Tag Archives: community news

One Albuquerque August Newsletter

Image

An August of Opportunity in Albuquerque

As summer winds down, Albuquerque has been making the most of every last bit of it,

August brought a new school year, new opportunities for families, exciting investments in our economy, and plenty of reasons to get out and enjoy our city. It was also a chance to look ahead at how we can build on Albuquerque’s strengths to create more opportunity for everyone who calls our city home.

This month, we gathered at the Route 66 Visitor Center for State of the City, where we talked about moving Albuquerque from scarcity to abundance. We’re putting that idea into action by making nearly 200 unused City-owned properties available for new possibilities, opening more public facilities for evening and Sunday use, and creating opportunities for childcare providers to use available public spaces to serve more families.

Back-to-school season was in full swing, and Albuquerque showed up for our young people. More than 2,300 students picked out free backpacks and supplies at Cruzin’ Into the School Year, Stuff the Bus returned to collect school supplies for local students, and Route 790 returned to connect the Westside with UNM, CNM, Downtown, and Old Town. Families also returned to our Early Learning classrooms, while more than 100 kids took the field for the Summer of Nonviolence Youth Baseball Camp. We even sent off the Roadrunner Junior League All-Stars as they headed to the Junior League Baseball World Series, becoming only the third New Mexico team in 70 years to make it that far.

We’re creating more opportunities for Albuquerque residents at every stage of life. Gateway Young Adult hosted its first-ever Career and Resource Fair, connecting young residents with jobs, education, healthcare, transportation, and other resources. Quantinuum announced an expansion in Albuquerque, strengthening our growing role in quantum technology, while IndieWire once again named Albuquerque one of the nation’s best cities for filmmakers. We’re also making it easier to invest and build here through improvements to permitting and inspections, while hundreds of new and replacement streetlights, including solar-powered lights along East Central, are helping brighten neighborhoods across the city.

August also gave us plenty of reasons to celebrate what makes Albuquerque special. Thousands of Burqueños came together for Westside Summerfest and Winrock Fest, while historic neon came back to life at Neon @ Nine Mile Hill during the Route 66 Centennial. The Full Bloom Exhibit brought native plants and art to City Hall, and Albuquerque Museum’s Visiting Artist Program welcomed Eric J. García. At the BioPark, Tadpole Springs is keeping the fun going into fall, and the ABQ BioPark Zoo welcomed Poppy, a new binturong and one more reason for families to visit.

From helping kids start the school year strong to creating new opportunities, opening more of our city’s resources, and bringing neighbors together, August showed what abundance can look like in action. It means making the most of what we have and making sure more people have the opportunity to enjoy, participate in, and shape the city we call home.

As we head toward fall, there is so much to look forward to and even more to be proud of. Albuquerque’s greatest strength continues to be our people and what we can accomplish together.

Here’s to another month of progress, pride, and connection,

Tim Keller
Mayor of Albuquerque

READ ENTIRE NEWSLETTER here

Tax Free Weekend July 31st – August 2nd

Image

The tax holiday starts Friday, July 31 and ends Sunday, August 2, so if you are getting your kids ready for back to school, it’s good to know which items are tax exempt.

  • Shoes and clothing that are less than $100
  • Computers that are less than $1,000
  • Computer monitors, speakers, printers, keyboards, microphones, or other computer hardware that are less than $500
  • School supplies that students normally use in a standard classroom priced at $30 or less per item
  • E-Readers (if the model has computing functions such as word processing, spreadsheets, etc.)
  • Tablet computers
  • School backpacks less than $100
  • Handheld calculators under $200
  • Baby clothes & diapers

Eligible items can also be purchased online if you don’t want to battle large crowds. For more information, visit: https://www.tax.newmexico.gov/news-alerts/tax-holiday
 

School Almost Back In Session So Watch For Students

Image

Albuquerque Public Schools, the University of New Mexico, Central New Mexico Community College and many others will be starting their fall semesters in August, and we’ll be seeing many students on our city streets trying to get to class. Please remember to slow down when you’re near a school or in a school zone, and keep a close eye out for students crossing streets or getting off buses. Key dates to remember are as follow:

  • Friday, August 7 – first day for 1st – 12th grade students
  • Tuesday, August 11 – first day for pre-K and Kindergarten students
  • Monday, August 17 – first day for UNM students
  • Monday, August 31 – first day for CNM students

The City of Albuquerque is hosting two school supply giveaway events on Saturday, August 1, so if your kids need supplies, these events are for you. Visit: https://www.cabq.gov/family/events/cruzin-into-the-school-year-2026 for more information.

