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 […]
Category: Communities
Posted inPolitics & Elections
Bregman would back ban on local immigrant detention centers, limit arrests of immigrants without other crimes
New Mexico Democratic candidate for governor Sam Bregman expressed opposition Friday to using state and local resources to enforce federal immigration law, unless it involves a criminal suspect who represents a serious threat to public safety. Bregman, who is also the Bernalillo County district attorney, told New Mexico Political Report in a phone interview on […]
Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety
Española police chief addresses unease over National Guard deployment
New Mexico National Guard troops could soon be deployed to Española and Rio Arriba County to address a surge in crime and public safety concerns. Española Police Chief Mizel Garcia told members of the Courts, Corrections, and Justice Committee of the New Mexico Legislature that his department and the New Mexico National Guard have been […]
Posted inPolitics & Elections
Vasquez launches 2026 re-election campaign, emphasizes bipartisan record
U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez announced his 2026 re-election bid over the weekend, touring his sprawling southern New Mexico and Westside Albuquerque district with campaign stops in Albuquerque’s West Side, Los Lunas, Truth or Consequences and Mesilla. The second-term Democrat, who represents New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District, positioned himself as a bipartisan problem-solver focused on lowering […]
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 inBernalillo County
Bernalillo County Commissioners to address legislative priorities, National Recovery Month
Bernalillo County commissioners will convene Tuesday night to establish policy priorities for the upcoming New Mexico Legislature special session and recognize National Recovery Month during their administrative meeting. The Board of County Commissioners, led by Chair Eric Olivas, will meet at 5 p.m. in the Ken Sanchez Commission Chambers to consider an administrative resolution outlining […]
Posted inNew Mexico
New Mexico methane rules cut emissions by half compared to Texas, officials say
New Mexico’s methane regulations have reduced oil and gas facility emissions in the Permian Basin by half compared to neighboring Texas while generating $152 million for the state, according to satellite data released Monday by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. The findings, announced during U.S. Climate Week, show New Mexico’s methane intensity at 1.2% compared to […]
Posted inPolitics & Elections
Former APD detective, state legislative candidate seeks to challenge Rep. Vasquez in CD-2
A retired Albuquerque Police detective and two-time candidate for the New Mexico House of Representatives will challenge Rep. Gabe Vasquez, D-NM-02, next year in a key congressional swing district. Punch Bowl News reported last week that Gregory Cunningham is mulling a run for the Republican nomination to take on Vasquez in 2026. On Monday, Paul […]
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 inCongress & Federal Gov
New Mexico Democrats stand against GOP federal funding plans without healthcare cost fix
Two bills to avert a government shutdown each went down to defeat in the Senate on Friday. One of the proposals, a continuing resolution that would keep the federal government funded up through Nov. 21, cleared the U.S. House of Representatives 217-212. Reps. Melanie Stansbury, D-NM-01, Gabe Vasquez, D-NM-02, and Teresa Leger Fernandez, D-NM-03, voted […]