From the HOA Board: Westside Boulevard Speeding and Lighting Issues

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The Westside Boulevard Expansion project has created difficult problems for many of our HOA members that can, and must, be fixed.  For at least two years, many of our HOA homeowners who live in the vicinity of Westside Blvd. have had to live with the daily threat and disturbance of dangerous speeding that occurs on this one mile stretch of road. 

At night, they have had to listen to, and sometimes wake up to, the noise of high speeding and apparent street racing.  And very high speeding doesn’t occur just at night.  Day or night, our homeowners are rightly concerned that one day a speeder will come crashing through their wall, into their backyard, and possibly into their house.  Many of us who do not live on Westside know this problem as well.  We, too, have seen drivers travel at high speed, sometimes well over twice the speed limit.

It is time the speeders are stopped.  For years, some of our HOA members have tried repeatedly to get City officials to take action to curb the speeding.  City officials recognize there is a serious problem.  They have talked at times of posting speed vans and radar signs.  Yet the speeding has continued. 

The good news is that the Northwest Area Command has now made a concerted effort to significantly increase traffic stops on Westside.  According to their figures, they have made 159 stops on 19 different days during the period from November 6, 2023, to March 8, 2024.  Apparently, they are policing the south side of Westside, while Rio Rancho is policing the north side.  We are not aware at this time of traffic stop figures from Rio Rancho.

We can assume that the concerted traffic stop efforts of Northwest Area Command are ongoing.  Yet, despite these traffic stops, speeding appears to remain out of control.  Our HOA members continue to report excessive speeding and noise at night, and we continue to observe excessive speeding during the day.

It is time that more effective measures are taken to rein in the excessive speeding on Westside.  In addition to the traffic stops, it is time to put Automated Speed Enforcement cameras on Westside.  There are 20 such cameras currently at work in Albuquerque.  Apparently they work well and, as of last Fall, 95,000 citations were issued using 17 cameras. 

The Seven Bar HOA Board have created an online petition demanding that the City of Albuquerque commit more resources, including ASE cameras, to help put a stop to the everyday excessive speeding on Westside.  We encourage all of you to sign the petition.

Our HOA members who live in the vicinity of Westside also have another problem to deal with as a result of the Westside expansion.  The expansion project has brought light pollution into their yards and their homes.  While it is unfortunate that there are some 40 new streetlights on this mile-long stretch of road, these lights do not conform to New Mexico State law or local law.

New Mexico is a State that rightfully prides itself on its dark skies.  In 2000, New Mexico enacted the Night Sky Protection Act to help preserve its dark skies.  The Act covers outdoor lighting, including street lighting.  It applies throughout the State, not just in rural areas.  It covers new lighting fixtures, such as the dozens of new streetlights on Westside. 

The Act’s primary means of night sky preservation is to require adequate light shields so that light is directed downward, and not beyond the property boundaries of the light source.  The Act also allows counties and communities to enact ordinances that are even more stringent.  There are many New Mexico cities and counties that now have ordinances requiring adequate shielding of lights.  For example, Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, Santa Fe, Las Cruces, Las Vegas, Village of Corrales, Bernalillo County, and Valencia County have such ordinances.

Many of these ordinances also recognize the benefits of shielding in addition to night sky preservation.  They recognize the benefits of preventing glare and promoting safety.  For example, Santa Fe’s outdoor lighting ordinance states its purpose is to regulate outdoor lighting “in order to reduce light pollution, reduce or prevent glare, reduce or prevent light trespass, conserve energy, promote a sense of safety and security and ensure aesthetically appropriate outdoor lighting in keeping with the character of Santa Fe.”

Our HOA members have repeatedly pleaded with City officials to properly shield the new Westside streetlights.  They have lived for at least a couple of years with light trespassing into their yards and homes.  They have been told that the issue would have to be considered by the Department of Municipal Development.  But that was nearly a year ago.  Why the delay?  Why are these lights not properly shielded, as required by State and local law?

We have included a demand in our petition that the City of Albuquerque fully shield the Westside streetlights as required by law. 

Please sign this petition. Please also consider attending the Constructive Conversations session with Mayor Keller and Councilor Lewis on Tuesday, May 28th, 5:30 pm, Cibola High School cafeteria. The petition will be submitted at that time, and we hope to have a strong presence from Seven Bar North.

