Jesse Jones, Author at City Desk ABQ

Parents raised concerns about APS recording children’s voices using AI. The district responded.

By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Parents across the Duke City pushed back against Albuquerque Public Schools’ use of artificial intelligence to record, analyze and store elementary students’ voices without explicit parental consent. The district listened and is now changing how it handles those recordings. At the center of the debate is Amira AI, an […]

"2019--12 December--La Luz trail hike to Sandia Peak, east of Albuquerque" by LittleRoamingChief is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Pueblo’s Sandia Mountains land transfer plan faces new pushback at BernCo meeting

By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Homeowners and outdoor enthusiasts packed Tuesday’s Bernalillo County Commission meeting to voice concerns over Sandia Pueblo’s plan they worry could result in losing federal protections and road access on the Sandia Mountains’ western slopes recreations areas. Dozens of Sandias for All coalition members spoke against a proposal to transfer […]

The Albuquerque City Council met Monday, where councilors later voted 8-1 to approve a $40.5 million industrial revenue bond for the Dreamcatcher Sawmill Hotel, a 135-room Hampton Inn and Home2 Suites. (Jesse Jones)

Council president says city put the cart before the horse on $40.5M hotel deal

By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — In Duke City’s Sawmill neighborhood, residents have fought for a say in what gets built around them. Now, City Council President Klarissa Peña is warning that the council’s decision to approve a 20-year, multimillion-dollar tax break for a major hotel before its site plan is finalized leaves the historic […]

Pictured is a sign warning drivers of photo enforced speed cameras located ahead along Arenal Rd SW between Tapia Blvd and Isleta Blvd in the South Valley. Photo by Roberto E. Rosales / City Desk Abq

Speed cameras bring in millions as public safety costs already outpace City’s new record budget

By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — On the streets of Burque, it’s a tale of two financial realities: Automated speed cameras are bringing the city millions in revenue, while increasing police and fire costs are continuing to outpace the city budget’s projections. According to the city’s third quarter fiscal year 2026 revenue and expense report […]

Rep. Melanie Stansbury, D-N.M., speaks during a press conference at Saranam's Westside campus, announcing more than $7.6 million in federal Community Project Funding for seven local housing and homelessness projects. Aug. 19, 2026, (Jesse Jones)

Stansbury announces $7.6M for Albuquerque housing, homelessness programs

By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Families in the Duke City who rely on federal housing funding got a boost this week, even as the larger fight over that money goes on in Washington. U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury, a Democrat, announced Wednesday at Saranam’s Westside campus more than $7.6 million in Community Project Funding for […]

A Gallup native is in line to become one of the country’s top health officials after President Donald Trump nominated Dr. Heidi Overton to lead the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

From Gallup to Washington: UNM Graduate nominated to lead FDA

by Jesse Jones August 19, 2026

By Jesse Jones, The Paper. & New Mexico Political Report — A Gallup native is in line to become one of the country’s top health officials after President Donald Trump nominated Dr. Heidi Overton to lead the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Overton has deep academic and civic ties to N.M. She graduated from Gallup […]

Empower Health Service’s overnight shelter operates out of the former Ramada by Wyndham Albuquerque Airport at 2300 Yale Blvd. SE. The shelter opened in November 2025 without a required permit. (Jesse Jones)

Council sets up public hearing over accidentally-approved homeless shelter near the Sunport

By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Neighbors and nearby business owners along Yale Boulevard near the airport will get their say on an overnight drug treatment shelter after city officials accidentally allowed it to open without a required permit. The Albuquerque City Council rejected a recommendation that would have allowed the shelter to move forward […]

Albuquerque city councilors vote on a motion to override Mayor Tim Keller's veto of R-26-30 during Monday's meeting. (Jesse Jones)

Albuquerque Council fails to override Mayor’s veto, killing proposal to make city clerk, attorney independent

By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Burqueños will not get a chance to weigh in this November on removing the mayor’s sole power over the city attorney and city clerk after councilors failed to override Mayor Tim Keller’s veto, which warned the change would effectively create a new branch of city government. During Monday’s Albuquerque […]

Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller pitches his "Abundance Agenda" during his unscripted State of the City address at the Route 66 Visitor Center on Aug. 15, 2026 (Screenshot)

What Mayor Keller’s new ‘Abundance Agenda’ means for Albuquerque

By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Albuquerque struggles to get things done because it suffers from a “scarcity mindset” he intends to change Mayor Tim Keller said Saturday as he outlined his priorities for his historic third term as mayor of the state’s largest city. Speaking from the Route 66 Visitor Center, Keller outlined three […]

Global quantum computing firm Quantinuum plans to open a roughly 13,263-square-foot research center in Albuquerque with high-tech optical lasers and equipment to support 25 scientific and engineering jobs averaging $150,000 a year. (Courtesy of Quantinuum)

Albuquerque weighs $3.1M in incentives for cybersecurity, quantum and space jobs

By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — The Duke City could see more than 200 high-tech jobs and tens of millions of dollars in private investment if the City Council approves $3.1 million in city and state incentives for three local companies in cybersecurity, quantum computing and aerospace. The three proposed Local Economic Development Act projects […]