The City of Albuquerque is installing new protective fencing along medians on Central Avenue as part of an effort to direct pedestrians to safer crossing locations. The fencing, some of which was installed last week, is designed to guide pedestrians to intersections and new mid-block crossing points rather than allowing crossings at potentially dangerous locations, […]
Category: Albuquerque
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.
Sobriety required: Albuquerque tests housing program for residents leaving rehab
Albuquerque is trying something new in its fight against homelessness. On Sept. 15, the Albuquerque City Council voted unanimously to launch the city’s first housing voucher program that requires people to stay sober. Resolution R-25-179 establishes a one-year pilot program, called the Continuing Sobriety Housing Voucher Program. It will cover rent for 25 people leaving […]
Posted inPolitics & Elections
PACs pour $375k into Albuquerque elections, skirting campaign limits
When Burqueño voters see glossy campaign mailers or ads in the coming weeks, the fine print may list groups such as “Safer Albuquerque Committee” or “Ascend Albuquerque.” But those names don’t tell the full story of who is really paying to influence their votes. Political Action Committees (PACs) have raised $375,280 to sway the Nov. […]
Posted inPolitics & Elections
Thanks to public financing, council candidates still have hundreds of thousands to spend
Campaign finance reports released last week show the fundraising landscape for Albuquerque City Council candidates as they enter the final stretch before the Nov. 4 municipal election, with significant disparities between publicly and privately financed campaigns across five contested districts. The latest reporting period, ending Sept. 8, reveals how candidates are positioning themselves financially with […]
Posted inLocal Gov.
City council to vote on $800m+ spending, including fusion energy and homeless services
The Albuquerque City Council could vote Monday on more than $800 million in spending, including historic industrial bonds for a fusion energy facility and millions for homelessness programs that have faced intense scrutiny. At the Sept. 15 meeting, councilors are set to consider $776.6 million in industrial revenue bonds for Pacific Fusion LLC’s Mesa del […]
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
What happened to Albuquerque’s homeless encampment tracker?
What happened to Albuquerque’s public transparency tool tracking encampment responses? After CityDesk contacted the city about the frozen transparency tool, officials not only acknowledged the problem but created an entirely new dashboard with current data, delivering on their promise to restore it by “end of day”. Albuquerque’s original “Encampment Reports & Responses” dashboard, launched in […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov
Trump administration moves to cancel $11.5 million Rail Trail grant, Keller: ‘We will see you in court’
The Trump administration is attempting to withdraw $11.5 million in federal funding for Albuquerque’s Rail Trail project, prompting Mayor Tim Keller to threaten legal action to preserve the grant. The U.S. Department of Transportation notified the city this week that it was backtracking on a 2022 funding commitment made through the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with […]
Posted inPolitics & Elections
Sanchez loans $150K to mayoral campaign, but financial disclosures show no assets to loan
Editor’s note: A previous version of this story reported that Sanchez’s 2025 finance report showed no income. A change in the clerk’s process, discussed in the story below, let Sanchez refer to previous filings. Those filings still failed to report some income and still do not show the loan or source of funds for it. […]
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
Albuquerque becomes New Mexico’s homeless hub as Gateway contracts add 100 Beds
Albuquerque city councilors approved three Gateway Center contracts Tuesday, Sept. 3. The vote reflects a growing reality: Albuquerque has become New Mexico’s hub for homeless services, managing problems that extend far beyond its borders. The 100 new shelter beds, approved in 7-2 votes, will serve a population of 2,740 homeless residents — a 109% increase […]