Jesse Jones, Author at City Desk ABQ

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 […]

Dapson and List Win Rio Rancho Runoff Election

The runoff election for the Rio Rancho City Council on Tuesday finally decided who will take the helm for two council seats. Deborah S. Dapson, a local businesswoman received almost 53 percent of the votes (443 votes) for the District 1 City Council seat beating her incumbent opponent, former Rio Rancho mayor Jim Owen, who […]

Bernalillo Goes Green

The Town of Bernalillo has reaped the benefits of the green boom that ensued following the legalization of cannabis in New Mexico nearly two years ago. According to a press release from Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham in March, the state has surpassed $1 billion in cannabis sales since its legalization two years ago. The New […]

Bernalillo Proposes Water Rate Hike

The Bernalillo Town Council is considering a new ordinance to raise water rates for businesses that use a large amount of water. If passed, the town will be joining many local officials along the Rio Grande who are pushing back against companies that use excessive amounts of water. During the March 25 meeting, the council […]

Commission Approves Canvass for Municipal Office Elections

The Sandoval County Commission convened as the Canvassing Board, approved the canvass for the 2024 Municipal Office Elections for the City of Rio Rancho, the Town of Bernalillo and the Villages of Cuba and Jemez Spring on Friday, March 15. The clerks for the four municipalities presented their election results to the commission. Rio Rancho […]

Clerks Detail Cost and Turnout of the 2024 Local Elections

A week after the 2024 Municipal Officer Elections in Sandoval County, municipal clerks can take a breath and look at the numbers. Most of the incorporated municipalities in Sandoval County held their officer elections on March 5, but some are still in the process. Recounts and runoff elections will take place after county commissioners hold […]

Local Elections Results Draw Winners, Runoffs and Recounts

Key midterm municipal elections were held around the county on Tuesday, March 5, in Rio Rancho, Bernalillo, Cuba and Jemez Springs. While the election ended at 7 p.m., some results are still up in the air. Town of Bernalillo Residents of the Town of Bernalillo cast their votes to determine which two candidates would represent them […]

Candidate’s Tragic Passing Rocks Cuba Before Election Day

The Village of Cuba is grieving the loss of a community leader and candidate for Village Council. Tonya Sanchez, 44, a mother of four, tragically lost her life in a car accident on Feb. 19. Her 18 year-old daughter, Oceanus, was in the car and is currently hospitalized, undergoing recovery from multiple surgeries. Sanchez was […]