On December 17, the Albuquerque Police Department confirmed that APD Chief Harold Medina will be retiring from APD on Dec. 31, 2025. Medina informed his commanders of the upcoming retirement during a staff meeting on December 16.

On December 17, at 11:29 am,  Chief Medina sent out the following email to all APD employees:

December 17, 2025

TO: To: “APD (ALL)”   

RE: Exciting News

Good morning,

During our executive staff meeting yesterday, I informed all commanders and directors that I would be announcing my decision to retire from APD on Dec. 31, 2025. Before I made the announcement, Commander Renee Barraza gave an update on the significant decrease in key crimes in the Southwest, which of course was the same Area Command I led for many years. Commander Barraza knew that bragging about the work of his officers would get the attention of other commanders and from me. My competitive nature took over and I challenged everyone in the room to brag about their officers and always have their backs.

As I get ready to retire, I am most proud of the officers. I remember what it’s like to patrol the streets through the nights and lead teams as a sergeant. I remember the good leaders and mentors, and I remember those who had no business being in leadership. So I challenged all of the commanders to take the baton from me and brag about the work in their bureaus. As leaders, they should be inspiring and supporting you.

I will be leaving in two weeks, but I am always available to support APD.

Harold Medina

Chief of Police

In an APD news release on December 17, Medina said this:

“What got us here was teamwork and leaders who stand up for officers who are doing their jobs, day in and day out. I couldn’t ask for anything more. I may have gotten in trouble at times for being outspoken, but that’s who I am. I led this department the best way I knew how, while developing the next generation of leaders.”

Medina also said  this to the Albuquerque Journal about his departure:

“I wanted to exit at the right moment. … And this is the right moment in so many ways; the accomplishments are there.”

Medina has already secured employment after retirement and said he will transition to a role of developing leadership programs for police chiefs across the country.

APD  CHIEF HAROLD MEDINA

In 2014, after serving 20 years with APD, Medina retired from the Albuquerque Police Department as a Commander and shortly thereafter became the Chief of Police for the Pueblo of Laguna. In 2017, then APD Chief Michael Geir recruited Medina to return to APD to work with him and Mayor Keller appointed Medina Deputy Chief of Field Services. In 2020, Mayor Keller forced APD Chief Geir to retire  and appointed Medina “Interim Chief” in September 2020. Keller then appointed Medina APD Chief in March 2021 after a  so called “national search”.

Mayor Keller said this in a news release about Medina’s departure:

“Chief Medina took over a department rife with challenges, he was tasked with concluding the [Department of Justice Court Approved Settlement Agreement], bringing crime numbers down, increase the number of officers and improving trust in the community and with the rank and file. … He retires having achieved these goals and leaves the department a dramatically better place, we are grateful for his 30 years of service for community and the turnaround he lead as chief.”

MEDINA’S MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTDS AS APD CHIEF

Chief Medina proclaims three major accomplishments during his tenure  as APD Chief:

1. Bringing APD in compliance with the Federal Court Approved Settlement Agreement and implementation of constitutional policing practices
2. Bringing down the city’s crime rates
3. Increase APD staffing to 1,000 sworn police

During Medinas tenure as Chief, APD has come into compliance with the United States Department of Justice Department Court Approved Settlement Agreement (CASA) mandating constitutional policing practices. On May 12, 2025, the federal court dismissed the case after total of 267 reforms were implemented as mandated by the Court Approved Settlement Agreement with the appointment by the federal court of an independent monitor who did audits of APD’s compliance levels. After a full ten years and the expenditure of millions of dollars to implement the reforms and the training of APD sworn in constitutional policing practices, the case was finally dismissed.

Medina proclaims that under his watch, the city’s crime rates have come down. APD reported that for the very first time in10 years there has been a drop in crime in the city in all categories following a national trend. According to Medina, APD’s clearance rate, which are cases solved by arrest, has improved from about 55% to 86%. Homicides also skyrocketed under his tenure and, in 2022, the department tallied a record-high 121 slayings. Since then homicides have steadily declined and 64 have been recorded so far this year. Car thefts have dropped 44%.

As of December, APD has 925 sworn police officers.  According to Medina, APD will  be fully staffed by March with a police force of 1,000 sworn officers, which hasn’t been achieved for more than a decade.

WHO WILL REPLACE MEDINA?

Both Mayor Keller and Chief Medina said that Chief Medina’s departure has been in the works for about a year and say they agreed the best time would be after the 2025 municipal election. On December 9, Mayor Keller was elected to a third 4 year term and he must now find a person who will be his third APD Chief. The process could take months. Mayor Keller said this about the process of selecting a new chief:

“You either early on, find somebody and you really want to go with, and then it goes fast. Let’s say three months. … Or you’ve got four or five people that you like, and so you really got to vet them and interview them and get lots of input. Then it pushes it out to, like, nine months.”

Mayor Keller said the long process will be all an effort to find someone who “checks every box.” That includes understanding Albuquerque and the challenges the city faces. The main priority, however, is keeping crime on a downward trend. Keller said this:

“Harold started that process [of keeping crime on a downward trend] , and it has been achieved through technology, through the use of civilians, and through much stronger investigative work. So we want the new chief to be able to build on those, but also come in with some new ideas. … We know we got to look around. … It could be national, in a sense of from another city, but maybe it’s also local. You know, maybe there’s state police or someone from Las Cruces.”

Chief Medina is advocating for one of his appointed Deputy Chief’s to take his place saying “I hope that I left a strong bench for mayor to look at and choose.”

NATIONAL SEARCH

Mayor Keller said he will announce his future plans for APD’s leadership after he is sworn in on January 1 to his third 4 year term as Mayor. At that time, Chief Administrative Officer Samantha Sengel will name an acting chief while the city conducts a national search for a permanent chief. According to APD, they’re looking for a chief who is “an experienced crime-fighter, has leadership experience, has a working knowledge of the Albuquerque community and is committed to maintaining reforms and trust in the department.”

Links to quoted or relied upon news sources are here:

https://www.kob.com/news/top-news/albuquerque-police-chief-harold-medina-is-retiring/

https://www.kob.com/new-mexico/mayor-tim-keller-weighs-in-on-police-chiefs-retirement/

https://www.koat.com/article/albuquerque-police-chief-harold-medina-retirment/69797608

https://www.krqe.com/video/albuquerque-police-chief-harold-medina-announces-retirement-from-department/11360203/

https://www.newsradiokkob.com/2025/12/17/albuquerque-police-department-chief-retires/

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/apd-chief-im-retiring-on-a-high-note/2943761

MEDINA MAJOR CONTROVESIES

APD Chief Medina’s 5 year tenure has been marked with major controversies that have overshadowed all of his accomplishments.

CONTROVERSIAL APPOINTMENT

Mayor Tim Keller’s decision to appoint Harold Medina was controversial from the get-go. It was in September 2020 when then Deputy Chief Harold Medina and then Chief Administrative Officer Sarita Nair were involved with orchestrating the removal of Chief Michael Geir after Medina learned from Geier of Geier’s intent to discipline Medina for “insubordination” and refusing to carry out orders to implement a program to address gun violence.  Mayor Tim Keller, dressed incognito wearing a baseball cap and sunglasses, met with Chief Geier at a city park and essentially told Chief Geier to retire or be terminated and Geier complied. In 2022, former  APD Chief Geier filed a whistleblower lawsuit against the city and APD  alleging his efforts to investigate possible wrongdoing at APD were ignored. The lawsuit is still pending.

Mayor Tim Keller’s  decision to appoint Harold Medina APD Chief  drew sharp protests from APD watchdogs who opposed Medina becoming chief because of his personal  involvement in the killing of two people suffering from psychotic episodes. Those cases were:

• In 2002, then APD Field Officer Harold Medina shot and killed 14 year old Cibola High School Student Dominic Montoya who had gone to a church saying he was possessed by demons. The boy banished a BB gun that was indistinguishable from a real gun at Medina who had been dispatched to the church.  When Medina encountered Montoya, he had his gun drawn and Medina fired  3 shots at the boy hitting him in the abdomen and killing him.

• In 2010, Kenneth Ellis, III, a 25-year-old veteran who was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder was shot and killed by APD police officers who had  pulled him over in a parking lot. Ellis exited the vehicle holding a gun pointed to his head with one hand and a cell phone in the other talking to a relative. Then Lt. Harold Medina admitted in a deposition that when he arrived at the scene, he armed himself with a rifle and he took to the ground in a shooting position at Ellis and authorized another officer to use deadly force against Kenneth Ellis. The Ellis family sued the city for use of deadly force and wrongful death. The jury returned a verdict against the City and found the officer who shot Ellis’ liable for wrongful death and awarded more than $10 million in damages with the court finding that Ellis was more of a danger to himself and not the police nor the public

What Interim Chief Harold Medina said during his webinar interview for his application to become Chief is worth repeating:

“How can you change a culture if you had not lived and been a part of that culture? … I have already begun the transformation process for the Albuquerque Police Department, and I am asking for the time to complete it.”

