Join Mayor Tim Keller for the 2023 State of the City Address and Community Celebration!
Let’s celebrate our city together at the 2023 State of the City in the heart of downtown at the iconic Albuquerque Rail Yards. Learn what different resources and services City departments and partner organizations offer our community all while enjoying local food trucks and live entertainment. After the community celebration, you’re invited to join us in the future home of the New Mexico Media Academy to find out what Mayor Keller’s administration is doing to make Albuquerque safer and more inclusive.
When and Where:
Saturday, May 20, 2023
10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. (Mayor’s Speech starts at 1:00 p.m.)
Albuquerque Rail Yards, 777 1st Street SW, Albuquerque, NM 87102
It’s officially spring, and as we enter this new season, we want to acknowledge where we are and where we are headed.
There are many new projects on our City’s horizon, as we continue strengthening our community, expanding opportunities, and creating spaces for current and future generations to enjoy. We are moving forward with a land swap deal with the State to bring closure to several land issues and advance important projects. The swap secures acreage needed at a critical downtown location for the Rail Trail, as well as another property for our Solid Waste Department. A State public safety facility will be taking over City land at 1250 Menaul, previously under consideration for transfer station and temporarily for a safe outdoor space. Accordingly, there will be no safe outdoor space or transfer station at the site.
We also unveiled plans for a new multigenerational center in the heart of the historic Santa Barbara-Martineztown neighborhood that will break ground this summer. This weekend, Albuquerque Community Safety (ACS) will be hosting a community celebration and groundbreaking on their long-awaited headquarters at San Mateo & Kathryn. And last but not least, we announced that the New Media Academy will be housed at our Rail Yards, teaching the next generation of filmmakers right here in the Duke City. All around us, there are reminders of the good that is possible through collaboration and a shared dedication to making our home the best it can be.
We are hopeful for our city because we see the work that our team is doing each and every day to make Albuquerque safer and more inclusive. Whether it’s new opportunities for our creative community or getting more people in touch with housing and resources, we have seen glimpses of Albuquerque’s full potential. We’re determined to keep raising the bar so that our city is a place where families can thrive in healthy, supportive communities.
The Planning Department invites you to a meeting with our consultants who will be working on updating lighting regulations in the Integrated Development Ordinance (IDO) for the 2023 Annual Update.
Please join us for this initial conversation to identify what needs to be improved in our existing regulations and what’s working well.
Thursday, March 30, 5:30 pm – 7 pm
Plaza del Sol, 600 2nd St. NW, Basement Hearing Room
Clanton & Associates, an award-winning lighting design and engineering firm, are experts in regulating outdoor lighting and illuminated signs to comply with Dark Skies Ordinances. Clanton will be evaluating existing regulations in the IDO and preparing updates for the public and staff to review over the coming months.
As the days get longer, our city’s bright future is just in reach. A new area command is open and operating to serve the University area. Construction at the Gateway Center is nearing the finish line. The annual Youth Job & Volunteer Fair saw a record turnout of participants who will undoubtedly make a positive impact in our community. The legislative session is in its final weeks, and we are holding the line in advancing the Metro Crime Initiative and making key investments in public safety. And last but certainly not least, the Albuquerque Community Safety department (ACS) is breaking ground on their new headquarters at San Mateo & Kathryn and will hold a community celebration later this spring.
With this progress, we’re looking forward to a new and promising chapter in our community’s health and safety. We all know that homelessness and addiction are intertwined crises across our nation and right here in Albuquerque. ACS’s focus on responding to situations from a behavioral health lens has been key in transforming our public safety response to get people the help that they need. Gateway will serve as a place for hope and healing, a first-of-its-kind facility that specializes in helping those struggling with addiction and homelessness get back on track towards housing and stability.
We can’t let members of our community continue to fall behind. Gateway, ACS, and other innovative City programs and partnerships can help our neighbors overcome the challenges they are facing. We are better when working together to secure a brighter future for everyone.
Hello Albuquerque, This has been a great start to 2023. From celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day to cheering on the Lobos at the Pit, there have been many opportunities for Burqueños of all ages to come together, and there’s more on the way. In February, the City will be hosting several events in honor of Black History Month, holding the annual Youth Job & Volunteer Fair, and more. Stay tuned for details.
As we move toward the future, the 60-day legislative session is of great importance for our community. This is our opportunity as New Mexicans to implement policies to keep our communities safe and vibrant and to make investments that spur the change we want to see. For us at the City, this means we’re advocating for funding to create more housing and advance landmark projects like the Gateway Center, which is already offering services including emergency beds during these winter months. We’re on track to open phase one of the Gateway this spring thanks to public and private investments, and we need to take this momentum with us to the Roundhouse and secure resources to create more pathways to housing.
We’re also moving full steam ahead on this year’s Metro Crime Initiative (MCI). Coming off of last session’s successes, MCI offers a comprehensive package of policies that tackle gun violence, the fentanyl crisis, domestic violence, and more. Our number one priority is addressing the dangerous warrant backlog. Right now in Bernalillo county, there are nearly 5,000 outstanding felony warrants, 800 of those are violent, repeat, and recent offenders. APD and our partners in law enforcement have a plan for overtime operations to go after these drivers of crime and make our streets safer. With funding from the State, we are ready to carry out that plan.
We are committed as ever to protecting our communities, and we want you to join us. Make your voice heard, and learn how you can get involved with MCI.
