Category: City Desk ABQ

When your trash is picked up, a pothole disappears or you spend an afternoon at the BioPark, you’re seeing the work of Samantha Sengel even if you don’t know her name. The Albuquerque City Council unanimously reappointed Samantha Sengel as chief administrative officer (CAO) Wednesday. The city’s most powerful non-elected position oversees 6,000 employees and […]

The Bernalillo County district attorney has warned federal immigration officials that certain detention practices could result in criminal prosecution under state law. Sam Bregman, district attorney for New Mexico’s Second Judicial District, sent a letter Wednesday to Bill Shaw, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement assistant field office director, raising concerns about ICE operations. The letter […]

Yesterday, we reported on Albuquerque’s 15 most problematic properties—the blighted buildings and neglected lots that drag down neighborhoods and frustrate residents. But there’s another side to this story: the success stories. While the city continues to grapple with persistent problem properties, officials want residents to know that progress is being made. The City of Albuquerque’s […]

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include information about a new Q&A process proposed to replace the repealed agenda item, if passed, as well as reactions from councilors. The mayor’s administration and Council President Klarissa Peña have a plan to make the most frustrating and contentious parts of the council meetings more useful […]

City officials have identified 15 properties as the most problematic among approximately 300 substandard structures across Albuquerque, according to the Planning Department’s Code Enforcement Division. The Problematic Properties Program targets structures that pose public nuisances to neighborhoods, including abandoned or substandard homes that drain city resources, structurally compromised buildings and locations that serve as hotspots […]

A section of Rio Bravo Boulevard SW will operate with reduced lanes for about five weeks as part of ongoing road improvements, Bernalillo County officials announced Tuesday. Westbound traffic on Rio Bravo Boulevard from the approach to Second Street through the intersection will be limited to one lane from Tuesday through Feb. 21. The closure […]

Technically, the state’s even-year, 30-day Legislative sessions are supposed to only be about the budget, but this is Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s last regular session and she still has a lot to do — not to mention all 70 State House seats are up for election this year. So, in addition to carving up an […]

This story originally appeared at New Mexico In Depth, and is republished with permission as a part of our mission to bring readers the best in independent local journalism. By Ted Alcorn, NM In Depth –– Responding to doctors’ concerns that New Mexico’s malpractice system is making it hard to practice medicine, leading lawmakers hope […]

A months-long fight over transparency erupted at Albuquerque City Hall last fall after nine Inspector General fraud investigations were completed. Of those investigations, the public has only seen two final reports; four remain unreleased and one was formally rejected. The controversy began in April when the Albuquerque Accountability in Government Oversight Committee deferred six reports, […]