Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller’s administration released a $1.4 billion proposed budget for fiscal year 2025 on Tuesday. The 2.3% increase over last fiscal year focuses on big picture categories like public safety, housing, homelessness, behavioral health, jobs, the economy and more. The city said in a news release that the budget takes into consideration post-pandemic […]
Housing & Homelessness
Reader-supported
Homeless sobering center would take pressure off emergency rooms
When an intoxicated homeless person needs to get sober, they often end up in one of Albuquerque’s emergency rooms. But officials say it’s an untenable situation that places a further strain on already stressed health care workers and maxed out ERs. The city hopes to alleviate some of the load through a new medical sobering […]
Posted inAlbuquerque, Education, Housing & Homelessness
Cuidando Los Niños sounds alarm on child homelessness
The picture of homelessness for many Albuquerque residents is likely one of a panhandler at an intersection or bus stop who is almost always an adult male. But that picture is woefully incomplete, says Ashley Martinez, because it should include children and families too — a group that has been increasing in number. “It is […]
Reader-supported
Gateway Center funding falls far short of city’s requests
Going into the 2024 legislative session, city officials had high hopes to secure a key request of almost $16 million in funds for projects at the Gateway Center at Gibson Health Hub. They ended up with $615,000. The city fared better overall, however, receiving about 29% of the funding it requested for a variety of […]
Reader-supported
Albuquerque Community Safety looking for new leader
The woman who led the Albuquerque Community Safety Department since its inception in 2021 is transitioning to a new role in city government. Mariela Ruiz-Angel is now the Associate Chief Administrative Officer, the city announced Monday. The position was previously held by Bob White, who retired at the end of last year. Ava Montoya, a […]
Reader-supported
Council approves additional funding to help with increasing number of migrants
Helping asylum seekers and migrants and recognizing the impact of the atomic industry on downwinders topped the short Albuquerque City Council meeting held on March 18. Migrant Help An increasing number of migrants arriving in Albuquerque — “due to unforeseen circumstances at the southern U.S. border” — since early fall has stretched thin the nonprofit […]
Reader-supported
One man’s quest to help solve the city’s homelessness problem
The campaigning hasn’t stopped, but now the focus is homelessness. Daymon Ely, an attorney and former three-term state representative, has spent the past 12 months developing a proposal to address homelessness in Albuquerque. The problem is well documented: There are more people living on Albuquerque’s streets, some with severe mental health and addiction issues, and […]
Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety, Downtown, Housing & Homelessness
Business owner, deputy commander talk crime in Albuquerque’s Downtown
Editor’s note: This is the fourth installment in a series titled Downtown Albuquerque Reboot, about the city’s center, its challenges and the plans to address them. Read about why the area matters here, about vacant buildings here, peruse a photo essay about lowriders here, and end with what the area has to offer here. On […]
Posted inAlbuquerque, Housing & Homelessness
Roadrunner CEO: ‘Food insecurity can strike anyone’
Roadrunner by the numbers: Dana Yost was named the president and CEO of Albuquerque-based Roadrunner Food Bank in August 2023. He comes to the city from Tucson, Arizona — a state where he worked in the food bank industry for 13 years. In just a handful of months at the helm, Yost said he’s noticed […]
Reader-supported
City faces new lawsuits from asbestos mishandling at Gateway
The city’s ongoing headache brought on by asbestos issues at Albuquerque’s Gateway Center at Gibson Health Hub continued this week. Three new lawsuits were filed against the city in relation to its mishandling of the cancer-causing material during construction at the 572,000-square-foot center. Located at 5400 Gibson Blvd. SE, the center offers overnight beds and […]