The Albuquerque Police Department’s new drone surveillance program has assisted in four arrests during its first month of operation, but civil liberties advocates are raising concerns about privacy protections and community input in the program’s deployment. The program, which launched in August, has conducted more than 200 flights using drones housed in strategically placed “hives” […]
Category: Albuquerque
Posted inLocal Gov.
Albuquerque cuts public records backlog below 1,000 for first time since 2023
The City of Albuquerque has reduced its backlog of public records requests to fewer than 1,000 for the first time since June 2023, while resolving more than 65% of all requests within 20 days, city officials announced. The improvements come as the city received more than 15,900 requests in fiscal year 2025, a 13% increase […]
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
Photo of the day: Mayor Keller takes virtual tour of Albuquerque’s future
Mayor Tim Keller gets a virtual reality glimpse of the future Uptown Connect project during the development’s launch event on Thursday. The innovative mixed-use development promises to link affordable housing with public transportation, employment opportunities, and entertainment in Albuquerque’s Uptown area. Check back tomorrow for a full story on Uptown Connect, a $120 million mixed-use […]
Posted inLocal Gov.
After governor’s veto, Albuquerque gets $21.8 million in homeless funding with strings attached
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 […]
Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety
Albuquerque mayoral candidate charged for inappropriate touching of former campaign staffer
An Albuquerque police officer investigating an incident between mayoral candidate Daniel Chavez and his former staffer found probable cause to charge him with battery, according to court documents filed in Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court and obtained by City Desk ABQ. The criminal complaint, filed in July, alleges that Daniel Chavez inappropriately touched a person without […]
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 inCourts, Justice & Safety
Albuquerque police deploy drone program, report four arrests in first month
The Albuquerque Police Department has officially launched a drone program that has already assisted in four arrests and conducted more than 200 flights in its first month of operation, city officials announced Thursday. The program, which began in August, features drones housed in strategically placed “hives” on rooftops and city facilities throughout Albuquerque that can […]
Posted inEducation
Fourth Albuquerque high school adds on-campus violence intervention program
Del Norte High School has become the fourth Albuquerque high school to host a full-time violence intervention program aimed at supporting students affected by trauma and disconnection from school. Albuquerque Community Safety announced this week that its School-Based Violence Intervention Program is now operating at Del Norte, joining West Mesa High School, RFK High School […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov
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 […]