ABQ De Facto Statewide Hub For Homeless Services Thanks To Mayor Tim Keller’s 5 Integrated Gateway Homeless Shelters; Staggering Amount Of Money Being Spent To Help So Few With Many Refusing Services; An Unsustainable Black Hole Of Expenditures

Posted on September 15, 2025 by Pete Dinelli

For the last 8 years, Mayor Tim Keller has taken an aggressive approach to trying to address homelessness, behavioral health, and addiction treatment. Over the past four years, the Keller Administration has taken steps to build a network of support shelters for the unhoused called the Gateway Network System. The City is providing shelter and services to more than 1,000 men, women, and children nightly through the Gateway Network, with more programs and services coming online this year.

The Gateway Network consists of 5 shelters costing a staggering $300 Million dollars spent over the last 4 years to assist upwards of 3,000 to 5,000 unhoused. The City has become the statewide de facto provider of services to the homeless for all communities in New Mexico. The problem is that the City and the State’s unhoused numbers are getting worse and not better after spending millions.

STATE DEDICATES FUNDING

During the 2024 and the 2025 legislative sessions, the New Mexico Legislature dedicated more than $300 million to various housing-related measures to different agencies, including revolving loans for builders, down-payment assistance and anti-homelessness programs. The figure includes $140 million lawmakers approved this session.

The Legislature specifically earmarked $110 million in this year’s $10.8 billion budget bill for homelessness assistance programs and affordable housing statewide. That came after lawmakers appropriated more than $20 million for such programs in the previous year. $83 Million of the $140 Million lawmakers approved in the 2025 legislative session is earmarked for projects in the Albuquerque area for the unhoused and housing.

On August 26, City, Bernalillo County and State Officials held a press conference to announce that $60 million of the $80 million will be allocated for homelessness and housing projects in Albuquerque. The $80 Million will be dedicated to trying to get 1,000 unhoused people off the streets by July, 2026.

The roughly $80 million will fund 10 projects in Albuquerque, including seven affordable housing developments and expansions to homelessness facilities and programs. Of the millions in funding, 23% will benefit homelessness projects, including prevention, and 77% will go toward housing.

CITY COUNCIL APPROPRIATES MILLIONS FOR SERVICE CONTRACTS

On September 3, the Albuquerque City Council approved two contracts for women’s and men’s services each worth $3.6 million a year on a 7-2 vote with Republican City Councilor Dan Champine and Democrat City Councilor Louie Sanchez voting no. A separate $2.3 million contract to open a 41-bed shelter for young adults won unanimous support.

The approval to spend the million in funds was given reluctantly by some councilors who have called the Gateway system inefficient. Council President Brook Bassan of District 4 in northern Albuquerque said this:

“I am not a fan of the Gateways, but we have them, so let’s make them work, …The state wants to give us money. I really hope that we put it to good use and that we actually truly help people in need.”

SHELTER BEDS AVAILABLE

The last time the Gateway System of shelters was expanded was in 2023 when the first 50 women’s shelter beds opened at the Housing Navigation Center. The approved contract funding will be used to add 141 more beds to the Gateway system of 5 homeless shelters. According to the city there are currently 1,176 shelter beds in Albuquerque, 807 of which are at Gateway shelters. The new contracts will boost bed capacity for both women and men. The young adult shelter will convert a former hotel into housing for 18 to 25-year-olds, many of whom aged out of foster care. The 140 new shelter beds will serve a population of 2,740 homeless residents that includes people sent from communities across the state.

$3.6 million in funding will be used for operating the Housing Navigation Shelter at the Gateway Center at Gibson and San Mateo SE. Most of the funds will go to staffing, which includes intake specialists, housing support specialists, community outreach personnel and shuttle bus drivers. The funds will also pay for contracted services like security and cleaning, as well as physical supplies.

According to government officials, in Bernalillo County many of the people living on the streets are young, including an estimated 1,200 to 2,300 people between the ages of 15 and 25, according to a 2022 needs assessment. Many of those young people are fleeing domestic violence at home or have aged out of the foster care system, according to the assessment.

