Clerk’s Office organized a voter rolls accuracy event May 6 at the County Administration building. The goal was to help registered voters in Sandoval County who wanted to verify their voter registration details or make updates ahead of […]

Sandoval County Businesses See Soaring Property Values

Property values in Sandoval County have seen a huge increase this year. In particular, Rio Rancho business property owners have seen some of the highest increases in the county. Several property owners urged county commissioners at the April 24 meeting to do something about the high property values from the Assessor’s Office. During the commission […]

‘We Want to Keep it Small But Help It Grow’

The new Bernalillo development coordinator wants to help people’s construction projects become reality, as the town continues to grow. Martin Martinez aids residents in project construction by simplifying the permitting process and ensuring regulatory compliance for a smoother process. “I always wanted to make a difference and help people, that’s my ultimate goal, to make […]

James Beard Semi-finalist Brings Smash-Style Burgers, Spicy Chicken to Rio Rancho

A James Beard Award semifinalist from New Mexico is expanding to Rio Rancho. Basit Gauba, a restaurant and food truck owner from Albuquerque, is preparing to bring two of his restaurants to Rio Rancho’s new indoor/outdoor retail and event space, The Block, which is set to open in June. Gauba, owner of Tikka Spice Desi […]

Haaland Visits Placitas to Commemorate Historic Public Lands Protection

The BLM announced updated regulations for the balanced management of America’s public lands, ensuring sustainability for the future on April 18. U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich, who serves on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, issued a statement Thursday celebrating an announcement from the U.S. Department of the Interior which finalized the Bureau of Land […]

Placitas residents concerned over proposed Forest Service plan

A proposed plan by the Forest Service to mitigate fire risks in the Sandia Ranger District has sparked concerns among residents and stakeholders in the Placitas Canyon. Jon Couch, who serves as the Commissioner of the Los Huertas Community Ditch and is an Associate Supervisor for the Coronado Soil and Water Conservation District (CSWCD), strongly […]

Rio Rancho City Manager’s Recommended Budget Includes Beefed-Up Public Safety and a Water Rate Hike

Rio Rancho’s city manager has recommended a $146.6 million budget that prioritizes investments in public safety along with upgrades to community infrastructure and efforts to retain city employees. Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull and the City Council received City Manager Matt Geisel’s recommended budget for the 2025 fiscal year on April 15. Public Safety The […]