The appointment of Harold Medina as permanent Chief by Mayor Keller  was  so very wrong on so many levels. You sure could not  change the culture within APD  with someone who helped create, was part of and who did not stop “the culture of aggression” found by the Department of Justice.

Medina’s  history of reactive decision-making and his failed leadership resulting in the killing of two mentally ill people having psychotic episodes, a 14 year old boy and an Iraq War veteran suffering from PTSD threatening to kill himself while pointing a gun to his head, should have disqualified his appointment as Cheif. APD Chief Harold Medina successfully convinced Mayor Keller and then CAO Sarita Nair the two tragedies were  a positive credential to run the APD saying because of the shootings he understood the DOJ reforms, their need and could implement them. Medina’s conduct in the two shootings is the very type of conduct that resulted in the Department of Justice investigation in the first place.

With the separate fatalities involving the mentally ill, APD  Chief Harold Medina represented the total opposite of what the city needed in a police chief at the time.  It was very critical to have a police chief with experience with reducing use of force, not one who had used deadly force. A  chief who has knowledge of crisis management, not one who causes a crisis. A Chief who understands the importance of protecting civil rights, not one who has violated civil rights.  A Chief able to tackle the issue of a police department interacting with the mentally ill, not one who has been involved with the killing of two mentally ill people. The fatal shootings Medina was involved with show he possessed none of the desired traits.

CONTROVERSIAL CAR CRASH

On February 17, 2024 APD Chief Harold Medina and his wife were in an a crash in a department-issued unmarked APD vehicle on their way to participate in a press conference with Mayor Tim Keller when Medina decided to stop and call for APD to clear a homeless encampment.  According to Medina, he and his wife witnessed two men getting into a fight and a gun was pulled and pointed towards Medina and his wife and a shot was fired.

In response to the shot being fired, Medina fled from the scene and drove through a red light driving through 3 lanes of traffic and T-Boned a gold-colored Ford Mustang driven by Todd Perchert who sustained extensive serious personal injuries . Perchert was taken to the hospital in critical condition where he underwent 7 hours of surgery for his injuries. Medina and his wife were unharmed. Both vehicles were totaled. Medina admitted he did not have his lapel camera on and referred the accident to the Superintendent of Police Reform, who Medina appointed,  for investigation.

Mayor Keller refused to hold APD Chief Harold Medina accountable for the vehicle crash where Medina negligently plowed into another driver putting the driver in the hospital in critical condition. Medina admitted to violating state law when he failed to have his body camera on during an incident that preceded the crash. After the crash, Keller called Medina “arguably the most important person right now in these times in our city.” Medina’s appointed Crash Review Board declared the crash as “non avoidable” even after Medina admitted to causing the crash. Medina was given a slap on the wrist with letters of reprimand.

The City and Medina have been sued by the injured driver and the case is still pending.  August 26, 2024 Todd Perchert file a personal injury lawsuit for the following personal injuries sustained in the car crash:

• Broken collarbone and shoulder blade
• 8 broken ribs (Reconstructed with titanium plates after surgery)
• Collapsed lung
• Lacerations to left ear and head
• Multiple gashes to face
• Seven-hour surgery
• Hospitalized with an epidural painkiller and chest tube for nearly a week

The lawsuit  will likely result in a significant judgement being paid for Medina’s negligent driving and his running of a red light. 

DWI DISMISSAL AND CORRUPTION SCANDAL

It’s been called the biggest corruption case in the Albuquerque Police Department history. The DWI dismissal corruption case involves APD officers, Bernalillo Deputy Sheriff and New Mexico State Police all taking bribes to miss court and get cases dismissed or simply dismiss DWI  cases .

It was on Friday January 19, 2024 that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) executed search warrants and raided the homes of 3 Albuquerque Police officers and the home and law offices of prominent DWI criminal defense attorney Thomas Clear, III and his investigator Ricardo “Rick” Mendez. All those targeted with a search warrant were accused of being involved in a bribery and conspiracy scheme to dismiss DWI cases that spanned three decades or more. After the raids, Medina ordered  APD to initiate and  internal affairs investigation and ordered APD to cooperate with the FBI.

Federal prosecutors  allege that officers accepted bribes, skipped court hearings, and referred DWI suspects to attorney Thomas Clear III who would  get the DWI cases dismissed. Several former APD officers have  pleaded guilty, including a longtime DWI unit member who admitted to taking $5,000 to dismiss a case.

Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman ordered the dismissal of over 200 DWI cases because of the scandal due to police officer credibility being called into question in cases where they made DWI arrests. The investigation  evolved into the single largest law enforcement corruption case in the city’s history involving APD, the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office and the New Mexico State Police.

The scandal is still under investigation. The DWI dismissal corruption score card thus far is as follows:

• Twenty one cops consisting of sixteen APD Officers, three  BCSO officers, including the undersheriff, and one NMSP Sergeant, have been implicated, resigned or retired.
• Thus far 8 APD officers and one BCSO Deputy have plead guilty as charged with no sentencing agreement for their involvement in the DWI Enterprise and accepting bribes to dismiss DWI cases. Depending on the charges plead to, they face between 70 to 130 years in prison.
• Thomas Clear, III and his paralegal Ricardo “Rick” Mendez plead guilty to all federal charges with no agreement as to sentencing with both facing up to 130 years in prison. Clear has been disbarred from the practice of law and his law offices forfeited.
• Private criminal defense attorney Rudolph “Rudy” Chavez plead guilty to a federal extortion charge admitting he bribed an Albuquerque police officer in 2023 to help get his  client’s drunken driving case dismissed. Chavez  plead guilty to one count each of interference with commerce by extortion and lying to FBI agents investigating the payoff in March 2024. Chavez has also been disbarred.

Chief Medina faced criticism over whether he knew about the scandal earlier. He has stated publicly he had no direct oversight of the DWI unit and had “nothing to hide”. Since the  beginning of the DWI Dismissal corruption scandal, Chief Harold Medina has engaged in full fledge “politcal spin cycle” of “pivot, deflect and blame”.  Chief Medina proclaimed that the entire scandal was “generational” and occurred over a 30-year period and that he knew nothing about it.

Chief Medina went so far as to blame the Bernalillo District Attorney’s Office for a failure to advise APD when officers did not appear for court. Chief Medina also accused the Public Defender’s Office of being aware of complaints that Public Defender Board of Director member Tom Clear, III was involved with nefarious conduct and that the Public Defender’s Office did nothing. Both Mayor Keller and APD Chief Harold Medina have refused to take any responsibility for what happened under their watch as they deflect and blame others. They both have blamed the Court’s, the DAs Office and the Public Defenders for the DWI dismissals.

Chief Medina made more than a few stunning admissions throughout the sordid APD bribery and corruption scandal investigation. He admitted that the APD bribery and conspiracy scheme to dismiss DWI cases went on the entire time he has been in charge of APD, but  he never detected what was going on. Medina admitted that only after he found out the FBI was investigating APD the decision was made to initiate a city criminal and internal affairs investigation and to proclaim cooperation with the FBI. Medina admitted that he knew about the corruption back in December 2022 when APD first received  a complaint related to the department’s DWI unit yet he waited and essentially did nothing for a full year.

Chief Medina’s admissions come from a chief who claims he never looked the other way when it comes to police corruption. Medina did in fact looked the other way on documented corruption involving overtime pay abuses by police officers. There have been 7 audits in 8 years documenting corruption, waste, fraud and abuse in police overtime.  One of those audits was done by none other than New Mexico State Auditor Tim Keller.

Ultimately, Chief Harold Medina was never held accountable for the scandal and what happened under his watch for a full 6 years. There is absolutely no doubt that APD’s reputation has been trashed to a major extent because of the scandal. APD is viewed by many as again having just another bastion of “dirty and corrupt cops” who have brought dishonor to their department and their badge and to the department’s professed values of “Pride, Integrity, Fairness and Respect”.  There is little doubt that this whole DWI dismissal bribery scandal has shaken the public’s faith in our criminal justice system and in APD to its core especially with the involvement of the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office BCSO and New Mexico State Police Officers.

A HISTORY OF MEAN TWEETS

It was in February and March of 2022 that the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) was first taken to task for its social media posts by APD Communications Director Gilbert Gallegos as well as APD Chief Harold Medina. Many considered the posts inappropriate and constituted intimidation and harassment of members of the general public. Members of the Albuquerque City Council were highly critical of APD’s social media posts with demands made that they cease and desist.