Take the G.O. Bond Survey and Tell The City What Projects You Want to See

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The Department of Municipal Development (DMD) would like residents to take the General Obligation (G.O.) Bond Survey. This Survey determines how G.O. bond money is spent on projects such as public safety initiatives, streets and storm drainage, public transportation, parks and recreation, libraries, and senior and community centers. This includes building renovation, major repairs, new construction, energy efficiency upgrades, major equipment such as fire trucks, pool filters, and playground equipment. To take the Survey, visit: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KNLRDBN

ONE Albuquerque April Newsletter

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Hello Albuquerque,

This month, we took real steps to continue putting people first – protecting our neighborhoods, our public lands, and the future we all share. As federal rollbacks put our environment at risk, Albuquerque is stepping up. I signed two executive orders: one to protect our open spaces like the Bosque and the Foothills, and another to push the City further toward clean energy.

We’re cutting back on fossil fuel use in City buildings, listening to the communities hit hardest by climate change, and making sure everyone has a voice. We’re on track to power all City operations with 100% renewable energy by the end of the year, and we’re committed to a healthier, more sustainable Albuquerque for the long run.

We’re also working to strengthen public safety. A new bipartisan state law now allows DACA recipients and other legal residents with work permits to become police officers. In a city like ours—where being immigrant-friendly is part of who we are—that’s a big deal. It helps us build a police force that reflects the people it serves, which builds trust, and that’s the foundation of real public safety.

We also passed a new law to protect renters from dangerous heat. Now, all rental homes in Albuquerque must have working cooling systems. As our summers get hotter, this is an important step to protect kids, seniors, and anyone with health issues from unsafe living conditions.

Through it all, one thing is clear: when we stand together, we move forward. Even with challenges coming at us from all sides, we keep making progress by focusing on what matters most to our community. Let’s keep it going—together.

Sincerely,
Mayor Tim Keller

Defend ABQ: Protecting Public Lands and Powering a Clean Energy Future

Albuquerque is doubling down on its commitment to environmental protection and climate resilience through two new executive orders announced by Mayor Keller

At the 2025 Electrify New Mexico Conference, the City unveiled a major push toward clean energy. The first executive order lays out a path to achieve 100% renewable energy for all municipal operations by the end of 2025 and sets a long-term vision for net-zero emissions by 2050. It commits to phasing out fossil fuels in public buildings and prioritizing historically underserved communities in climate adaptation efforts—ensuring an equitable transition to a more sustainable future.

Days later, during Albuquerque’s Earth Day Festival, the City issued a second executive order focused on protecting more than 30,000 acres of public open space. From the Bosque to the Foothills, the order strengthens protections for natural habitats, safeguards our aquifer, and preserves public lands from threats like drilling, mining, and federal environmental rollbacks.

Through Defend ABQ, the City is making sure that clean water, open space, and a livable climate remain protected for generations to come.

Learn more at cabq.gov/defendabq.

READ ENTIRE NEWSLETTER

Northwest Area Command Hosting “Coffee With A Cop” This Friday

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The Northwest Area Command of the Albuquerque Police Department is hosting Coffee With A Cop this Friday, April 25 at Golden Corral, 2701 Coors NW, at 8:00 a.m. Residents are encouraged to attend and meet the officers of the Area Command, ask questions and share concerns, and enjoy a complimentary cup of coffee. For more information, contact Pete Gelabert at: pgelabert@cabq.gov.

Pilot Compost Program Offers Online Waitlist for Residents Who Want to Compost

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The City of Albuquerque offers an online waitlist form for residents who are interested in participating in the Compost Hub Program. Residents can complete the online form and when there is availability, they can pick up a composting bucket, take it home and start collecting accepted food waste items. Then you can drop off the bucket with food waste at McKinley Community Center, 3401 Monroe NE and empty it into the green food waste roll cart during the Center’s regular hours. The food waste will be taken to a nearby compost facility which will turn it into compost to be used locally to help build healthy soil and grow plants. For more information, visit: https://www.cabq.gov/sustainability/waste/food-waste-collection-hub-pilot-registration

ABCWUA Offering Rebate for Xeriscaping and Drip Irrigation

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The Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority (ABCWUA) is offering rebates to customers who convert their landscapes to desert friendly xeriscape AND use drip irrigation. The rebate is for a $3 per square foot rebate. Visit www.505Outside.com for the details.

E-Waste Collection Event at Tingley Beach Saturday, April 26th

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The ABQ BioPark is teaming up with ACTenviro and New Mexico Computer Recyclers to host an e-waste recycling event at Tingley Beach on Saturday, April 26 from 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon. You can just drive through and drop off old and used electronics. You can bring old cell phones, cables, keyboards, and almost anything with a plug to the north parking lot of ABQ BioPark Tingley Beach. While many items will be accepted, please note that TVs, microwaves, vacuums, refrigerators and freezers cannot be accepted. For more information, visit: https://www.cabq.gov/artsculture/biopark/events/e-waste-recycling-event-at-the-abq-biopark