Category Archives: City/County News

ONE Albuquerque Newsletter

Image

Hello, Albuquerque:

This summer, we’re seeing what it looks like when a city comes together to create real change.

Our young people are stepping up, and it’s making a difference. Through Youth Connect and the Summer of Nonviolence, teens across Albuquerque are staying active, building community, and helping drive crime down to the lowest level we’ve seen in more than a decade.

Youth Connect brings together city departments, community centers, libraries, museums, and partners to make sure teens have access to free, safe, and meaningful opportunities all summer long. From sports and art to job training and leadership programs, we’re meeting youth where they are and giving them real ways to engage.

The Summer of Nonviolence builds on that momentum. It’s a teen-led initiative built around events like pool parties, basketball tournaments, and drive-in movies. This isn’t just entertainment — it’s a way for youth to take the pledge and choose connection over conflict.

These programs are making a difference because they were built with young people, not just for them. When we invest in our youth and give them the chance to lead, they show us what’s possible.

We’re also continuing to stand up for the values that define who we are as a city. I signed a new executive order to protect immigrant and refugee families here in Albuquerque. It makes it clear that our city will not assist in raids, detentions, or information sharing that we’re not legally required to.

This work didn’t come out of nowhere. It’s been building since the beginning of this administration, when we created the Office of Equity and Inclusion to ensure that city government works for everyone. These are exactly the kinds of moments that office was built for — to protect people from policies that threaten their rights, safety, and dignity. The order reflects collaboration with community advocates and immigrant rights groups, alongside leaders across the city and state.

At the same time, we’re taking legal action to defend the basic resources our residents rely on. That includes housing support, public safety tools, and services for vulnerable families. Albuquerque has joined two federal lawsuits to push back on political threats that could take that funding away.

Right now our city is showing what it means to lead with action. Young people are stepping up. Communities are staying engaged. And we’re keeping focused on building a city where everyone has a place.

We’ve come a long way, and we’re not slowing down.

Sincerely,
Mayor Tim Keller

READ ENTIRE NEWSLETTER

NMDOT Warns of Toll Scam

Image

The New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) warns the public of an ongoing text and e-mail message scam, in which recipients receive threatening text or e-mail messages stating they owe fines for unpaid tolls on toll roads. However, New Mexico has no toll roads. If you or someone you know receives this type of text message, do not click on any links or scan any QR codes in the messages, and delete and block the sender. For more information, visit: https://www.dot.nm.gov/blog/2025/05/12/toll-road-scam-alert-new-mexico-has-no-toll-roads/

ONE Albuquerque May Newsletter

Image

Hello, Albuquerque,

In this city, we meet challenges head-on with compassion, accountability, and action. We’re making real strides in what matters most: making everyone feel included, keeping our neighborhoods safe, and helping those who need it most.

We recently reopened the newly renovated Loma Linda Community Center, now the permanent home for our Inclusive Recreation Program, offering adaptive programming and accessible spaces for all ages and abilities. We also reopened Phil Chacon Park, a fully revitalized 20-acre space in the International District, complete with a turf sports field, updated playgrounds, basketball and futsal courts, a BMX pump track, softball fields, a dog park, a disc golf area, a walking path, 359 trees, and 85 lights. This is a long-overdue investment in one of our most historic neighborhoods. We opened the new BMX pump track and dog park at Los Altos Park, too, adding to the park’s growing list of amenities.

We passed a new ordinance to crack down on motels that have become magnets for crime and unsafe conditions. And we continued expanding the Gateway Network, Albuquerque’s connected system of facilities and services that help people experiencing homelessness get the support they need. The new micro-community, Gateway Recovery, is open to offer addiction treatment and interim housing to folks with substance use disorder and our unsheltered community. At the Gateway Center, we continue to expand our reach. The medical respite facility has welcomed clients, giving people like Loddy a safe place to recover after the hospital on their path to housing.

But even as we make progress locally, we’re facing serious threats from Washington. Extreme federal budget proposals could slash the funding we rely on to house families, respond to mental health crises, and invest in climate resilience. As we continue to Defend ABQ, we’re standing up to protect Albuquerque’s fair share by fighting for the services our families depend on and the future our residents deserve.

As part of that work, we’re encouraging more Safe Outdoor Spaces, secure, small-scale sites operated by nonprofits, churches, and community partners that offer people a dignified place to rest and access services. These spaces aren’t run by the City, but we’re stepping up to support them by offering land near Gateway West and providing technical assistance to interested groups. Designed to serve 20 or fewer people, these sites are easier to manage, less disruptive to neighborhoods, and offer a critical first step toward stability.

May is also Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to emphasize the importance of recovery and access to care. We know mental wellness is essential to community safety. Tell your friends about the Albuquerque Community Safety department, which has transformed how we respond to 911 calls—sending trained behavioral health responders instead of law enforcement to help people in crisis. 

Whether it’s creating new pathways to housing, transforming public spaces, or standing up for vital services, we’re doing the work to make our city stronger. We’re fully committed to the city, and we will always defend our community. 

Sincerely, 
Mayor Tim Keller

READ ENTIRE NEWSLETTER

ONE Albuquerque April Newsletter

Image

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

ABCWUA Offering Rebate for Xeriscaping and Drip Irrigation

Image

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.