It was reported that the Albuquerque Police Department’s Twitter account had been used by Gilbert Gallegos to poke fun at former APD Chief Michael Geier falsely accusing Geier of  having  dementia, attacked  prominent commercial property owner Doug Peterson who had  complained about crime and the homeless on his properties. In one tweet,  APD made fun of crime in an affluent neighborhood. APD responded to the tweets by Peterson on its Twitter account and posted the following:

“Calling out your b.s. [bull shit] is public service.”  (May 24, 2022 at 9:25 AM,)

“You only complain and never offer solutions.”  (October 13, 2022 at 3:52 PM)

“Your racism aside, we have charged 99 murder suspects this year.”  (October 6, 2022 at 9:33 pm)

APD for its part made no apologies for the tweets on its TWITTER and FACEBOOK page with Chief Harold Medina and Mayor Tim Keller defending the conduct.

APD Police Chief Harold Medina was asked at the time to respond to the propriety of the APDs tweets against commercial property owner Doug Peterson.  Medina admitted that the tweets violated the city’s social media policy. The policy states when replying to posts on city accounts, city employees are supposed to “keep it professional and avoid confrontation.”  Medina referred to the Peterson tweets as “cyberbullying” which is a  laughable accusation.

HISTORY OF ACRIMONY WITH CITY COUNCIL

APD Chief Medina’s poor relations with the Albuquerque City Council cannot be overstated. Over the past two  years there were at least two attempts to call for a vote of no confidence in Chief Medina to no avail as Mayor Keller stood by his appointment ignoring all complaints of poor management and cronyism at APD by Chief Medina.

OTHER CONTROVERSIES NOTED

APD Chief Medina has been involved with other other controversies which have not been widely reported on. One confidential source provided the following listing:

• Detention of a African American protestor named Deyonate Williams of APD anti-gun policies that cost the City $60,000.
• The resignations  of Emergency Response Team officers  because of Medina’s retaliation upon the sergeant who supporter protestor Deyonate Williams.
• The actual record setting number of homicides over numerous years.
• The flagrant violation of open records laws resulting in millions of dollars of judgments against the city.
• The flagrant retaliation against  APD officers resulting $1 million judgments and jury awards.
• The flagrant violation of media rights resulting in multiple awards of judgement in excess of $250,000  for point of viewpoint discrimination violations.
• The initiation of  complaints against  a sitting City Council member.
• The nepotism scandal of DCOP son’s conduct.
• Interfering with arrest of son-in-law for metro court warrants for arrest.
• The intentional deletion or destruction of city emails involving official city business.

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

The fact that Chief  Medina is departing is probably the very  best news that Mayor Tim Keller could get next to his reelection to his third term.  APD Chief Harold Medina’s retirement really comes as no surprise because he hinted at it over eight months ago although he tried to walk it back saying he may not retire as originally planned.  The Medina departure  gives Mayor Keller the opportunity to start fresh with a new beginning and a new generation of leadership at APD.  

Eight years ago when Keller first ran and became Mayor, Keller  proclaimed crime was out of control, that he could get it down and that he would increase APD sworn from the 850 to 1,200. After 10 full years, historically high crime rates have finally begun to come down in 2025 only because the decline is part of a national trend and really has nothing to do with Medina nor Keller’s failed policies. The city’s ongoing homicide and violent crime rates continue to be at historical highs and people simply do not feel safe in their homes as the fentanyl crisis surges.

The Albuquerque Police Department is still dangerously understaffed at 925 cops with only 350 sworn police assigned to the seven area commands in 3 shifts to handle calls for service. APD is seriously understaffed despite eight years of increased budgets, salary increases and lucrative bonus pay by Mayor Keller.

What is very concerning is that Mayor Keller proclaims there will be a national search for a new chief, which is identical to what he said when he fired Chief Geier and eventually appointed APD Chief Harold Medina, who Keller had appointed interim Chief. The selection process used by Keller that ultimately resulted in the appointment of Harold Medina was considered by many a sham and once Medina applied to be appointed Chief, it was a forgone conclusion that Keller would appoint him Chief. The blunt reality is that APD sworn police and in particular the APD Union will resist anyone from  outside of APD.

Confidential sources have confirmed that Chief Harold  Medina has been grooming Deputy Chief Cecily Barker to be his replacement as Chief. The same  sources have said that Mayor Keller has expressed the strong desire to appoint the first female APD Chief in the city’s history as he has done with the appointment of the Fire Chief.  Should Keller in fact appoint Cecily Baker APD Interim Chief and then Chief, it will be a signal that Medina will continue to have influence over APD and nothing will change.

The continuing influence of APD Chief Harold Medina and the APD union can not be overstated. If the entire command staff that Chief Medina has put in place over the last 5 years is not replaced, including all the Deputy Chiefs, there is little to no chance APD will change. APD will revert back to the old ways that brought on the Department of Justice consent decree.

Hope springs eternal that Mayor Keller will in fact do a national search, that is not a sham to replace Medina and not simply to  appoint a Medina crony.

Links to related article are here:

Feds Accuse APD, BCSO, State Police Of Racketeering In Bribery And Conspiracy Scandal To Dismiss DWI Cases; One Man Pleads Guilty To Charges Outlining Scheme; Charges Against Law Enforcement And Private Attorneys Still Pending; APD’s “Generational” Corruption

APD Chief Harold Medina Given “Slap On The Wrist” For Car Crash He Caused Critically Injuring Another; Given Two Written Reprimands; No Charges Filed Despite Elements Of “Careless Driving” Found By NM Department Of Justice; Medina Should Have Been Charged With “Reckless Driving” And Terminated For Cause For Violating Standard Operating Procedures

APD Chief Medina Says In 2010 Interview He Authorized Use Of Deadly Force In Shooting Of Mentally ILL Ken Ellis; Interview Reveals Medina Is Part Of The Problem; APD Spokesman Gallegos Issues False Statements; Both Need To Go

Chas. William Holman (Chuck), is the author of “Ask & You Shall Receive”, a semi-retired businessman and a  community leader.  In 1977, Holman was ordained as a minister by the East Mountain Calvary Church. Chuck Holman has been helping the homeless in one way or the other since 1985, when he volunteered to be the Overnight Director for an overnight shelter in Atlanta, Georgia. Chas. William Holman (Chuck) submitted the  below guest opinion  column to be published on www.PeteDinelli.com.

EDITORS DISCLAIMER:  Mr. Holman was not compensated for his opinion column and the  column is being published as a public service. The opinions expressed in the opinion column are not necessarily those of www.PeteDinelli.com.

A FIVE-YEAR PATH TO ENDING STREET HOMELESSNESS IN ALBUQUERQUE

By Chas. Wm. “Chuck” Holman, Guest Columnist

Albuquerque has spent decades treating homelessness as a perennial crisis. Yet we stand today on the edge of a breakthrough—one driven not by more government programs, but by real results happening quietly on our streets. It is time to recognize what works, strengthen it, and scale it.

STATE OF THE HEART RECOVERY

For nearly two years, State of the Heart Recovery (SAHR) led by Paul Chavez, has achieved something extraordinary. With no city funding and using primarily Medicaid dollars, the organization now serves more than 1,000 people through methadone treatment, counseling, and long-term recovery. Even more remarkable, 33% of those individuals are already living in stable housing—beds, apartments, and small homes throughout Albuquerque.

This is the kind of measurable, human-scale progress our community has been longing for. And it is exactly the kind of model I described in my book, 7 Steps to Ending Homelessness, where I wrote:

“Homelessness ends one person at a time, with one relationship at a time, through a system that meets people where they are—not where a bureaucracy hopes they will be.”

Now, State of the Heart Recovery plans to scale the model ten-fold over the next five years—to serve 5,000 people struggling with addiction and serious mental illness. If fully supported, this would stabilize nearly every individual currently living unsheltered on our streets.

But they cannot do it alone. It will require real leadership—public, private, and faith-based—to build what Albuquerque has lacked for far too long:

“A unified human-services ecosystem where data, accountability, and compassion work together.”

WHAT WE ARE MISSING: A UNIFIED BY-NAME LIST

Fifteen cities across America have ended chronic or veteran homelessness through the Built for Zero model, which begins with one crucial tool:

A single, shared, real-time by-name list.

In Albuquerque, we have the opposite—fragmented databases held by the City, HMIS/HMS federal systems, nonprofits, and clinics. Without a unified list:

• No one truly knows [with complete accuracy] how many people live on our streets.
• No one knows who they are.
• No one knows where they are in the recovery process.
• No one knows what services they’ve received—or what they need next.
• And no one can measure whether programs are working—or failing.

For less than $1 million, Albuquerque could build a modern, integrated database that tracks each person from street outreach to treatment, detox, housing, and long-term stability. State of the Heart Recovery has already begun building their own internal tracking system, proving again that solutions can come from the ground up.

