Editor’s note: To read the first in our series — A visitors center with no visitors: When will the taxpayer-funded project open? — click here. There’s still no opening date for the decades-in-the-making West Central Route 66 Visitors Center, though construction was completed years ago. Even so, one former city councilor thinks the long delay […]
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ABQ has more than 150 vacant positions on advisory boards and commissions
Boards and commissions act as advisory bodies helping local governments make decisions on important issues — whether that is advocating for visual arts or affordable housing. But many of Albuquerque’s boards and commissions are short members. Nearly 80% of Albuquerque’s boards and commissions have empty seats — ranging from one vacant position to 10. Of […]
ABQ City Council looking to finalize spot for new Westside sports complex
Fifteen years in the making, the Westside Sports Complex appears to be approaching the finish line — at least when it comes to where it will be built. The Albuquerque City Council is expected to finalize the location for the complex at its Aug. 5 regular meeting. The city and state governments have earmarked more […]
ABQ RIDE offers bonuses to new hires
The city’s Transit Department is looking for mechanics, drivers and safety workers to join ABQ RIDE and it’s offering sign-on bonuses to help fill vital positions. The department is also aiming to recruit Albuquerque Police Department transit safety officers to support the city’s transit operations. “We couldn’t keep the wheels turning and the buses on […]
ABQ Fire Rescue sees spike in calls, adds new truck
In the period of two years between 2021 and 2023, Albuquerque Fire Rescue said the number of fires it responded to increased by more than 500% — mostly due to encampments along East Central Avenue. The dramatic increase spurred the department to ask Mayor Tim Keller to include funding for two new medical trucks — […]
Tribes won input on Petroglyph-area developments. In the case of one large project, it’s too late.
When developers announced their plans for a 35-foot-tall apartment complex near the Petroglyph National Monument in 2022, Native American organizations were alarmed. Thanks to zoning changes made last month — spurred by those concerns — tribal leaders will have a voice in future projects. However, those zoning changes will not affect the current development. Terry […]
Vouchers prevent homelessness, but rentals remain elusive
It can take up to 200 days for recipients of a city housing voucher to find an available apartment to use it. In the meantime, people often end up couch surfing, living in cars and on the streets. One of the main reasons for the long wait, city officials say, is landlords who are reluctant […]
Parks & Rec is using 100 million fewer gallons of water than it was three years ago. How?
The Parks and Recreation Department (PRD) has reduced the amount of water it uses by more than 100 million gallons over the past three years, despite facing record heat. However, it is using more water than it was in 2019. Albuquerque’s Parks and Recreation Director Dave Simon told City Desk ABQ in an email the […]
Keller attended video call with Biden, mayors about campaign
Mayor Tim Keller was one of the 200 Democratic mayors who met with President Joe Biden over a video call Tuesday, City Desk ABQ confirmed. Following his poor debate performance, Biden joined a call with the Democratic Mayors Association to discuss his vision for a second term and how they can support his campaign. The […]
City, county partner to improve access to social services
Bernalillo County and the City of Albuquerque are collaborating on an initiative they say will improve access to food, housing and behavioral health services. The city and county are partnering with the software company Unite Us to offer a “secure and efficient way to connect residents to the services they need,” according to a Bernalillo […]