Late Friday, a federal judge extended a block of the Trump administration’s efforts to freeze federal funding to more cities, including Albuquerque, that restrict law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration efforts. Judge William Orrick in San Francisco extended an earlier preliminary injunction barring the federal government from withholding funds or conditioning federal funding on having […]
Category: City Desk ABQ

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Opinion: Uballez campaign tactic not fair to career city employees
Letter to the Editor By Barbara L. Taylor. Taylor is the former Capital Implementation Program Official and former director of the Parks and Recreation Department in the City of Albuquerque Ideally election campaigns are about aspirations and solutions. Municipal government, more than any other level of government, provides services that touch people’s lives every day. […]
Less than 90 days until election day, challengers post weak fundraising numbers in bid to oust Keller
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 […]
Albuquerque firefighters receive pay raises as new contract takes effect
Albuquerque firefighters are seeing significant pay increases in their paychecks following the implementation of a three-year contract that delivers millions in compensation improvements and expanded benefits. The agreement between the city and International Association of Fire Fighters Local 244, which represents Albuquerque Fire Rescue personnel, provides $17.8 million in total compensation enhancements over three years. […]
Bernalillo County honors lifeguards for heroic rescue
By Connor Currier In a heartfelt ceremony at its Aug. 4 meeting, the Bernalillo County Board of Commissioners recognized a dedicated team of lifeguards for their swift, coordinated actions that saved the life of a young swimmer at the South Valley Aquatic Center on June 23. The lifeguards’ quick thinking, teamwork and professionalism were pivotal […]
Council to weigh $2 million incentive for redevelopment of old 23K gold bank towers at San Mateo and Central
The 17-story skyscraper at the corner of San Mateo and Central Avenue and the 10-story “mini version” next door are clad with 23-karat gold tiles and once served as the symbol of Albuquerque and New Mexico’s booming extraction and atomic economy. Today, it stands vacant and its lots are filled with the remnants of overnight […]
Here’s where you can find National Night Out events in your neighborhood tonight
Once a year, neighborhoods across the country — including many right here in Albuquerque — spruce up, make snacks, and get together to celebrate their neighborhood and reconnect with neighbors. It’s called National Night Out and this year it happens tonight, Tuesday August 5th. What is National Night Out? National Night Out started in 1984 […]
Opinion: New polling shows any candidate could beat Keller for mayor, but take it with a grain of salt
Pat Davis is the founder and publisher of City Desk ABQ and nm.new.s He is a recovering politician having served eight years as an Albuquerque City Councilor and, in another life, he served as a police officer and nonprofit organizer. Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that the polling group did […]
Sanchez calls for APD to cooperate with federal agents after voting to preserve anti-cooperation law
City Councilor Louie Sanchez says he will require Albuquerque police to cooperate with federal immigration officers if he is elected mayor, despite casting the deciding vote last year on legislation prohibiting police from doing just that. In May of last year, the former Albuquerque police officer turned city councilor surprised many city politics watchers when […]
AFR rescues a person from an underground storm drain downtown. How did they get in there?
A midday call for help outside a Downtown high-rise office building led Albuquerque firefighters to an unusual rescue Tuesday morning. At about 10:40 a.m., rescue personnel were summoned to 5th Street and Marquette Avenue for reports of a person “stuck in a storm drain.” They soon found a person “below grade” (aka below the street […]