RESULTS OVER PROGRAMS

The Gateway Center is a well-intentioned investment, but buildings alone cannot solve homelessness. As I wrote in Step 4 of my 7 Steps:

“Programs don’t end homelessness. Results do. Housing, treatment, and accountability must be measured in real time.”

City and county dollars should not fund more overhead, more committees, or more administrative staff. Instead, we must adopt a results-based funding model, paying organizations like State of the Heart Recovery for outcomes:

• People off the street
• People in recovery
• People housed
• People stable for 12 to 36 months

This is what Medicaid is already paying for. The City and County should align funding with the same principle.

THE ROLE OF FAITH AND COMMUNITY

No five-year plan can succeed without the involvement of Albuquerque’s churches, business owners, volunteers, and neighborhood leaders. Compassion is the engine of change. In Step 6 of my book, I wrote:

“The faith community is the greatest untapped resource in the fight against homelessness. When churches say yes, cities transform.”

Hope in Action, the outreach arm of The ABQ Plan, stands ready to mobilize volunteers, mentor individuals, support housing, and build relational bridges no government agency can offer.

A FIVE-YEAR PLAN

If Albuquerque commits to this partnership—State of the Heart Recovery, Hope in Action, local nonprofits, private enterprise, and results-based public investment—we can:

• Build the database
• Scale treatment to 5,000+ people
• House thousands
• Reduce street homelessness by 80–90%
• Reach functional zero for homelessness driven by addiction, by mental health issues, and by addiction with co-occurring mental-health issues.
  

This city can solve homelessness in five years. The solutions already exist. The people doing the work are already proving it.

We simply need the courage to support what works.

Respectfully submitted,

Chas. Wm. (Chuck) Holman

Visit ChuckHolman.com for more information or email Chuck@TheAbqPlan.org’

2025 POINT-IN-TIME COUNT OF UNHOUSED

On November 17, the New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness released the 2025 Point-In-Time (PIT) Report for the numbers of unhoused in Albuquerque counted in one day.  This year’s PIT count occurred on the night of Wednesday January 22, 2025. The link to review the entire 62-page 2024 PIT report is here:

https://568ac5c8-a616-4ffa-987e-7f77d5d1e6aa.filesusr.com/ugd/ad7ad8_0b3a57c7ce914d7f9bc94b6ea37be15c.pdf

2025 PIT REPORT IN A NUTSHELL

The highlights of the 2025 Point-In-Time (PIT) Report data can be summarized  as follows:

The report showed 29,735 people were engaged with “any part of New Mexico’s homeless response system in 2024.”

New Mexico Public Education Department data showed 10,533 students identified as experiencing homelessness during the 2024-25 school year.

Men  are more prevalent than women in emergency shelters and in unsheltered situations.

The report also had the following statistics:

2,960 total homeless people were reported in Albuquerque, broken down as follows:

• 8% increase of people reporting homelessness for first time
• 1,367 are reported as unsheltered people
• 1,327 are reported in emergency shelters which is up from 658 in 2011
• 266 in transitional housing with women more prevalent than men in this type of housing
• 2,566 total are reported as homeless groups/families in Albuquerque

1,723 total homeless people throughout the rest of New Mexico is broken down as follows:

• 779 unsheltered people
• 774 in emergency shelters
• 170 in transitional housing
• 39% of people reported experiencing homelessness for first time

There are 1,417 total homeless groups/families throughout the rest of New Mexico

The Percentage of women citing domestic violence in Albuquerque:  30.3%

The Percentage of women citing domestic violence throughout the rest of New Mexico: 36.2%

The Percentage of unsheltered people with military service in Albuquerque:  8.61%

The Percentage of unsheltered people with military service throughout the rest of New Mexico: 8.55%

CITY’S FINANCIAL COMMITMENT TO HOMELESS

In the last three years, the city has spent upwards of $300 million on homeless shelters, programs and purchasing and remodeling motels for low-income housing. In 2021, the city acquired the Lovelace Hospital complex on Gibson for $15 million and has spent upwards of $90 million to remodel it into the Gateway shelter.

The fiscal year 2026 approved General Fund budget for the Health, Housing and Homelessness Department is $53.3 million. The sum includes $48 million for strategic support, health and human services, affordable housing, mental health services, emergency shelter services, homeless support services, shelter operations, substance abuse services and $4.2 million for the Gibson Gateway maintenance division.

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/article_42aba680-62c4-4228-95a2-da72df1a34e1.html

https://citydesk.org/2025/09/10/albuquerque-becomes-new-mexicos-homeless-hub-as-gateway-contracts-add-100-beds/?mc_cid=b9e7b25ad7&mc_eid=001367acf1 

The Gateway Network consists of 5 shelters costing a staggering $300 Million dollars spent over the last 3  years to assist upwards of 3,000 to 5,000 unhoused. The City has become New Mexico’s de facto “homeless capitol”  providing shelter and services to the homeless for all communities throughout New Mexico. The problem is that the City and the State’s unhoused numbers are getting worse and not any better after spending millions.

The Gateway Network of support for people struggling with homelessness and addiction consists of the following:

1. Gateway Center– Campus providing medical, behavioral, and social services including overnight beds, first responder intake, medical sobering and respite.
2. Gateway West – Safe, supportive 660-bed facility for individuals experiencing homelessness, offering specialized resources and case management. (Annual Impact: 5,700 Individuals. Open 24/7 Since 2019)
3. Gateway Family – Supportive housing center for families with overnight beds, meals, and case management to help achieve stable housing. (Annual Impact: 987 Individuals Open Since 2020.
4. Gateway Recovery– 50-resident micro-community offering low-barrier beds, recovery services, and support for 18 – 24 months. Annual projected Impact: 50 – 100. Opening Early 2025
5. Gateway Young Adult – Housing and support for young adults ages 15-25 experiencing homelessness, tailored to their unique needs. (Annual projected Impact: 120 Individuals. Opening Late 2025.)

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

What sticks out is the staggering amount of $300 Million spent over three years to establish the five Gateway shelter system with upwards of $60 Million a year now being spent to try and provide assistance to so few, estimated to be upwards of  3,000 unhoused identified by the PIT count, with upwards of 75% refusing services. Complicating matters is the fact that the 2025 PIT study found nearly 50% of respondents were not from New Mexico. There has got to be a better way than just throwing money at the problem and East Mountain Calvary Church Minister Chas. William Holman points to a better way.

Minister Chas. William Holman is absolutely correct when he opines:

“The Gateway Center is a well-intentioned investment, but buildings alone cannot solve homelessness. … Programs don’t end homelessness. Results do. Housing, treatment, and accountability must be measured in real time. … No …  plan can succeed without the involvement of Albuquerque’s churches, business owners, volunteers, and neighborhood leaders.

Mayor Tim Keller and the City would be wise to follow the recommendations Minister Chas. William Holman and implement a “Built for Zero” model, which would begin with creating the crucial tool of a single, shared, real-time by-name list. Further, the city could easily fund and implement a Heart Recovery (SAHR) program to deal with drug  addiction and serious mental illness as a complement to the services being provided by the city.

The link to a related article is here:

2025 Point In Time Count Of Unhoused Finds 8% Increase In City; Goes From 2,740 In 2024 To 2,960 In 2025;  50% Of Unhoused Found Not To Be From New Mexico; City Spends Millions On Shelters And Services The Unhoused Reject; Civil Mental Health Commitment Hearings Viable Option To Get Unhoused Off Streets

On December 3, 2024 Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced plans to move the New Mexico State Fair to a different location and redevelop the 236 acre State Fair property into a mixed-use development. On March 21, 2025, in response to the Governor’s announcement to redevelop or move the state fair, the New Mexico legislature passed legislation creating the “State Fairgrounds District.” It is a board that has redevelopment funding authority over the existing State Fair grounds area. The board has no authority to move the fairgrounds. It will be up to the New Mexico State Fair Commission to make the decision to move the fairgrounds.

The State Fairgrounds District Board is empowered to raise property taxes and issue up to $500 million in bonds to fund future development of the property, to make improvements to repurpose the property. According to the legislation, the board will govern the development of the district for six years.

Voting members of the State Fairgrounds District Governing Board are:

• Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, chairperson
• Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller
• Senator Mimi Stewart, Senate President Pro-Tempore, International District, #17
• State  Representative Janelle Anyanonu whose district the fair grounds is located
• City Councilor Nichole Rogers whose district the fair grounds is located
• County Commissioner Adriann Barboa whose district the fair grounds is located
• Peter Belletto, President, District 6 Neighborhood Coalition

STANTEC CONSULTING SERVICES, INC

On June 18,  the state General Services Department announced that a $844,433 contract with Stantec Consulting Services Inc. was entered into  with the State for Stantec to create a master plan for repurposing the 236-acre tract of land that has since 1938 hosted the annual New Mexico State Fair. Stantec has agreed to develop a master  that will make suggestions for the land’s use. According to the Governor’s Office the master plan is expected to be completed by next spring. Once approved, work on the project could begin next year and be completed by fall 2029.