Conway Wood Multigenerational Center

Image

As an update for the Seven Bar North HOA neighborhood, the Conway Wood Northwest Multigenerational Center, located north of Cibola High School at the intersection of Cuba Road and Cibola Loop, is in the planning stages for opening in late summer close to Labor Day. We have learned from the City of Albuquerque Director of the Department of Senior Affairs, Ana Sanchez, that this newest center will house a fitness room with various workout equipment, offer a multipurpose arts and crafts room, and have a versatile, large social hall which will be able to host various activities for all ages. The center also offers spectacular views of the city. The center is walkable and bikeable from the Seven Bar North HOA and will be an asset to our neighborhood, making it an even more desirable place to live, work, and play.

As it opens, the center will work with the community on how programming needs will continue to evolve to best serve the public. The date for the opening has not yet been determined, but we will keep you informed.

Thank you to the many people involved for over ten years in bringing this center to fruition – former Mayor Richard Berry, current Mayor Tim Keller, Councilor Dan Lewis, former Councilor Cynthia Borrego, (now our District 17 State Representative), Department of Senior Affairs former Director Jorja Armijo-Brasher, and Current Director, Ana Sanchez.

July ONE Albuquerque Newsletter

Image

Summer is here, Albuquerque,

Longer days mean more opportunities to get outside, connect with neighbors, and enjoy everything our city has to offer. This month, we’ve continued investing in the places, programs, and partnerships that make Albuquerque a welcoming place to live while celebrating the people and cultures that make our community unique.

We’re continuing to invest in the spaces that bring people together. This month we celebrated the opening of People’s Market in the International District, creating a permanent home for local businesses, entrepreneurs, and community gatherings. We also kicked off another season at the Loma Linda Giving Garden, where expanded gardens, a new adobe horno, and dedicated volunteers are helping improve food access while creating a place for neighbors to grow, learn, and connect. On the westside, the opening of San Antonio Oxbow Bluffs Open Space added another beautiful destination where residents can enjoy Albuquerque’s incredible natural landscape.

Arts and culture continue to thrive across our city. We unveiled plans for the expanded 516 ARTS facility, creating new opportunities for artists and creative collaboration downtown. At the Sunport, a new exhibit in the Great Hall now welcomes travelers with the stories and history that have shaped Albuquerque, while we hosted thousands of arts leaders from around the country for the Americans for the Arts Annual Convention, showcasing our city’s vibrant creative community on a national stage.

June also gave us many reasons to celebrate the people who make Albuquerque stronger. We had the Raising of the Pride Flag Civic Plaza, continuing our commitment to being a city where everyone belongs, and joined thousands for the annual Pride Parade. We celebrated Juneteenth with events honoring freedom, culture, and community, and recognized World Refugee Day by welcoming those who have made Albuquerque their home while celebrating the many cultures that enrich our city.

We’re also continuing to invest in safer, healthier neighborhoods. Students participating in Albuquerque Community Safety’s School-Based Violence Intervention Program celebrated another successful year, demonstrating the impact that mentorship and early intervention can have on young people’s lives. ACS also launched new initiatives with Youth Development, Inc. to expand healing, stability, and violence prevention services for young people. Meanwhile, the completion of a new pedestrian crossing on Central Avenue improves safety and accessibility as the Rail Trail project continues to take shape.

We celebrated the retirement of longtime Arts & Culture Director Dr. Shelle VanEtten de Sanchez through our Stories of Us series. Her decades of leadership helped expand access to arts, libraries, museums, public art, and cultural programming, leaving a lasting mark on Albuquerque and enriching the lives of generations of residents.

This month also brought renewed attention to the impact fentanyl continues to have on communities across New Mexico. Every life lost is one too many, and we remain committed to prevention, treatment, strong public safety partnerships, and advocating for the transparency our residents deserve as we continue working to keep Albuquerque families safe.

From parks and public art to safer streets and stronger neighborhoods, June reminds us that Albuquerque’s greatest strength has always been its people. Together, we’re creating a city where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

Here’s to another month of progress, pride, and connection,

Tim Keller
Mayor of Albuquerque

READ ENTIRE NEWSLETTER