The City Council also unanimously approved a $2.3 million operating contract with Youth Development Inc., the operator of a young adult housing program that will house 41 people aged 18-25 who are experiencing homelessness. YDI currently runs the city’s Gateway Family shelter. Gateway Young Adult Shelter will be located at the former La Quinta hotel at San Mateo and Cutler that is currently being renovated. The per-bed operation cost for the youth shelter is more than $56,000.

The expanded shelters will offer case management as well as treatment for mental health and addiction, with the ultimate goal of transitioning people into more stable living situations. The new beds are expected to be made available in the coming months after the operators recruit and train staff.

The City Council delayed a separate $21.8 million state funding package until September 15. The new funding carries strict oversight rules by the state. City rules require two hearings for funding.

Health, Housing and Homelessness Director Gilbert Ramirez said this of the funding:

“Through this vital funding, we can connect more people to life-changing treatment and services. … Thank you to the state for injecting funding into programming that offers safe, dignified spaces where people can begin their journey to stability.”

CONTRACT DEFERRED BY CITY COUNCIL

On September 3, the City Council deferred $21.8 million in state funding until September 15 (Resolution R-25-188). It was Republican Council President Brook Bassan who moved to defer the measure, noting that appropriation bills require two public hearings under city rules. The delay gives the public more time to review the accountability measures before the September 15 vote.

The measure comes with oversight requirements that Republican City Councilor Dan Lewis called “unusual” and evidence of the state’s “lack of confidence” in city performance. The funding agreement requires weekly reports starting two weeks after approval, monthly payment requests with detailed documentation and operational plans for all funded programs. The city must also submit sustainability plans by December to show how services will continue when state money runs out.

City Council Dan Lewis said this of the extensive reporting requirements:

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like this. … My only assumption is that the governor, this cabinet secretary, are probably not real confident that this money is going to be used wisely if there weren’t a pretty heavy amount of requirements attached to it.”

State officials have pushed for the monitoring to ensure Albuquerque’s homeless programs are effective before approving more funding.

Chief Administrative Officer Samantha Sengel said the city can meet the state’s demands. She said the administration “worked carefully” with state officials and “feel absolutely confident that we can report this information.”

The two city council approved Gateway contracts fund $9.17 million in annual operations, $3.6 million each for expanded men’s and women’s services and nearly $2 million for a new young adult shelter. If approved, the deferred R-25-188 would provide an additional $13.5 million for operations and $8.3 million for capital improvements and property acquisition.

Since buying the Gateway Center in 2019 for $15 million, which is the former Lovelace Hospital and Medical center on Gibson, the city has spent at least $70 million and counting to remodel the facility for a 24-7 shelter that also provides other counseling and medical services. The facility is riddled with asbestos which spiked the remodeling costs and delayed the opening of the facility by a year.

Links to quoted or relied upon news sources are here:

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

CITY IS DE FACTO HOMELESS SERVICE HUB TO COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT STATE

On September 3, after voting to approve the contracts, Democrat City Councilor Joaquín Baca said this:

“It’s really well known at this point. A lot of the small towns send their unhoused populations here; we have the services they don’t. …. I think we should get annual appropriations from the state, [because] we’re helping them. How much? That’s an open question. … We should get annual appropriations from the state like they should be. We’re helping them, right?”

The financial strain of serving as the state’s homeless service hub is drawing attention from state lawmakers. In a May 30 letter to Mayor Tim Keller, State Rep. Nicole Chavez (R-Albuquerque) said the city receives a disproportionate share of state homeless funding because of “the concentration of need in the city.”

Representative Chavez noted that the New Mexico legislature allocated nearly $25 million for homeless initiatives this fiscal year, with $19.7 million for statewide programs and $5 million for local projects. “It is reasonable to assume a significant portion will be directed towards Albuquerque” she wrote.

Chavez also raised concern that “despite these substantial investments … the number of individuals living on the streets in Albuquerque continues to rise” and she requested a detailed accounting of the city’s homeless programs.

CITY AND STATE UNHOUSED NUMBERS

The Point-In-Time (PIT) count is the annual process of identifying and counting individuals and families experiencing sheltered and unsheltered homelessness within a community on a single night in January, as defined by the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department (HUD). HUD requires any community receiving funding from Federal homeless assistance grants to conduct the biennial counts.

