Donations large and small from family members, real estate developers and cannabis companies helped the leading challengers to incumbent Mayor Tim Keller raise a combined $170,000 in just under 30 days, but all of that effort was dwarfed by Keller’s single contribution: a $733,000 contribution from the city’s public financing account. Candidates for all city […]
Category: +News
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Albuquerque mayoral candidates split on Trump homelessness order threatening $167M in federal funding
Albuquerque mayoral candidates are sharply divided over President Trump’s executive order threatening to cut off federal funding to cities that don’t enforce civil commitment laws for homeless individuals. Signed July 24, the order requires cities to prioritize involuntary treatment for people with mental illness or substance use issues and penalizes those that allow urban camping, […]
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Six candidates qualify for public financing in Albuquerque City Council election
The Office of the City Clerk certified the publicly financed candidates Monday, with four incumbents and two newcomers earning the right to receive lump-sum grants from the city’s Open and Ethical Elections Fund to run their campaigns through November’s election. City Clerk Ethan Watson’s office announced that the following candidates qualified for public financing: Ahren […]
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BernCo goes green, saves green
Bernalillo County taxpayers are already seeing the financial benefits of an $18 million energy efficiency project that will save approximately $500,000 annually in utility and maintenance costs while reducing the county’s environmental footprint. The comprehensive project affects 11 major county facilities that residents use daily, from community centers where families gather to the courthouse where […]
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New Mexico Supreme Court upholds warrantless vehicle searches during brief decriminalization era
New Mexico drivers stopped by police during the state’s brief marijuana decriminalization period could still have their vehicles searched without a warrant based on the smell of cannabis alone, the state Supreme Court ruled Thursday in a unanimous decision that clarifies police powers during a unique period in the state’s drug policy history. The ruling […]
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Albuquerque launches back-to-school donation drive for homeless families
The City of Albuquerque is calling on residents to help ease the burden on families experiencing housing insecurity by donating school supplies through a back-to-school drive benefiting 65 families at Gateway Family. The donation campaign will collect essential school items, including loose-leaf paper, binders, notebooks, pencils, backpacks and new shoes for children whose families are […]
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BernCo assessor and treasurer join forces to keep residents in their homes
The Office of the Bernalillo County Assessor and the Office of the Treasurer are collaborating to meticulously review all properties slated for state auction due to unpaid property taxes. This joint effort aims to prevent residents from losing their homes, land, or businesses. Property owners who are more than three years delinquent on their property […]
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Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ threatens Albuquerque’s affordable housing and homelessness programs
The budget proposal from the Donald Trump administration, dubbed the “Big Beautiful Bill,” is raising alarms in Albuquerque as it threatens to eliminate critical federal funding for affordable housing and homelessness prevention programs. City officials warn that these cuts could lead to increased housing insecurity and job losses. Under the proposed budget, the Community Development […]
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Ethics board dismisses complaint against BernCo chair
A Bernalillo County ethics board’s dismissal of a deputy treasurer’s complaint against County Commission Chair Eric Olivas came as a surprise to neither party. Olivas told CityDesk ABQ the outcome was what he’d expected. He said the board’s argument is that there were no grounds for the complaint, which alleged he violated provisions in the […]
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A new bill could change how Albuquerque handles homeless camps
Albuquerque City Councilor Nichole Rogers is proposing changes to the city’s Safe Outdoor Space (SOS) Operator’s Permit Ordinance, aiming to reduce regulatory obstacles and make it easier to open and manage sanctioned encampments for people experiencing homelessness. Rogers is pushing to ease city rules on Safe Outdoor Spaces. She argues that current regulations create unnecessary […]