Albuquerque’s opt-in zoning proposal suffered a decisive defeat on Wednesday when the City Council’s Land Use, Planning and Zoning Committee voted 4-1 against it after many people spoke in public testimony, most of them neighbors opposed to the plan. The resolution, sponsored by City Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn for Mayor Tim Keller, would have let property […]
Author Archives: Jesse Jones
Jesse Jones is a reporter covering local government and news for nm.news
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
Neighborhood groups clash with City Hall over voluntary zoning changes in Albuquerque
Albuquerque property owners could soon choose to increase housing density on their lots under a proposed resolution heading to committee review this week. Resolution 25-167, the Opt-In Zoning Ordinance, sponsored by City Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn for Mayor Tim Keller, would let property owners choose to rezone for higher-density or mixed-use development. The measure goes before […]
Posted inLocal Gov.
The $10 Million makeover: How Nov. bonds could give projects in Albuquerque’s District 6 an overhaul
Albuquerque is investing big in its future — nearly $167 million in capital projects have already been launched or completed across the city. From new parks and library upgrades to fire stations and public art, these efforts aim to improve everyday life in every district. This series breaks down where the money went, what was […]
Posted inLocal Gov.
Albuquerque cracks down on landlords as new cooling law faces first test
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 […]
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 […]