The 2024 Point In Time Survey provides a comprehensive breakdown of the unhoused in Albuquerque and in the balance of the state. The link to review the entire 62 page 2024 PIT report is here:

Click to access ad7ad8_4e2a2906787e4ca19853b9c7945a4dc9.pdf

ALBUQUERQUE UNSHELTERED DATA BREAKDOWN

The 2024 Point In Time raw data breakdown of Albuquerque’s homeless is as follows:

HOUSEHOLDS COUNTED IN ALBUQUERQUE

The total count of HOUSEHOLDS experiencing homelessness in Albuquerque on January 29, 2024 was 2,248. (Households include those with or without children or only children.) The breakdown is as follows:

Emergency Shelters: 1,018
Transitional Housing: 174
Unsheltered: 1,056

TOTAL HOUSEHOLDS: 2,248

PERSONS COUNTED IN ALBUQUERQUE

The total count of PERSONS experiencing homelessness in Albuquerque on was 2,740 broken down in 3 categories.

Emergency Shelters: 1,289
Transitional Housing: 220
Unsheltered: 1,231

TOTAL PERSONS: 2,740

ALBUQUERQUE’S 2009 TO 2024 STATISTICS

Total number of PEOPLE counted during the Albuquerque Point-in-Time counts from 2009 to 2024 to establish a graphic trend line for the period are as follows:

2009: 2,002
2011: 1,639
2013: 1,171
2015: 1,287
2017: 1,318
2019: 1,524
2021: 1,567
2022: 1,311
2023: 2,394
2024: 2,740

The 2024 Point In Time homeless survey found an 18% increase in Albuquerque’s homeless numbers. The PIT survey identified 2,740 people experiencing homelessness, including 1,231 on the streets, 1,289 in emergency shelters and 220 in transitional housing. The HHH Department’s fiscal year 2026 budget performance measures report emergency unsheltered as 6,103 in 2023, 7,420 in 2024, 7,257 targeted in 2025 and 8,439 targeted in 2026.

BALANCE OF STATE UNSHELTERED DATA BREAKDOWN

The 2024 PIT survey provides the estimated number of people experiencing unsheltered homelessness in the Balance of State. (Households include those with or without children or only children.)

HOUSEHOLDS COUNTED IN BALANCE OF THE STATE

The total count of HOUSEHOLDS experiencing homelessness in the Balance of State on January 29, 2024 was 1,547 broken down as follows:

Emergency Shelters: 587
Transitional Housing: 76
Unsheltered: 884

TOTAL HOUSEHOLDS: 1,547

INDIVIDUALS COUNTED IN BALANCE OF STATE

The total count of PERSONS experiencing homelessness in the Balance of the State on January 29, 2024, was 1,909 broken down as follows:

Emergency Shelters: 746
Transitional Housing: 156
Unsheltered: 1,011

TOTAL PERSONS: 1,909

BALANCE OF THE STATE 2009 TO 2023 STATISTICS

Following are the number of unsheltered people counted in the BALANCE OF THE STATE for the odd number years 2009-2023 and 2024 to establish a graphic trend line:

2009: 1,473
2011: 1,962
2013: 1,648
2015: 1,342
2017: 1,164
2019: 1,717
2021: 1,180
2022: 1,283
2023: 1,448
2024: 1,907

GATEWAY NETWORK OF FIVE SHELTERS

Mayor Tim Keller and the City of Albuquerque have created what is called the Gateway Network of support for people struggling with homelessness and addiction. The network consists of the following:

Gateway Center– Campus providing medical, behavioral, and social services including overnight beds, first responder intake, medical sobering and respite.
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)
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.
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
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.)

The Gateway Center Houses Critical Services And Seven Tenants.

