The average Albuquerque home is 44 years old, and a lot of families can’t cover the big repair bills that come with aging houses. On Sept. 15, the City Council approved a program to help, passing the measure 5-3. The Preserving Albuquerque Through Critical Housing (PATCH) program will provide up to $75,000 in forgivable loans […]
Category: +News
Reader-supported
City Councilor Requests $2 million Emergency Fix to Keep Albuquerque Parks From ‘Dying’
Albuquerque families may soon see greener parks after City Councilor Dan Lewis introduced an emergency resolution to spend $2 million from city reserves on immediate turf replacement, saying budget cuts left fields patchy and overrun with weeds. The proposed resolution, R-25-183, introduced Aug. 18, targets parks citywide that are suffering from dead grass and weeds, making […]
Reader-supported
From homelessness to hope: One mother’s journey through Albuquerque’s Gateway Family
When Gabrielle, a Gateway Family resident, called 311 for help, she was homeless and had spent a decade battling addiction that cost her custody of her children. Nearly two years later, she is sober, has full custody of her one-year-old, visits her older children regularly and is preparing to move from Gateway Family into her […]
Reader-supported
Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office nominated for national drone award after disarming children
The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office has been named a finalist for a national award recognizing how deputies used drone technology to safely disarm two young children who were armed with a loaded handgun. The sheriff’s office is competing for Skydio’s 2025 Lifesaving Achievement Award, with the winner to be determined by public voting at skydio.com/vote, […]
Reader-supported
Albuquerque City Council approves $7.1 million Gateway West contract despite accountability questions
Albuquerque City Council voted 7-1 Tuesday, Sept. 15, to approve Executive Communication 481, giving Gateway West an extra $3.55 million, doubling Chicanos Por La Causa’s (CPLC) annual contract to $7.1 million and extending operations through June 2026, even as councilors and residents questioned whether the city’s $121 million Gateway program is producing results. Councilor Dan […]
Reader-supported
Albuquerque City Council candidates secure spots on the ballot after court challenge
Two Albuquerque City Council candidates will appear on the November ballot after a judge rejected legal challenges to their petition signatures, clearing the way for ballot printing to begin next week. District 1 candidate Stephanie Telles and District 3 candidate Teresa Garcia faced lawsuits claiming they failed to collect the required 500 valid signatures to […]
Reader-supported
Santa Fe court launches mental health diversion program for arrestees
The First Judicial District Court has announced a new program designed to divert people with severe mental illness away from the criminal justice system and into treatment services. The competency diversion pilot program will serve individuals charged with misdemeanors, excluding DWI and nonviolent felony offenses. It marks the fourth such initiative established by New Mexico […]
Reader-supported
Bernalillo County commissioners name new fire chief, vote to advance affordable housing
By Lauren Lifke The Bernalillo County Board of Commissioners named a new fire chief at its meeting on Tuesday and voted in favor of three ordinances that will move the county toward acquiring more transitional and affordable housing. Outgoing Bernalillo County Fire Rescue Chief Greg Perez welcomed Chief Zach Lardy to fill his shoes at […]
Reader-supported
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 […]
Reader-supported
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 […]