After a year of negotiations and resistance from the Keller administration, the Albuquerque City Council voted 8-1 Monday night to overhaul how the city builds its $1.5 billion budget and require the mayor to give council more insight into how programs and staff perform. The changes introduce new transparency rules designed to provide residents with […]
Author Archives: Jesse Jones
Jesse Jones is a reporter covering local government and news for nm.news
Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety
National Guard quietly “winding down” APD aid this week
Six months after National Guard troops began assisting the Albuquerque Police Department in an unprecedented move, the city confirmed Tuesday the program is winding down this week — though officials never publicly announced the conclusion of the more than $2 million effort. Asked by City Desk, APD spokesman Gilbert Gallegos confirmed in an email late […]
Posted inGeneral Interest, Housing & Homelessness
Raising dough: Councilor bakes over 1,000 vegan cookies for senior animals charity
Burqueños looking for meaningful holiday gifts can turn to an unlikely source: City Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn. When she’s not working on housing policy or climate legislation, she and her partner, Paul Roybal, spend the season in their kitchen baking thousands of vegan cookies for people and dogs. The homemade treats support Kindred Spirits Animal Sanctuary, […]
Posted inLocal Gov.
Last council meeting of 2025: Sobriety housing plan and renter protections on tap
The Albuquerque City Council will vote Monday during the last meeting of the year on rental protections and an $842,600 plan to house people leaving addiction treatment who agree to stay sober. Councilors are set to give final approval to the Rental Practices Ordinance, O-25-102, which mirrors state law by capping screening fees at $50, […]
Posted inHousing & Homelessness, Local Gov.
Medina’s retirement plans spark social media fight, speculation on who would be ABQ’s next top cop
Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina told the Albuquerque Journal in Dec. 2024 that he would retire at the end of Mayor Tim Keller’s current term, but he quickly walked that back by saying he might instead of he would. Fast-forward to Nov. 2025 and Keller confirmed Who will be Albuquerque’s next police chief? Mayor Tim […]
Posted inHousing & Homelessness, Sandoval County
Garcia ends District 3 challenge, vows to continue Southwest Mesa fight
Teresa Garcia called incumbent Klarissa Peña Thursday morning to concede the City Council District 3 race, reversing course from plans to seek a recount after losing by 68 votes in the Dec. 9 runoff election. At a press conference at Alamosa Park, Garcia said she cannot ask supporters — including mayoral candidate Alex Uballez and […]
Posted inHousing & Homelessness, Sandoval County
Keller makes ABQ history: First mayor to win three consecutive terms
Mayor Tim Keller made history tonight, defeating former Sheriff Darren White to become the first Albuquerque mayor to win three straight four-year terms since the city adopted its current mayoral system in the mid-1970s. With all of the absentee and early votes cast, Keller emerged with an early 58%-41% lead according to unofficial results from […]
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
Opinion: Could Tim Keller lose? The data says it’s closer than you think
Commentary & Analysis in City Desk We ask experts and reporters covering local news to share their takes on how it all fits together. Analysis by Editor Kevin Hendricks, City Hall Reporter Jesse Jones and Publisher Pat Davis By the time early voting ended Saturday night, 82,013 (22% of eligible voters) had turned out in […]
Posted inLocal Gov.
Your bus route is about to change. Here’s what you need to know
Albuquerque will roll out its biggest bus overhaul in nearly 30 years on Saturday, Dec. 13, when nine routes shift to a new map designed for a new era of the transit system. The changes will affect thousands of riders across the city. Officials announced the changes Wednesday at the Montaño Transit Center, launching Phase […]
Posted inHousing & Homelessness, Sandoval County
Outside groups dump over $100K into runoff elections, and still have lots more to spend
Political Action Committees (PACs) spent more than $132,000 during the three-week runoff election sprint to influence Albuquerque’s three runoff races as early voting kicked off this week, with the mayor’s race drawing most of the outside money just days before voters decide the Dec. 9 contests. The mayoral race drew more than $101,000 in PAC […]