Albuquerque’s new cooling ordinance faced its first major test this summer, as city inspectors cracked down on landlords failing to provide working air conditioning during extreme heat. The city’s response at The Retreat at Candelaria in July marked a shift in how it enforces Albuquerque’s six-month-old cooling ordinance. After weeks of tenant complaints and indoor […]
Jesse Jones
Jesse Jones is a reporter covering local government and news for nm.news
Posted inLocal Gov.
City Council defers $3.6M Gateway Housing expansion amid funding questions
Albuquerque city councilors postponed votes on two Gateway Center expansion contracts Monday, citing concerns about transparency and unconfirmed state funding for the $3.6 million proposal. The City Council voted Aug. 4 to delay approving two $1.8 million agreements—one with Chicanos Por La Causa to expand women’s services, and another with Community Bridges for men’s beds—until […]
Posted inEducation
Back to school in a heat wave, APS juggles 500 work orders to fix aging cooling
Albuquerque Public Schools has more than 500 active cooling system work orders, even after running units all summer to avoid startup issues. Now, district officials are asking voters for $40.2 million in November to upgrade 20 schools to modern air conditioning, though they admit some campuses could still wait years for relief. John Dufay, APS […]
Posted inLocal Gov.
Albuquerque Council approves stricter animal sales enforcement
Burqueños will now see stricter enforcement of animal sales in public spaces under an ordinance amendment approved unanimously by the City Council Monday, Aug. 4. The measure updates the city’s 2006 HEART ordinance, which stands for Humane and Ethical Animal Rules and Treatment, to require immediate seizure and care of animals being sold, given away […]
Posted inLocal Gov.
Animal welfare crackdown could face final vote at Monday’s City Council meeting
Albuquerque could soon tighten enforcement of its animal welfare rules by cracking down on people who sell or give away pets in public spaces. The City Council is expected to vote on the ordinance tonight. The measure is part of a packed agenda that also includes proposed tourism bond funding, expanded homelessness services at the […]
Posted inLocal Gov.
Fire chief defends paramedic changes, disputes union claims
Albuquerque Fire Chief Emily Jaramillo is moving forward with her paramedic deployment plan, set to begin Aug. 23, and disputing union claims that firefighters have been shut out of the process. The changes come after a months-long tension between the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 244 and Mayor Tim Keller’s administration over how the […]
Posted inGeneral Interest
ART security calls skyrocket, but actual violence plummets
Less than three weeks after a city bus driver fatally stabbed a passenger near Coors Boulevard, new data shows security calls to Albuquerque’s transit system have jumped 81% over the past year. The July 9 stabbing followed an argument on board that spilled onto the street. Surveillance video shows the 41-year-old driver pursuing the passenger, described as […]
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
Albuquerque mayoral candidates split on Trump homelessness order threatening $167M in federal funding
Albuquerque mayoral candidates are sharply divided over President Trump’s executive order threatening to cut off federal funding to cities that don’t enforce civil commitment laws for homeless individuals. Signed July 24, the order requires cities to prioritize involuntary treatment for people with mental illness or substance use issues and penalizes those that allow urban camping, […]
Posted inAlbuquerque
Keller seeks to cut red tape for Safe Outdoor Spaces
Mayor Tim Keller wants to ease costly rules that have stalled efforts to open more Safe Outdoor Spaces in Albuquerque, saying churches and nonprofits should be able to create legal encampments without facing major financial barriers. Speaking July 28 at New Creation Albuquerque Church—the city’s only operating Safe Outdoor Space—Keller said current regulations make it […]
Posted inGeneral Interest
Balling for peace: Free hoops tournament builds community, promotes purpose
A free basketball tournament promoting community and nonviolence will bring 25 teams to Albuquerque’s Westside on Saturday, July 26. The 1st Annual Summer of Nonviolence: Above the Rim 5-on-5 Basketball Tournament kicks off at 8 a.m. at the Westside Community Center, 12520 Isleta Blvd SW. It’s open to players 15 and older, with four divisions: […]