STATE FAIRGROUNDS DISTRICT GOVERNING BOARD REVIEWS THREE  CONCEPT PLANS

On December 8, the Governor’s Office released to the public three concept plans prepared by Stantec for the development of the State Fair property. On December 11, the State Fair District Board held its monthly meeting. The meeting was chaired by Governor Lujan Grisham and attended by board members Senator Mimi Stewart, County Commissioner Adriann Barboa, City Councilor Nichole Rogers and Dr. Peter Belletto. Not attending were board members Mayor Tim Keller and State Representative Janelle Anyanuon.  The main agenda item was a presentation by the Stantec Consulting Services  of  three Concept Plans developed and designed over the past few months for the State Fairgrounds.

According to Stantec, each of the three Concepts Plans were based on input from the community. The community input included the “desire to create safe, welcoming, walkable neighborhoods, opportunities for economic prosperity for area residents, increased nature and green spaces, affordable family-friendly amenities, improved transportation, pedestrian safety, and connectivity, and increased environmental sustainability.” It was emphasized that the  three Concept Plans  are NOT final and are designed to solicit discussion and public input on the different elements and to envision how elements would work together to reimagine a successful Fairgrounds

CONCEPT PLANS PRESENTED TO BOARD

All three Concept Plans call for major redevelopment of the Southwest corner of the property at San Pedro Drive and Central Avenue. The state is already moving to acquire for $22 million the property  with the issuance of bonds to finance the acquisition of the properties either by negotiations with the property and business owners or by litigation and adverse condemnation.

Two of three designs keep the fair where it is but on a reduced footprint, and they share many of the same amenities, though they differ in size and quantity.

Concept One  maintains the midway, using it as a large parking lot for the rest of the year, but adds a new exhibition space, a 10-acre park, affordable housing, an event center and a hotel to the grounds’ south side.

Concept Two significantly reduce the midway while new amenities like an  event center would take up more space. The second design also includes space for a museum.

Concept Three is the most draconian of the three plans. It would require the fairgrounds to be completely relocated. On top of the amenities present in the previous designs, this design would include “hundreds” of housing units, a school, workforce development center and two parks that would add 20 acres for park areas.

Regardless of which of the three concept designs the state chooses, all three share some similarities, including a hotel, event venue, a new park, mixed-income housing and retail space. The tree-lined Main Street is preserved in all three designs.

All three of the concept plans place a major emphasis and dedicate large portions of the State Fair property to affordable housing and large park areas. The mixed used housing would include apartments, condominiums and town homes for low income or subsidized housing.

THREE CONCEPT PLANS SUMMARIZED

Concept Plan 1 maintains the State Fair on the Fairgrounds. It opens the space up to the community by creating 10 acre  public park, and creates an entertainment district with a large event venue and mixed housing. The redevelopment is limited to the 43 acres in the Southwest corner and has Gross Receipts Tax  (GRT) potential to support infrastructure and development. The space for housing is limited and there would be limited employment opportunities, mostly for service workers. Concept 1 preserves and enhances the existing Fairgrounds footprint, upgrading facilities while adding transformative new amenities. Those new amenities would include:

• State-of-the-art multipurpose event venue
• Mixed-use entertainment district
• A modern exhibition hall

Click here for link to review the Concept 1 one plan.

Concept Plan 2  reimagines the State Fair and adjusts its footprint. It features a larger entertainment district complete with a venue and a hotel, as well as mixed use space, a slightly smaller 9 acre public park, and limited housing. The redevelopment potential is 51 total acres, including the Southwest corner off of San Pedro and Central that is now private property to be acquired, and some space on the corner of Lomas and San Pedro. This concept offers a moderate amount of community benefit potential and additional employment opportunities in entrepreneurial fields and professional services. Concept 2 relocates the State Fair Midway to make room for the development of “an expanded live-work-play neighborhood.” It proposes :

• An arena complex
• A mixed-use entertainment district
• A multi-purpose exhibition hall for conferences and community events
• A nine-acre public park

Click here for link to review Concept 2 .

Concept Plan 3  proposes the State Fair be relocated, completely transforming the site while maintaining the Fairgrounds Main Street. The Concept 3 plan has an expansive 22 acre public park, an entertainment district, education and workforce training space, and mixed housing. The redevelopment potential is 124 acres and offers a balance of land uses making the Gross Receipts Tax (GRT) potential high and the community benefits significant. The space for housing is large and designed as “walkable neighborhoods”. The employment potential include opportunities for entrepreneurs, service workers, professional services, research, STEM, and technology.  Concept 3 would completely overhaul the entire state fair area and build the following in the fairgrounds’ current footprint:

• “Hundreds of homes”
• “An innovation hub focused on next-generation technology”
• A large event venue
• “A walkable main street village”
• “More than 20 acres of park and green space.”

Click here for link to review Concept 3 .

The link to the Fair Grounds “Reimagine” web site is here:

Home

GOV. MLG EMBRACES CONCEPT PLAN TO MOVE STATE FAIR

Immediately after the November 11 State Fair District Board meeting, Governor Lujan Grisham was interviewed by KRQE News 13.  The governor said she favors the third Concept Plan, which is the most aggressive concept plan that proposes moving the state fair. The Governor  said she is still waiting for cost estimates before making a final decision. The governor said this:

“I want a whole new footprint in the middle, the center of historic Albuquerque. I prefer option 3. …This state needs and deserves a robust state fair property.

Governor Lujan Grisham said she shares frustrations about crime in the area and criticized what she called a “lack of leadership and inadequate response from local officials and first responders.”  The Governor said this:

“When I look at the outcomes here, I am feeling very frustrated by the lack of progress. … I think this community should demand that we are all working together. … I think redevelopment has a real impact. … Prosperity makes opportunity.”

The Governor argued that redevelopment could help shift the neighborhood’s trajectory.

AREA RESIDENTS RAISE CONCERNS

The decision to redevelop the area, which Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced over a year ago, has drawn both praise and down right hostility and anger from area residents.  The 236-acre tract of land in northeast Albuquerque has hosted the annual State Fair since 1938, but the state and its consultants say that the area is “underutilized” and its infrastructure is crumbling and that the State Fair Commission is saying the fair “has outgrown the property” justifying moving the fair to a new location.

The Governor’s Office called the redevelopment a “once-in-a-generation opportunity”.  Not everyone agrees with the Governor, especially those who live in the International District itself.  Many Area residents have argued in public planning meetings that the fairgrounds should stay for any number of reasons, ranging from concerns over crime to fears of gentrification.

While Stantec representatives emphasized the three Concept plans are still conceptual, the December 11 meeting drew a mixture  of optimism and skepticism from area residents who attended the meeting and who were interviewed by the media after the meeting. Audience members were not given an opportunity to address the board during the meeting.  Many areas residents who have attended past State Fair District  meeting and who have attended citizen input meetings with Stantec and responded to Stantec surveys have raised major concerns about crime, drug activity and homelessness in the International District surrounding the fairgrounds.

Albuquerque resident Wally Book told KOB 4 News this:

“We can dress up just this block, but until we address the surrounding area it’s not going to take hold.”

Another resident, Dave Kailer, questioned whether a proposed park could thrive in the area and said this:

“You know what is going to happen to that park if you put it in the war zone? It will turn into a homeless park, let’s face it. … I don’t want to be ugly about it or negative about it. I’m just being realistic.”

Pete Dinelli, who has lived directly North of the State Fairgrounds for over 40 years, told KRQE News 13 this:

“The State Fair District Board is attempting to use the State Fair property to solve all the crime and economic problems of the International District. Until you reduce crime and homeless on Central and in the International District itself, redevelopment of the State Fair property will fail.”

PUBLIC FEEDBACK AND FUTURE MEETINGS

The public can submit feedback on the designs online at fairgroundsdistrict.nm.gov or in-person at the final public input meeting planned for early January. Click here for a link to the survey.

The State Fair Board will continue gathering public input before selecting the preferred option. The board plans to meet in either January or February to go over each plan in more detail.  Any final plan would require approval from the State Board of Finance and the Legislature.

Links to relied upon or quoted news sources are here:

https://www.fairgroundsdistrict.nm.gov/

https://www.kob.com/new-mexico/state-leaders-review-plans-for-state-fairgrounds/

https://www.koat.com/article/preliminary-plans-unveiled-for-redevelopment-of-new-mexico-state-fairgrounds-expo-fair/69701845

https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerque-metro/state-unveils-preliminary-plans-for-the-future-of-the-new-mexico-state-fairgrounds/

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/article_335683f7-894c-48bb-9451-dc4c761472fc.html

STRONG OPPOSITION TO MOVING STATE FAIR IGNORED BY GOVERNOR

Governor Lujan Grisham’s proposal to moving the state fair has been met with strong opposition and resentment from area residents of Albuquerque’s International District, which has dealt with rampant and rising drug use and homelessness in recent years. The proposed redevelopment has proven controversial with residents in the International District who say that they are concerned the funding will do little to help the neighborhood, will uproot the historic annual State Fair and will, like past efforts at fairgrounds redevelopment, be a flop.