The services provided are:

First Responder Receiving Area – 20 people/night
Medical Sobering Center – 50 people/night
Medical Respite Center – 50 people/night
Women’s Navigation Center – 50 people/night plus additional 50 coming on line
Men’s Navigation Center – 92 people/night with the beds coming on line
Engagement Center – providing connection/access services to more than 1,000 people per year

The Tenants are:

Turquoise Lodge Behavioral Hospital
Haven Behavioral Hospital
Ideal Option Substance Use Disorder Treatment
AMG Hospital
National Alliance on Mental Illness
Vizionz-Sankofa Resource Center
Albuquerque Community Safety – Trauma Recovery Center

The two biggest shelters are the Gibson Gateway and the Gateway West. The Loveless Gibson Medical Center was purchased for $15 million, and the city has spent upwards of $90 million to renovate it. Gateway West provides 450 beds and Gibson Gateway when remodeling is completed is intended to assist upwards of 1,000 homeless and accommodate at least 330 nightly.

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.

In fiscal year 2021-2022, the Family Community Services Department spent $35 million on homeless initiatives. In fiscal year 2022-2023 the department spent another $59 million on homeless initiatives. On June 23, 2022, Keller announced that the city was adding $48 million to the fiscal year 2023 budget to address housing and homelessness issues in Albuquerque.

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.

The fiscal year 2026 approved General Fund budget contains funding for 116 separate services contracts totaling $53.7 million to pay for services provided to the unhoused:

$30.4 million for 32 affordable housing contracts.
$6.3 million for 12 emergency shelter contracts.
$2 million for 16 health and human service contracts.
$5.7 million for 29 homeless support service contracts.
$3.8 million for five Gateway Shelter operating contracts.
$2.2 million for 11 mental health service contracts.
$2.6 million for 11 substance abuse treatment contracts.

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

What sticks out is the staggering amount of money of $300 Million already spent and upwards of $60 Million a year being spent to try and provide assistance to so few, estimated to be between 3,000 to 5,000 unhoused, with upwards of 75% refusing services. There has got to a better way than just throwing money at the problem. There must be far more oversight by the City Council than just rubber stamping what Mayor Keller asks for and wants.

The blunt reality is Albuquerque is now New Mexico’s hub for homeless service referrals throughout the state thanks to Mayor Keller’s 5 shelters and Albuquerque City Council acquiescence. The City is managing the homeless who are from far beyond the city’s borders. The problem is that the City and the State’s unhoused numbers are getting worse and not better after spending millions.

A 2025 report by the city found 30% of individuals experiencing homelessness self report having a serious mental illness, 25% self report having a substance use disorder and around 66% experience some form of mental health condition. The biggest problem is that upwards of 75% of the chronic, emergency unhoused simply refuse city services, yet the city continues with spending millions a year to benefit few. Civil mental health commitment hearings are likely in order for those unhoused who are a danger to themselves or others in order to get them into a hospital setting and get them the mental health treatment or counseling they need and get them off the streets, but Mayor Keller is reluctant to do that preferring a more subdued approach.

Mayor Tim Keller has taken an “all the above approach” to deal with the city’s unhoused and the approach is a failure. Keller has allowed the unhoused to proliferate city streets, parks and open spaces declining to enforce city and state vagrancy laws and make arrests. The problem is the chronic unhoused refuse to accept city services as Keller continues to throw city resources at the crisis. Mayor Tim Keller has essentially proclaimed the unhoused as “wards of the city.” Mayor Keller’s approach is not sustainable. Such responsibility must be undertaken by the state or federal government.

The millions spent to help the unhoused with many refusing services would have gone a long way to finance community centers, senior citizen centers, police and fire substations, preschool or after school programs, senior citizen programs, and police and fire programs. Mayor Keller is throwing millions at temporary shelter as he fails to make a dent on the underlying causes of crime, mental health and drug addiction.

Given the numbers in the 2024 PIT report and the millions being spent on the homeless crisis it should be manageable. Yet the crisis only gets worse and worse each year and it is a continuing major drain on city resources. During the past few years, the unhoused have become far more dispersed throughout the city thanks to Mayor Tim Keller. The unhoused are more aggressive, camping where they want and for how long as they want.

Unhoused who have no interest in any offers of shelter, beds, motel vouchers or alternatives to living on the street force the city to make it totally inconvenient for them to “squat” anywhere they want and must force them to move on. After repeated attempts to reason with them to move on, citations and arrests are in order. Until the problem is solved, the public perception will be that very little to no progress has been made despite millions spent to deal with what Keller proclaims as the “challenge of our lifetime.”

