A federal judge this week struck down Albuquerque’s donor disclosure rules for advocacy groups that spend money in city elections, opening the door for thousands or even millions of dollars in anonymous cash to flood the Dec. 9 runoff with early voting starting in 10 days. U.S. District Judge James Browning ruled Wednesday that Albuquerque’s […]
Author Archives: Jesse Jones
Jesse Jones is a reporter covering local government and news for nm.news
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
ABQ street homelessness grows 40% since ’23, outpacing shelter use by 2-to-1, count shows
Albuquerque’s unsheltered homeless population jumped 40% over two years, outpacing increases in shelter bed usage, up 18% over the same period, by two-to-one, according to the latest Point-in-Time count from the New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness. By the numbers The annual statewide and local census of homeless persons, conducted each January but released just […]
Posted inPolitics & Elections
Dark money and developer dollars fuel District 3 runoff battle between Peña, Garcia
Competing visions of campaign finance transparency are front and center in Albuquerque’s City Council District 3 runoff election where outside money is pouring in and each candidate is calling out the other’s supporters for unnecessary big money influence in a relatively small city council runoff race. Klarissa Peña, the longest-serving member on the council currently, […]
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
International District project takes a different path on affordable housing
A church in Albuquerque’s International District and a nonprofit are teaming up to take a different approach to the city’s affordable housing crisis by preserving existing units instead of building new ones. New Creation Albuquerque and the Center for Housing Economics began a $644,000 rehabilitation Monday, Nov. 17, on a 63-year-old, seven-unit apartment complex at […]
Posted inCity Hall
Forgotten ballot question won’t be on runoff ballot, either
A proposal to put a missing charter amendment on next year’s ballot was pushed back Monday as the Albuquerque City Council still needs the required public hearings before it can be approved. The amendment was mistakenly left off the Nov. 4 municipal ballot. Two measures sponsored by Councilor Joaquín Baca would let voters decide in […]
Posted inLocal Gov.
Council tees up rezoning for Westland housing, Menaul redevelopment, In-N-Out and Target development on Gibson
Several major land use items are on the Albuquerque City Council agenda Monday, Nov. 17, including rezoning near the University of New Mexico’s South Campus, along with updates to a struggling commercial corridor and a Westside master plan vote. Councilor Nichole Rogers will introduce Ordinance O-25-101, which would rezone about 35 acres of UNM-owned land […]
Posted inLocal Gov.
What happened to ABQ’s transit security dashboard?
Albuquerque residents looking for ABQ RIDE real-time transit security data now find only a broken link where the city’s Metro Security dashboard used to be. The dashboard previously showed security call data that City Desk used to report on transit safety trends. Officials said the agency isn’t cutting transparency. Instead, it’s preparing a full data […]
Posted inPolitics & Elections
Keller, White spar over city’s future in loud, raucous debate
Editor’s note: This story is a summary of a televised debate hosted by KOB-TV. It is provided here as a part of our commitment to bringing readers comprehensive and credible coverage of city elections, including from other news sources, so voters can make informed decisions. The full debate video is embedded for viewing below. With […]
Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety
What’s behind ABQ’s declining homicide numbers?
Albuquerque has investigated 59 homicides this year through Nov. 11 — a 32% plunge from the same period last year and the city’s third straight year of declining homicides. City officials touted the decline Nov. 10 at a press conference where Mayor Tim Keller and Police Chief Harold Medina released third-quarter crime statistics showing decreases […]
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
What’s in a name? City Council blocks administration from rebranding Juniper Flats apartments as “Gateway”
The Albuquerque City Council unanimously approved Resolution R-25-201 Nov. 5, preserving the “Juniper Flats” name for the 204-unit, 55-and-older senior apartment complex under renovation at 25 Hotel Circle NE in District 9. Though part of the city’s Gateway Network, the measure ensures Juniper Flats remains distinct from the Gateway shelter system, providing permanent, affordable housing […]