After failing to secure a vote of no-confidence against police Chief Harold Medina last spring, Councilor Louie Sanchez is now asking a state board in charge of suspending or revoking an officer’s law enforcement certification to investigate him. On Friday, Sanchez submitted a misconduct report — called an “LEA-90” — to the Law Enforcement Certification […]
Albuquerque
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City brings back routine food inspections
Inspectors with the Albuquerque Environmental Health Department are back at ensuring the city’s diners aren’t getting dangerous vittles. The department had scaled back its efforts and conducted only pre-opening and complaint-based inspections while a new food safety and retail ordinance was put into place and inspectors were trained on the new rules. Routine inspections were […]
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How one ABQ student got the city’s attention over pedestrian safety
Sometimes it may seem that public concerns brought to city officials go willfully unheard. But one University of New Mexico student’s persistence and determination on pedestrian safety got her a scheduled meeting with city development heads. Like most students with busy schedules, Jackie Davis risks jaywalking across Central Avenue near UNM. After noticing hundreds of […]
Posted inAlbuquerque, Housing & Homelessness
Do you need a place to sleep? Here’s a map of shelters in Albuquerque
The question of how many beds are available for people experiencing homelessness has emerged as a sticking point as cities across the country grapple with how to tackle the issue. With this in mind, City Desk ABQ called around to 14 shelters identified by the City of Albuquerque and the New Mexico Coalition to End […]
Posted inAlbuquerque, Housing & Homelessness
Keller aims to expand homeless, recovery services
Mayor Tim Keller used the occasion of his State of the City address Aug. 17 to highlight a series of initiatives (some new, some in progress) that are designed to improve the lot of those experiencing homelessness — including adding or bolstering four city-run facilities to serve different populations. The Metro Homelessness Initiative (MHI) is […]
Posted inAlbuquerque, Housing & Homelessness
A dearth of public bathrooms is more than just an inconvenience
At Mayor Tim Keller’s State of the City address, he said there are an estimated 5,000 people living on the streets in Albuquerque. For those thousands — along with other city residents — locating a public restroom can be a challenge. While there’s no shortage of proposed solutions, city officials and advocates alike say none […]
Posted inAlbuquerque, Housing & Homelessness
Housing shortage could put brakes on new short-term rentals
The surge of short-term rentals and the rise of companies such as Airbnb has made it more difficult to find a home to rent or a house to buy in Albuquerque. The issue has spurred city councilors to propose a bill to limit the number of short-term rentals in certain areas, but others say it’s […]
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Ranked choice voting explained
Ranked choice voting has been adopted in cities such as Santa Fe and Las Cruces but the idea of implementing the voting system has been voted down by Albuquerque city councilors for years. The City Council most recently voted against ranked choice voting — a system that allows voters to rank candidates by preference on […]
Posted inHousing & Homelessness, International District
International District could see $50 million boost from feds
The buzz has been building among city officials and International District residents about the prospect that up to $50 million in federal money could be funneled into an area that desperately needs it. The city and the Albuquerque Housing Authority (AHA) were recently awarded a $500,000 Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant through the U.S. Department of […]
Posted inAlbuquerque, Jobs, Workers & Economy, Syndicated
Pharmacy deserts may grow as independent stores struggle with Medicare reimbursements
By Daniel Montaño A change meant to save patients money has community pharmacies shutting their doors and turning people away across the country. Pharmacies in rural or disadvantaged areas face the highest costs, and pharmacy deserts might start spreading. First Walmart closed early last year, then the Walgreens a couple blocks away, and now only three […]