Should Albuquerque tunnel under the Rio Grande or build new bridges across it? Mayoral hopefuls Eddie Varela and Darren White pitched big ideas to ease Westside traffic during a recent candidate forum hosted by business leaders. The exchange came at a mayoral forum Tuesday, Sept. 30, hosted by business leaders with the National Association of […]
Category: Albuquerque
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City will pay to air Keller speech on TV, again
Editor’s note: This story was updated on Friday afternoon with comments and clarification on the timeline for the ad purchases provided by a spokesperson Friday after the original story was published. The city had not responded to our questions on the day before publication. The City of Albuquerque is paying to rebroadcast Mayor Tim Keller’s […]
Posted inLocal Gov.
United Stadium moving forward — quietly
After years of delays, New Mexico United’s stadium at Balloon Fiesta Park moved closer to reality. Monday, Sept. 29, Mayor Tim Keller announced construction will begin this winter with a 2028 opening target — though officials stayed silent on a Court of Appeals case challenging the project filed just six weeks ago. The announcement, made […]
Posted inPolitics & Elections
Daniel Chavez ends mayoral bid following staffer accusation, plummeting polls
Last week, City Desk ABQ reported that Albuquerque mayoral candidate Daniel Chavez had not disclosed to voters that he was facing battery charges for inappropriately touching a former staffer. This weekend, a new poll found that he had earned just six percent of support. Now the parking lot company owner says he’s had enough and […]
Posted inAlbuquerque
City of Albuquerque installing pedestrian fencing on East Central Avenue
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, […]
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 […]