On February 26, 2025,  Bernalillo County Government  held meeting to discuss and provide information on a proposed Tax Increment Development District (TIDD) for the New State Fairgrounds. Upwards of 200 residents attended. Most if not all of the public present for the February 26 meeting were very hostile to moving the state fair and spoke out against moving the state fair to another location.

Audience members were given the opportunity to speak after the presentation on the proposed Tax Increment District (TIDD). Audience members said that the City and the Mayor Keller Administration have been a total failure in cleaning up Central and the city has failed to address crime and the homeless crisis on Central. Audience members argued that before anything is spent on improving or moving the Fair Grounds, money would be better spent cleaning up Central, dealing with the homeless, drug addicted and mentally ill and providing them with services to get them off the streets.

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

During the July 2 State Fair District meeting, Governor Lujan Grisham signaled  that she was backing off on moving the fairgrounds and said  that the State Fair might not have to find a new venue. Lujan Grisham said this in particular signaling a change is her stance:

“I want to be really clear about that, because you’ll notice I didn’t say a plan to move the State Fair.”

It’s downright laughable and pathetic that Governor Lujan Grisham has now embraced Concept 3 as her preferred plan. It is painfully obvious that Governor Lujan Grisham is simply ignoring the public opposition to moving the State Fair knowing that she is a lame duck with only a year left before her term ends to accomplish a legacy project she wants and to be rubber stamped by her appointed State Fair District Board and State Fair Commission. This coming from the Governor who went out of her way and  cautioned just a few months ago that no final decision had been made.

Concept Plan 3 is the most draconian of the 3 Concept Plans with the ultimate goal of  moving  the State Fair ground. Governor Lujan Grisham said she would like to see the project break ground before she leaves office at the end of next year. Her  words and action now confirm what she has said and what she has known all along and that is the Governor is hell bent on moving the state fair over strong public opposition and is rushing the project  to have a legacy project before she leaves office in a year.

A SHAM BOARD 

The biggest sham is that Governor’s appointed State Fair District Board and Stantec are going along with the Governors efforts to move the State Fair so that all of its property can  be dedicated to reviving and benefiting  the International District. The Governor and her board have essentially  ignored  the needs and concerns of neighborhoods and businesses to the West, North and East of the Fairgrounds.  Five out of the seven State Fair District Board members are elected officials of the International District with the President of the District 6 Coalition of Neighborhoods all in the International District.   

GOVERNOR BLAMES LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND LEADERSHIP

What is so very offensive is Governor Lujan Grisham blaming local law enforcement and local leadership for failing to deal with crime and  the unhoused crisis  in the International District. She then turns around in the same breath to argue that there is a need to “re dedicate”  the state fair property to solve those problems.  It is clear the State Fairgrounds redevelopment is being promoted by the Governor and her appointed State Fair District Board as being some sort of a great  panacea to solve the problems of crime, the homeless,  lack of  affordable housing  and lack of economic development in the International District. It will not.

The Fair Grounds cannot be characterized as the cause or as a magnet for crime within the International District. No statistics have been presented to the State Fair board on the extent of crime that occurs on the State Fairgrounds itself. No discussion has been held or proof offered as to what extent the State Fair grounds is responsible for crime in the International District.

The International District, which is bordered by Central South of the State Fairgrounds has had for decades some of the highest violent crime, property crime and drug offense rates, so much so that it was at one time referred to as the WAR ZONE until it was officially renamed the International District, but the renaming had no impact on the trajectory of the area.  The International District continues to be plagued by high crime rates and  now has become a magnet for the homeless with encampments constantly popping up and cleaned up by the city only to pop up again.

Crime and the unhoused is what is destroying  private investment, job growth and small business development within  in the International District. After all the millions are spent to redevelop the fairgrounds, to improve infra structure and traffic flow, building a park, adding public spaces and allowing businesses and low-income housing, the problems of high crime rates and the unhoused will remain the same in the International District because they have never been solved for decades. No businesses will want to relocate to the State Fair grounds after it is developed into commercial property, and it will become a magnet for crime and for the homeless, especially with parks.

AFFORABLE HOUSING

Efforts to address “affordable housing” continue to be a major target and goal for the State Fairgrounds District Board and is  a very big part of the presentations made to the State Fair District Governing Board by Stantec.  The three redevelopment Concept Plans for the property propose to commandeer a good portion of the Expo NM State Fair Property for affordable housing  and it is as absurd as it gets.

The term affordable housing is about as misleading as it gets. It is a term often used by politicians, elected officials and developers to promote their own personal or political agendas. Simply put construction costs are consistent when it comes to housing and in today’s market are extremely high as are existing housing costs.  When the term “affordable housing” is used by the politicians, elected officials and developer’s, what is meant is “subsidized government housing”. 

Affordable housing or subsidized housing for low-income income earners is not the highest and best use of any portion of the 236 acres of prime property for development in the center of Albuquerque. It would put a small dent in the shortage of housing.

The highest and best use of the 236 acres of property is the State Fair itself and keeping it as Expo New Mexico and developing a year-round Entertainment District and to preserve the New Mexico State Fair and Expo New Mexico where it is now.

Efforts for affordable housing use for the State Fair grounds should be abandoned in that it would impair the overall goal and development of the property for projects that benefit the entire community as a whole and for public use.

PARKS WILL BECOME MAGNETS FOR CRIME AND THE  HOMELESS

All three of the concept plans place a major emphasis and dedicate large portions of the State Fair property to park areas with access from Central or San Pedro to the parks. Concept One provides a 10-acre  public park. Concept Two provides a 9-acre public park. Concept three provides for a 22-acre  public park.

The reality of the city’s homeless crisis is that parks are notoriously magnets for crime and the unhoused. At this point, the State Fairgrounds, does not have a crime problem with the New Mexico State Police having primary law enforcement responsibility to calls for service. The lack of crime on the state fair property will no doubt change with parks.

Area resident Dave Kailer was absolutely correct when he was  questioned whether a proposed park could thrive in the area and he said this:

“You know what is going to happen to that park if you put it in the war zone? It will turn into a homeless park, let’s face it. … I don’t want to be ugly about it or negative about it. I’m just being realistic.”

History tends to repeat itself over and over again especially when it comes to the homeless crisis. Governor Mitchell Lujan Grisham might as well dedicate any park on State Fair grounds property with public access as Coronado Park 2 in remembrance to Coronado Park which was closed by the city as a result of more than 125 unsheltered people taking over the park to camp and it becoming a hot bed for narcotic usage, trafficking illicit drugs and violent crime, including homicides and rapes. Coronado Park became a “de facto” city sanctioned homeless encampment thanks to Mayor Keller’s reluctance to do do anything about the unauthorized use of the park by the homeless and costing the city $50,000 to clean it up each month. Eventually, Keller declared Coronado Park as the most dangerous place in the state to be and ordered the park closed.

FINAL COMMENTARY

The Governor and her appointed State Fair District Board is attempting to use the State Fair property to solve all the crime, economic problems and lack of affordable housing of the International District.  Until you reduce crime and homeless on Central itself and in the International District itself, redevelopment of the State Fair property as envisioned by the Governor and Stantec will fail and Governor Lujan Grisham will go down as the Governor who destroyed the State Fair for the sake of her ego.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller, Senate Pro Tempore Mimi Stewart, State Representative Janelle Anyanonu, City Councilor Nichole Rogers and County Commissioner Adriann Barboa who are the elected officials and politicians on the “State Fairgrounds District Board” need to keep their greedy little hands off the State Fair grounds and abandon any effort to move it or dedicate it for affordable housing and parks. Simply put, the surrounding neighborhoods, businesses and their constituents want the State Fair to remain where it is. They need to listen for a change and knock it off pretending to be developers.

The links to  related articles are here:

NM State Fair District Board OKs $67M In Infrastructure; “Pre-Development Concepts” Envision 10 Acre Park And Affordable Housing; COMMENTARY: Governor MLG And Board Falsely Believe Fair Grounds Redevelopment Panacea To Solve International Districts Crime And Housing Problems; Dedicated Park Will Be Magnet For Crime And Attract Homeless Encampments

Stantec Consulting Services Inc. Holds First Of Three Public Meetings On Redevelopment Plans For State Fair Grounds; State Fairgrounds District Board Approves $22.5 Million For Property Acquisition; Expo New Mexico With No Affordable Housing Highest And Best Use For State Fair Grounds Property

“State Fairgrounds District Board” Holds First Meeting; Gov. MLG Merely Suggests State Fair May Not Be Moved Contrary To Her Expressed Thoughts; Development Of Master Plans Moves Forward; Highest And Best Use Of Property Is “Expo New Mexico” And Creation Of Year Around Entertainment District With No Affordable Housing   

The Albuquerque Journal Editorial Opinion pages feature 5 types of opinion columns submitted for publication: those by the paper’s Editorial Board, those by the paper’s Community Council, those by Syndicated Columnists, those by Local Columnists and those by Local Voices.

