By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Albuquerque families could soon see $5.2 million in opioid settlement money go toward addiction treatment, recovery housing and school prevention programs. But the City Council voted not to extend Monday’s meeting, leaving no time for a final vote on the proposal and leaving the funding unresolved. During the meeting, […]
Category: Local Government
Posted inBernalillo County, Local Government
Bernalillo County makes it easier for residents to find behavioral health care
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Bernalillo County residents now have new tools to find and access behavioral health and other social services more easily. Close the Loop, the county’s coordinated system for behavioral health and social service referrals, includes a public resource directory, an online assistance request form and a third tool, Population Insights, […]
Posted inAlbuquerque, Local Government
City Council set to hear changes to development appeals
by Jesse Jones, The Paper. — A battle over who gets a say in Burque’s development process hits City Hall on Monday. The City Council will consider four measures from Councilor Dan Lewis that could reshape zoning appeals, developer fees and the role neighborhood associations play in development decisions, drawing strong opposition from neighborhood coalitions. […]
Posted inAlbuquerque, Local Government
Albuquerque adds $1.6M to legal fight over homeless encampment sweeps
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Albuquerque’s legal bill for defending its treatment of unhoused residents is getting bigger. The city has already paid nearly $1.4 million in legal fees and litigation expenses and has added another $1.6 million to its outside counsel contract, pushing the contract’s maximum value to $2.66 million. The City Council […]
Posted inAlbuquerque, Local Government
Uptown Connect Secures millions as Albuquerque affordable housing project gets scaled back
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — The long-promised Uptown Connect housing project at Albuquerque’s Uptown transit hub is finally moving toward construction, with $31.2 million in new financing approved this week. But the project looks different on paper than it did last year, with fewer apartments, a lower price tag and a different financing package. […]
Posted inAlbuquerque, Local Government
Councilor Dan Lewis wants more say for neighborhood associations, less for coalitions in ABQ development
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — When the City of Albuquerque approves a development project, construction may still be a long way off. Residents and community groups can challenge approved projects through city appeals and, in some cases, state court. Councilor Dan Lewis has proposed four companion measures that would change who can appeal those […]
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City’s recycling test could mean fewer pickups for some residents
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — For some Burqueños, trash day will soon mean one less bin to take to the curb each week. The city is starting a pilot program that will switch blue recycling bin pickup from weekly to every other week. Starting today, the city’s Solid Waste Management Department will test the […]
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Six months of lawsuits left Albuquerque with a $4.38 million tab
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Mayor Tim Keller sent two overdue quarterly litigation reports to the City Council last month, revealing $4.38 million in lawsuit settlements over six months, including a case in which a police SWAT operation burned down a family’s home and killed a teenage boy hiding inside. At its Sept. 21 […]
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Fed up Albuquerque renters put new city protections to the test
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — For more than a year, City Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn has pushed for stronger renter protections, one city ordinance at a time. In June, two of her measures became law: the Rental Unit Habitability Enforcement Ordinance and a resolution requiring the city to prioritize safety violations. Now those protections are […]
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‘Is the City the Grinch?’ Councilor slams decision to cancel Luminaria Bus Tour
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — For 70 years, Burqueños have celebrated Christmas Eve aboard the Luminaria Bus Tour, riding city buses through the Old Town and Huning Castle neighborhoods to see glowing luminarias and neighbors gathered around bonfires. Now, the city has ended the tradition, saying the tour is no longer cost-effective. At Monday’s […]