tunruhenos, Author at City Desk ABQ

Councilor eyes return of Berry-era homeless labor initiative

An idea born under former Albuquerque Mayor Richard J. Berry that provides day labor jobs for those experiencing homelessness could be making a comeback. “There’s a Better Way” was launched in 2015 and the initiative quickly gained national attention. After a year in operation, the Washington Post called it “a simple idea that works.” The […]

Tax and Revenue Dept. warns of fraudulent delinquent tax letters

The New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department is warning taxpayers about fraudulent demand letters going out to property owners who are delinquent on their taxes. The letters tell the owners to call a 1-800 number by a certain date or the state will seize their property. The letters are not from the state Taxation and […]

Commission publishes first-of-its-kind behavioral health ordinance

Bernalillo County residents may soon see a different, more efficient network aimed at helping them meet their behavioral health needs. The Board of Commissioners on Tuesday approved the publication of an ordinance that would create a behavioral health authority that would unify county behavioral health efforts. Vice Chair Eric Olivas said before the meeting that […]

Reps. Stansbury and Vasquez celebrate $16.3M in homelessness funding

More than a dozen nonprofit and city leaders who work in homelessness and housing services across the state met in Albuquerque on Tuesday to mark an infusion of $16.3 million in federal funds for its programs. A roundtable event at Cuidando Los Niños featured U.S. Reps. Melanie Stansbury and Gabe Vasquez, part of the New […]

APD officer hits pedestrian while chasing carjacking suspect

An Albuquerque Police officer struck a pedestrian during a high-speed chase involving a carjacking suspect. Around 2 pm, APD officers responded to an armed carjacking at 8100 San Joaquin Ave. Police say the suspect tried to steal one person’s vehicle and then took another person’s vehicle at gunpoint. Officers in the Southeast Area Command responded […]

CNM partners with State Police to Solve cold cases

The Central New Mexico Community College Criminal Justice program is collaborating with the New Mexico State Police (NMSP) to solve cold cases. The new Cold Case Collaborative course will launch at the end of April. The course was developed in partnership with the NMSP to provide students with real-world experience and to help serve communities […]

Councilor wants to expand successful gun violence intervention program to county

The City of Albuquerque is hoping to soon partner with the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office to create a Violence Intervention Program for the unincorporated areas of Bernalillo County. City Councilor Nichole Rogers will introduce legislation at the next meeting to allow the city to apply for a $1,392,698 grant from the New Mexico Department of […]

Albuquerque residents may soon see water rate hike

Your water rates may soon be going up. Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority will be asking for a 12% rate increase. The water utility staff presented their Fiscal Year 2025 budget to the governing board asking for a water and sewage rate increase at their meeting held Wednesday What does this mean for you? […]

Albuquerque Public Schools dropout rate rises

More students have dropped out of Albuquerque Public Schools this year than last. Associate Superintendent Mark Garcia said the dropout rate for the first semester of this school year is up to 1.8%, compared to 1.5% for the same time last year. He said APS is projecting the full-year rate to be 5.2%, versus 4.2% […]

City survey shows residents concerned about direction city is headed

Albuquerque residents say they’re concerned about the city’s direction, and although many feel that city leaders have put forth good ideas on how to address those issues, 61% of residents polled feel the city is unresponsive to their concerns. That’s the gist of the city’s annual survey, released Tuesday. When asked how they feel about […]