Albuquerque will add 183 homeless shelter beds and 204 senior apartments after the City Council approved $21.8 million in state funding last week, with some unusual oversight requirements. The funding, deferred from the Sept. 3 meeting for a required second public hearing, comes with weekly progress reports and detailed operational plans that Councilor Dan Lewis […]
Author Archives: Jesse Jones
Jesse Jones is a reporter covering local government and news for nm.news
Posted inLocal Gov.
Sobriety required: Albuquerque tests housing program for residents leaving rehab
Albuquerque is trying something new in its fight against homelessness. On Sept. 15, the Albuquerque City Council voted unanimously to launch the city’s first housing voucher program that requires people to stay sober. Resolution R-25-179 establishes a one-year pilot program, called the Continuing Sobriety Housing Voucher Program. It will cover rent for 25 people leaving […]
Posted inHousing & Homelessness, Sandoval County
PACs pour $375k into Albuquerque elections, skirting campaign limits
When Burqueño voters see glossy campaign mailers or ads in the coming weeks, the fine print may list groups such as “Safer Albuquerque Committee” or “Ascend Albuquerque.” But those names don’t tell the full story of who is really paying to influence their votes. Political Action Committees (PACs) have raised $375,280 to sway the Nov. […]
Posted inLocal Gov.
Dispute heats up over publication of Inspector General fraud reports
The head of Albuquerque’s oversight committee is pushing back against accusations that it violated city law by delaying Inspector General reports. Victor Griego, who chairs the Accountability in Government Oversight Committee (AGOC), said the group acted within its authority to make sure the reports were solid. In a Sept. 17 response to District 5 Councilor […]
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
What’s happening with the Rail Trail?
What happened to the ABQ Rail Trail? The Rail Trail was pitched as a 7-mile loop linking downtown, Old Town and the Rail Yards with public art and architecture telling Albuquerque’s story. Now the project faces its biggest setback. The Trump administration pulled $11.5 million in promised funding last week, leaving city officials scrambling to […]
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
Albuquerque city council passes $75,000 home repair loans for low-income homeowners
The average Albuquerque home is 44 years old, and a lot of families can’t cover the big repair bills that come with aging houses. On Sept. 15, the City Council approved a program to help, passing the measure 5-3. The Preserving Albuquerque Through Critical Housing (PATCH) program will provide up to $75,000 in forgivable loans […]
Posted inLocal Gov.
City Councilor Requests $2 million Emergency Fix to Keep Albuquerque Parks From ‘Dying’
Albuquerque families may soon see greener parks after City Councilor Dan Lewis introduced an emergency resolution to spend $2 million from city reserves on immediate turf replacement, saying budget cuts left fields patchy and overrun with weeds. The proposed resolution, R-25-183, introduced Aug. 18, targets parks citywide that are suffering from dead grass and weeds, making […]
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
From homelessness to hope: One mother’s journey through Albuquerque’s Gateway Family
When Gabrielle, a Gateway Family resident, called 311 for help, she was homeless and had spent a decade battling addiction that cost her custody of her children. Nearly two years later, she is sober, has full custody of her one-year-old, visits her older children regularly and is preparing to move from Gateway Family into her […]
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
Albuquerque City Council approves $7.1 million Gateway West contract despite accountability questions
Albuquerque City Council voted 7-1 Tuesday, Sept. 15, to approve Executive Communication 481, giving Gateway West an extra $3.55 million, doubling Chicanos Por La Causa’s (CPLC) annual contract to $7.1 million and extending operations through June 2026, even as councilors and residents questioned whether the city’s $121 million Gateway program is producing results. Councilor Dan […]
Posted inLocal Gov.
Bus routes along North Valley corridors to get more frequent service
Albuquerque city councilors voted to redesignate sections of Rio Grande, Indian School and Menaul boulevards as major transit corridors, a move that will pave the way for more frequent bus service along the North Valley routes over the next three years. The 7-2 council vote in early September on Resolution R-25-175, sponsored by Councilor Tammy […]