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

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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

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