Links to related articles are here:

City Has Upwards Of 2,740 Unhoused, Balance Of State Has 1,907 Unhoused; Numbers Should Be Manageable But Only Getting Worse; Survey Includes Data On ABQ’s Efforts To Dismantle Encampments And Personal Belongings Of Unhoused; City Should Enforce Vagrancy Laws

City Council Adopts $1.5 Billion Dollar 2026 Budget; Budget Reflects Mayor Tim Keller’s Priorities As He Seeks Third 4 Year Term; City Council Failed In Its Oversight Of City Budget And Rubber Stamped All That Keller Demanded; Keller’s Unsustainable Black Hole of Expenditures For The Homeless As 75% of Chronic Emergency Unhoused Refuse Services

Mayor Tim Keller Creates 5 Separate Gateway Shelters To Deal With “Challenge Of Our Lifetime”; City’s $200 Million Financial Commitment To Unhoused; Keller Embellishes By Doubling Unhoused Numbers As He Fails To Deal With Those Who Refuse Services And Getting Them Off Streets

Tim Keller’s Campaign Cash On Hand Of $654,046.56 And Measured Finance Committee Cash On Hand Of $120,330 Dwarfs Opponents Combined Cash On Hand Of $494,968.29; Expect The Unleashing Of Negative Campaign Ads

Posted on September 11, 2025 by Pete Dinelli

The Albuquerque City Clerk has qualified the following 7 candidates running for Mayor who will appear on the November 4 ballot:

Incumbent Mayor Tim Keller.
Eddie Varela, a retired Albuquerque firefighter and former California fire chief.
Alex Uballez, the former U.S. attorney for the District of New Mexico.
Louie Sanchez, a retired APD police officer and current city councilor.
Darren White, the former sheriff of Bernalillo County and former CEO of medcal cannabis company PurLife.
Daniel Chavez, president of Parking Company of America was the very first to qualify for the ballot.
Mayling Armijo, the former director of Economic Development for Bernalillo County and deputy county manager for Sandoval County.

On June 20, the City Clerk determined that Mayor Tim Keller was the only candidate to qualify for public finance, and he was given $755,946 in public finance. The remaining six candidates are privately financed.

On September 8, the 7 candidates for Mayor were required to file with the City Clerk their updated 6^th Mayoral Campaign Disclosure Statement on their contributions and expenditures covering the time period of August 11 to September 8. Following is a summary review of those reports:

TIMOTHY KELLER

COMBINED FINANCIAL TOTALS

Total Contributions $757,147.57 (Same as before.)
Total Expenditures $103,101.01 (Previously $72,910.00)
In-Kind Contributions 2,427.50 (Previously $1,396.25)
In-Kind Expenditures $248.16 (Same as before.)
Current Cash Balance $654,046.56 (Previously $684,237,57)
Current Debt Balance $0.00 (Same as before.)

TOP CONTRIBUTORS

City of Albuquerque $733,968.00 (Public Financing)
Tim Keller $2,500.00
Duke City Commercial $781.25
Garcia Realty $781.25
Tim Keller $650.00
Ona Porter $615.00

Tim Keller lists 191 contributors for a total of $733,968.00

ANALYSIS: Mayor Tim Keller is the only candidate to qualify for public financing. His reelection campaign has given $733,968 in public funding on July 17. He ends the period with $654,046.56 on hand after spending $26,000 with a Chicago-based campaign consulting firm and paying $16,945 to his longtime political consultant Neri Holguin, among other smaller expenses. The link to a relied upon or quoted news source is here:

Click here to review the financial disclosure statement and to download all filed contributions and filed expenditures for Tim Keller.

https://campaignfinance.cabq.gov/#/exploreDetails/yoees8S9dosDI1OaCKWi1JP4048PFnxLXRUfdOLcQk01/2/null/2/2025

MAYLING ARMIJO

COMBINED FINANCIAL TOTALS

Total Contributions $108,133.65 (Previously $77,666.65)
Total Expenditures $47,433.50 (Previously $39,939.18)
In-Kind Contributions $2,257.72 (Same as before.)
In-Kind Expenditures $0.00 (Same as before.)
Current Cash Balance $60,700,15 (Previously 37,727.47)
Current Debt Balance $15,175.65 (Same as before.)