“Local Columnists are tasked with carrying a heavy load of responsibility to help readers scrutinize issues impacting them, their community and their country. It is the Journal’s goal to publish columnists from all walks of life and varying political viewpoints to give readers exposure to all sides of local issues.”

All headlines for Albuquerque Journal guest opinion columns published are written by Journal editors and not the columnists.

On December 11, the  Albuquerque Journal published on its editorial opinion page A8 the below “Local Columnist” opinion column by Pete Dinelli:

JOURNAL EDITOR’S HEADLINE:  Keller Should Adopt New Strategy In Third Term

BY PETE DINELLI, LOCAL COLUMNIST

Congratulations to Mayor Tim Keller for his 58% To 42% victory over Darren White as Keller becomes the first mayor elected to a third consecutive four-year term.

Voters saw the most contentious runoff in the city’s history. Keller and White vilified each other pointing out each other’s numerous flaws. It was a runoff between two of the most disliked candidates to ever run for mayor.

Keller is the progressive Democratic mayor who has failed to successfully prohibit the homeless from proliferating city streets and parks despite spending millions on shelters and programs. Keller failed to bring down high crime rates over eight years while the Albuquerque Police Department was involved in a DWI dismissal scandal.

Republican White is the former elected official with two decades of disgraceful public service. Like Donald Trump, White sought to divide voters by threatening undocumented immigrants with Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests and immediate removal of homeless encampments.

Keller clawed his way back from a low approval rating of 42% to win a hard-fought election. Keller running against a very weak slate of candidates and qualifying for $1.14 Million in public finance helped.

It’s not very often that elected officials who have very low approval ratings are given a third consecutive chance to succeed. KELLER’S THIRD TERM IS NOT AT ALL LIKELY TO BE ANY BETTER THAN THE PAST EIGHT YEARS, UNLESS HE RECOGNIZES THAT PEOPLE DID NOT VOTE FOR HIM AS MUCH AS THEY VOTED AGAINST HIS MAGA REPUBLICAN OPPONENT WHITE.

To succeed in a third term, Keller should say without doubt he will not seek a fourth term, knock off his publicity-seeking ways and just govern. Keller needs to acknowledge what he has done for eight years has not worked and must change course to succeed.

The three main areas Keller should concentrate on are: a totally different approach to get the homeless off the streets, APD reorganization and proactive policing practices, and abandonment of divisive efforts to change the city’s zoning laws to benefit developers at the expense of neighborhoods and property rights.

The unhoused crisis has only gotten worse under Keller as he allows the homeless free reign of the city. According to the 2025 Point In Time tabulation, 50% are not even from New Mexico. The city has built a Gateway network under Keller that includes emergency shelters but many homeless people refuse to use it. A major new initiative should be made on civil mental health commitments for the mentally ill and the drug addicted to get them off the streets.

APD is a train wreck, top heavy with mid-management and plagued by a DWI dismissal scandal. Keller needs to appoint a new chief and replace the entire command staff and completely reorganize the department for a new generation of leadership. APD cannot deal with the city’s high crime rates because APD’s sworn personnel is at 925.

Keller embellishes the city’s affordable housing shortage, declaring it a government crisis. To solve the crisis, Keller wants to  increase the city’s density in established neighborhoods and allow residential property owners to “upzone” their properties.  Keller’s policies will destroy established neighborhoods and will lead to gentrification as Keller angers many with his zoning changes that favor developers. Keller must find a better way to increase affordable housing.

Best wishes to Mayor Keller on his third term.

Pete Dinelli is a former Albuquerque city councilor, former chief public safety officer and former chief deputy district attorney. You can read his daily news and commentary blog at www.PeteDinelli.com.

The link to read the Albuquerque Journal Dinelli column with photos is here:

https://www.abqjournal.com/opinion/opinion-keller-should-adopt-new-strategy-in-third-term/2937659

The link to a related article is here:

Mayor Tim Keller Wins Historic Third Term Securing 57.71% To Darren White’s 42.29% Of The Vote; Stephanie Telles Wins District 1 City Council Over Joshua Neal, 59.46% To 40.55 %;  Klarissa Peña Wins District 3 City Council By 1.03% Over Teresa Garcia, 50.52% to 49.49%; Progressive Democrats Fail To Take Over Council Majority

Examining The Record Of Mayor Tim Keller And Darren White’s Record Of Failure And Divisive Campaign For Mayor; Vote To Re-Elect Tim Keller Mayor

On December 9 at approximately 7:53 pm., less than one hour after polls closed, Mayor Tim Keller was declared the victor over Darren White by the media. The final vote was not even close with Keller winning by 15%. The final vote was:

• Tim Keller                74,421       57.71%
• Darren White           54,538       42.29%

The link to the final vote tabulation is here:

https://results.bernco.gov/

Mayor Tim Keller campaigned on his eight-year record of fighting crime and expanding housing for the 5,000 or more unhoused people in the city. That included opening a multifaceted Gateway system of care and creating the city Community Safety Department to respond to behavioral health and crisis situations in the city.

Darren White campaigned on his law enforcement background, saying 8 years of Keller was enough and that it was time for a change. He promised a change of direction, emphasizing aggressive encampment sweeps of homeless individuals, and full cooperation with federal immigration agents seeking access to data on suspects arrested by APD. He said he entered the race after lamenting about the “state” of the city, and finding no other Republican was running. White promised he would only serve for four years.

Mayor Keller spoke to his supporters at The Clyde Hotel downtown and said this in part about his win and the city’s future:

 “Voters granted us something very, very special. …  The city has spoken, and folks have essentially said one thing loud and clear: they want us to keep going.  … We are not going to allow ICE in. We are not going to let Trump come into Albuquerque. … It’s a mandate to push forward, and it’s also a challenge to rise to the occasion. That’s what our next four years are going to be all about. … I see what you see. I understand what’s going on in the streets. … These are truly challenging times. But also challenging times politically. Look this was a campaign. We know we were attacked from all sides.”

Darren White conceded the mayoral race around 7:45 p.m., 45 minutes after the polls closed, to a crowd of about  60 people gathered at the Courtyard by Marriott, across the city from downtown, at a hotel in the Journal Center. Darren White gave his concession speech and said this in part:

“Yes, we are disappointed by the results. But we respect their choice. We came up short, but our call for change and a better quality of life should resonate long and wide. … Don’t you think for a minute that your voice can’t be heard. And don’t think for a minute that you should give up and say the hell with this. Because this is our city, and we love it, and that’s what we were fighting for. … And maybe just maybe, what we went through in those debates and those forums, maybe just maybe, the mayor will understand that we want him to fight for our families, and we want him to fight for our businesses.”

CITY COUNCIL SEATS

West Side voters also decided on the two westside Albuquerque City Council races in Districts 1 and 3.

In City Council  District 1, Progressive Democrat Stephanie Telles prevailed over MAGA Republican Joshua Taylor Neal in the runoff for the open West Side council district seat to succeed City Councilor Louie Sanchez, who chose not to seek a second term to pursue an unsuccessful bid for mayor coming in fourth. Democrat City Councilor Sanchez endorsed Republican Neal. The final vote was:

• Stephanie Telles       9,071        59.46%
• Joshua Neal              6,186        40.55%

In City Council District 3, three term incumbent moderate Democrat Councilor Klarissa Peña prevail over her  challenger Progressive Democrat Teresa Garcia with the closest margin as it gets winning by a mere 69 votes or 1.03%.The final vote was:

• Klarissa Peña         3,338           50.52%
• Teresa Garcia         3,270           49.49%

The link to the final vote tabulation is here:

https://results.bernco.gov/

The links to quoted or relied news sources are here:

https://www.kob.com/new-mexico/keller-wins-albuquerque-mayoral-election/?cb=1765336814365

https://www.koat.com/article/tim-keller-wins-albuquerque-mayor-election/69680229

https://www.krqe.com/news/politics-government/elections/tim-keller-wins-3rd-term-as-albuquerque-mayor/

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/article_31f89c61-9332-482e-9c9a-d1b14190bbd5.html

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

There are no term limits for Albuquerque mayor. With his victory, Mayor Tim Keller secured a historic third consecutive four year term as Albuquerque Mayor. No previous Albuquerque mayor has served for three consecutive terms. Mayor Martin Chavez served for three terms but they were not consecutive. Chavez served one term from 1993-1997 then  left the Mayor’s office to run unsuccessfully for Governor. Chavez lost to Republican Governor Gary Johnson and returned to run for mayor again and won twice and served two consecutive terms from 2001-2009.

