By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Bernalillo County voters will not see proposed changes to the public campaign finance system on the November ballot after county commissioners withdrew the measures to allow more time for study instead of rushing a complex proposal to voters. On Tuesday, the Bernalillo County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a […]
Category: City Desk ABQ
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A quartet of ABQ City Councilors raises alarm White House plans to let political staff cancel local grants
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Burqueños who rely on local housing, transit and community services could see programs lose federal funding if a proposed rule were to give political appointees new power to freeze or end grants over vague standards tied to federal policy. Four Albuquerque City Councilors, led by Stephanie Telles and joined […]
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Watchdog clears Albuquerque’s top lawyer in probe, but dispute with Council persists
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Albuquerque’s city watchdog found no legal or ethical misconduct by Interim City Attorney Lauren Keefe, but the report paints a picture of confusion inside City Hall. Interim Inspector General Peter Pacheco released the final special investigation report July 31 on allegations of legal and ethical misconduct by Interim City […]
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Council tees up ballot question to reduce mayor’s control over two big city jobs
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Burqueño voters will decide in November whether to take away the mayor’s sole power to hire and fire the city attorney and city clerk. The Albuquerque City Council approved companion measures sponsored by Council Vice President Dan Champine on Monday, Aug. 3, to place a charter amendment on the […]
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Should taxpayers fund campaigns? Bernalillo County vote could send question to voters
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Voters in Bernalillo County may get a chance to decide this November whether their tax dollars should help fund campaigns for county offices. The Bernalillo County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing and final vote Tuesday, Aug. 11, on three companion measures. The package would place a […]
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Bill to restrict cannabis, smoke shop locations goes up in smoke
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Smoke shop and cannabis dispensary owners rolled into the Albuquerque City Council chambers Monday, Aug. 3 and watched a zoning bill that would have separated the two businesses go up in smoke. City councilors voted 6-3 to reject Ordinance O-26-39, sponsored by Councilor Renée Grout at the request of […]
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New protections approved for ABQ workers speaking up at City Hall
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Albuquerque city workers who report fraud or wrongdoing at City Hall now have stronger legal protections after the City Council unanimously approved two overhauls Monday to protect whistleblowers and strengthen the city’s fraud watchdog. Councilors unanimously approved the Accountability in Government Ordinance, which Councilor Brook Bassan sponsored. The measure […]
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City Council cracks down on stolen copper, brass sales
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Burqueños whose catalytic converters get stolen or whose streetlights go dark because of stripped copper wiring have a new tool aimed at fighting the market for stolen metal after the City Council voted 8-1 Monday night to toughen the city’s recycling laws. The council approved the Sale of Recycled […]
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Procedural mutiny: ABQ City Councilors overrule Council President to block tax ballot measure
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Taxpayers in the Duke City will not see a proposed gross receipts tax increase on their November ballots after city councilors used a procedural move to stop the measure before it reached a vote. During the Aug. 3 City Council meeting, Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn used a parliamentary challenge to […]
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Councilor slams push to revive defeated tobacco-cannabis zoning ordinance
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Albuquerque smoke shop and cannabis dispensary owners could soon have far fewer places to open after Councilor Renée Grout revived a bill she sponsored by request, just days after a City Council committee recommended rejecting it. Planning Director Alan Varela told the Land Use, Planning and Zoning Committee on […]