Jesse Jones, Author at City Desk ABQ

Driving Growth

Bernalillo’s new director of economic and community development says she hopes to revitalize the town and its Main Street. Christina Jones was appointed as the town’s economic development officer in February, succeeding Mike Kloeppel, who served in the position for seven years before becoming the town’s recreation director. Originally from Albuquerque, Jones has lived in […]

Rio Rancho Billion Dollar Solar Project Nears Completion

Rio Rancho is about to become a major renewable energy source for New Mexico as work on a billion-dollar, two-phase solar project nears completion. Clēnera, a privately held renewable energy company based in Boise, Idaho, is the developer of the Atrisco Solar and Quail Ranch Solar projects located just north of Double Eagle II Airport. […]

Workforce Housing at Cuba Health Center Breaks Ground

New housing units being built in the Village of Cuba are part of a plan to improve health care provider retention in the rural community. On May 29, Presbyterian Medical Services (PMS) officials, along with Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández (D-New Mexico), celebrated the groundbreaking for new workforce housing units at the Cuba Health Center. The […]

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 […]