Voters saw the most contentious runoff in the city’s history with Mayor Tim Keller securing what many would call a landslide victory over Darren White after a contentious campaign by both candidates as they battled over the topics of high crime rates and the homeless.

Keller and White vilified each other pointing out each other’s numerous flaws. The politcal reality was we had a runoff between two of the most disliked candidates to ever run for Mayor. Mayor Keller clawed his way back from a low approval rating of 42% to win a hard-fought election.

Mayor Keller was the only candidate for  Mayor of seven candidates whose campaign was publicly financed. Keller was given more than $1.14 million in contributions for both the regular local and runoff elections, compared to White’s reported total of $642,429 in private contributions. White didn’t qualify for the public financing.

Tim Keller running against a very weak slate of 6 candidates and being the only one to qualify for $1.14 Million in public finance were likely the deciding factors for his win along with Keller’s built in advantage of incumbency and his very loyal progressive democratic party base.

NEW CITY COUNCIL

When it comes to the new city council, it will now be evenly split with 4 very progressive Democratic City Councilors, 4 MAGA Republican City Councilors and one moderate Democrat City Council who will likely be the swing vote on major issues. In other words, the politcal dynamics will be the same as before but with the identity of the swing vote changing. It was first term District 1 Conservative Democrat Louie Sanchez who more often than not sided with the 4 MAGA Republicans on the City Council to thwart the efforts of the Progressive Democrat City Councilors. Sanchez did not seek reelection and ran unsuccessfully for Mayor and came in fourth out of seven total candidates running.

The City’s progressive Democratic leaning organizations and Democratic Progressive party members made a very strong bid to give the City Council a decidedly progressive lean, but the effort fell short. Incumbent moderate Democrat City Councilor Klarissa Peña won by a mere 69 votes or 1.03% over progressive Democrat Teresa Garcia for the City Council District 3 seat representing the SW Mesa area.

The Peña/Garcia city council race attracted leading progressives to get involved with the race. Mayor Tim Keller endorsed Peña as did Democratic Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury and Democratic Governor candidate Deb Haaland. Democratic Senior Senator Martin Heinrich and State Senator Katy Duhigg endorsed Democrat Teresa Garcia.

It will Incumbent moderate Democrat City Councilor Klarissa Peña who assume the critical role as swing vote replacing Conservative Democrat Louie Sanchez who often sided with the four MAGA Republicans. With the departure of Conservative Democrat City Councilor Louie Sanchez and his replacement by Progressive Democrat Stephanie Telles, Mayor Keller should have improved relations with the City Council, but not that much more.

The breakdown of the new City Council is as follows:

PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS

• District 1 Progressive Democrat City Councilor Stephanie Telles
• District 2 Progressive Democrat City Councilor Joaquín Baca
• District 6 Progressive Democrat City Councilor Nichole L. Rogers
• District 7 Progressive Democrat City Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn

MAGA REPUBLICANS

• District 4 Republican City Councilor Brook Bassan
• District 5 Republican City Councilor Dan Lewis
• District 8 Republican City Councilor Dan Champine.
• District 9 Republican City Councilor Renée Grout

SWING VOTE

District 3 Moderate Democrat City Councilor Klarissa Peña.

NEW CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS

The first item of business the new city council will vote upon in its first meeting after being sworn in will be the election by the 9 city councilors of President and Vice President. The City Council President has the authority to appoint all city council committee chairmanships and for that reason sets the tone for how business is conducted and what is accomplished.

There is already rumors circulating that District 2 Progressive Democrat  City Councilor Joaquín Baca wants to be the new City Council President. However, the real question is if District 3 Moderate Democrat City Councilor Klarissa Peña wants the job, which she has done before, and if the 4 MAGA Republicans will support her as President as a reasonable compromise.

CONCLUSION

Congratulations to all the victors  and best wishes as they carry out the business of the people.

According to the Bernalillo County Clerk’s Office,  23% or upwards of 83,000, of eligible Albuquerque voters have already voted early or have cast absentee ballots as of midday Monday December 8 for the December 9 runoff municipal election. On the ballot city wide is the Mayors race between incumbent Progressive Democrat Mayor Tim Keller and MAGA Republican Darren White.  West Side voters also will decide two Albuquerque City Council races in Districts 1 and 3 when they go to the polls on December 9.

The 83,000 early voting  number exceeds the nearly 75,500 early voting and absentee votes cast in advance of the Nov. 4 election. This year in the November 4 election, nearly 135,000 votes or 37.1% of registered city voters were cast where seven candidates for Mayor were on the ballot. That surpassed the 32% turnout mark from the city’s last mayoral election in 2021.  Albuquerque’s last mayoral runoff election in 2017 brought out 28.7% of eligible city voters. That year, a total of 96,864 votes were cast in a runoff between Keller and City Councilor Dan Lewis. Mayor  Keller won his first term as mayor by a landslide with 62% of the vote to Lewis’ 38%.

City Desk, the on line news publication, reported by the time early voting ended Saturday December 6, a total of  82,013 votes had been cast or 22% of eligible voters had voted in the runoff. Of those, 43,350 or 53% were registered Democrats and 26,131 or 32% were registered Republicans. Another 12,529 or 15% are “decline to state” or independent. The early vote in all likely gave Mayor Keller the advantage. However, Republicans are known for voting in greater numbers on Election Day and City Desk ABQ reported  White was tracking a “large number” of anti-Keller Democrats saying they voted for White.  Keller’s campaign for its part has told supporters the race is closer than partisan registration would predict. As a result, the Keller campaign relied heavily over the weekend before election day on “door to door” efforts to  get out to vote  to boost election day turn out, especially amongst Democrats.

The strong early voting turnout is definitive evidence that there is strong interest in the outcome of the Mayor’s race between Mayor Tim Keller, who is seeking and unprecedented third term, and Republican and former two term Bernalillo County Sherriff Darren White. In the November  4 regular election, Keller received 36% of votes cast compared with 31% for White in a seven-way contest. The race between the two has proven to be one of the most contested and negative campaigns for Mayor in the city’s history.

Brian Sanderoff, president of Albuquerque-based Research & Polling Inc., who does the exclusive polling for the Albuquerque Journal, said that what has  driven the increase turnout is a choice between two experienced and well-known candidates who hold markedly different positions on a variety of issues. Sanderoff said the decision for voters comes down to whether they want to give Tim Keller another term or opt for change, and if that change is with Darren White. The mayoral race has been hard-hitting, focusing on crime and homelessness. Sanderoff said this:

“We’ve had a robust turnout for early and absentee voting. … We should have total votes cast similar to the Nov. 4 election. … The fact that they’re well known and the fact that they’re so different from each other contributes to the high turnout. These are [two] people who really come from different perspectives, different styles, different policy positions. And so the voters have a real choice here. …  We’re hearing two different viewpoints. Same thing with homelessness. You know, Darren White says on day one he’s going to clean up the encampments. Tim Keller saying, you can’t arrest your way out of this issue. So, the voters have some pretty good choices here, pretty distinct choices.” 

CITY COUNCIL SEATS

West Side voters also will decide the two westside Albuquerque City Council races in Districts 1 and 3. The races  are:

In City Council  District 1, Progressive Democrat Stephanie Telles faces off against Republican Joshua Taylor Neal for the open West Side council district seat. On November 4, Telles received 36% of the vote to Neal’s 26% in a four-way contest to succeed Councilor Louie Sanchez, who chose not to seek a second term to pursue an unsuccessful bid for mayor.

In City Council District 3, three term incumbent moderate Democrat Councilor Klarissa Peña faces off against challenger Progressive Democrat Teresa Garcia. Peña received 41% of the vote to Garcia’s 38% share in a three-way contest. District 3 is located in far southwest Albuquerque.

The link to a relied upon or quoted news sources is here:

https://www.abqjournal.com/election/article_12e313b7-294a-4493-a27d-fa3331f83404.html

https://www.koat.com/article/albuquerque-voters-decide-mayoral-and-city-council-runoff-elections/69671385

https://www.koat.com/article/what-is-a-runoff-election-albuquerque-2025/69257433

https://www.krqe.com/news/politics-government/elections/albuquerque-runoff-election-2025-key-information-and-races-to-know/

COMMENTARY

The 50 voting sites open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m

Please vote December 9 if you have not already voted!

The link to a related article is here:

Examining The Record Of Mayor Tim Keller And Darren White’s Record Of Failure And Divisive Campaign For Mayor; Vote To Re-Elect Tim Keller Mayor