TOP CONTRIBUTORS

Mayling Armijo $15,175.65
Stephen Poe $6,000.00
Beelien Armijo $6,000.00
Mia Armijo $6,000.00
Walter Grodahi $6,000.00
Joseph J. Armijo $6,000.00

Mayling Armijo lists 131 contributors for a total of $108,133.65.

ANALYSIS: Navy veteran and former Sandoval County deputy manager Mayling Armijo has raised $108,133.65 total, with $60,700.15 currently available. Armijo’s funding includes a $15,175.65 loan to herself. Almost half of her total donations came from Armijo family members, including $6,000 each from Joseph, Mia and Beelien Armijo, all of Albuquerque. Her largest non-Armijo donor was $6,000 from Walter Groadhi, a housing developer based in Oregon. She has $60,700,15 cash on hand when before she had $37,727.47 .

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

Click here to review the financial disclosure statement and to download all filed contributions and filed expenditures for MAYLING ARMIJO:

https://campaignfinance.cabq.gov/#/exploreDetails/lRnEYQd4H9z-h4QAAWqHPZP4048PFnxLXRUfdOLcQk01/2/null/2/2025

EDDIE VARELA

COMBINED FINANCIAL TOTALS

Total Contributions $20,676.16 (Previously $6,377.66)
Total Expenditures $10,819.95 (Previously $6,820.76)
In-Kind Contributions $17, 442.00 (Previously $7,800.00)
In-Kind Expenditures $300.00 (Same as before.)
Current Cash Balance $9,856.21 (Previously -$443.10)
Current Debt Balance $10,000.00 (Previously $0.00)

TOP CONTRIBUTORS

Eddie Varela $10,000
CIPGAW $4,000.00
Penfold Live, LLC $3,000.00
Eddie Varela $2,827.06
Jose C. Lopez $2,000.00
CIPGAW $1,500.00
Angie Custom Design $1,300.00
Chester & Diana Stewart $1,000.00

Eddie Varela lists 58 contributors for a total of $20,676.16 in total contributions.

ANALYSIS: Retired Albuquerque Fire Chief Eddie Varela shows $20,676.16 in total contributions, including a $10,000 donation to himself, and $9,856.21 remaining when previously he had negative cash balance of -$443 at the end of the reporting period.

Click here to review the financial disclosure statement and to download all filed contributions and filed expenditures for EDDIE VARELA:

https://campaignfinance.cabq.gov/#/exploreDetails/Z9RllTzngK2bi6GfQSm9AJP4048PFnxLXRUfdOLcQk01/2/null/2/2025

4. DARREN WHITE

COMBINED FINANCIAL TOTALS

Total Contributions $198,583.00 (Previously $179,993.67)
Total Expenditures $68,210.20 (Previously $63,506.77)
In-Kind Contributions $17,821.86 (Previously $16,029.16)
In-Kind Expenditures $25.00 (Same as before.)
Current Cash Balance $130,373.73 (Previously $116,486.90)
Current Debt Balance $20,000.00 (Same as before.)

TOP CONTRIBUTORS

Darren White $20,000
Progress Healthcare, Inc $10,000
Darren White $8,765
RGL Investments $6,000
Peterson Properties $6,000

Darren White lists 653 contributors for a total of $198,583 in contributions.

ANALYSIS: Former Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White has raised $198,583.93 total, with a current balance of $130,373.73. White raised the most in individual donations this period, with over $88,000 from supporters, distinguishing his fundraising approach from candidates who have relied heavily on self-funding, though White has loaned himself over $20,000. White’s largest contributors were $6,000 from Pierre Amestoy, a local developer, and $5,000 each from entities associated with the Pitre family’s automotive businesses, cannabis companies Truforia and Elevated Labs, and Peterson Properties run by Doug Peterson. White also reported a $10,000 donation from Progress Healthcare based in Louisiana, though the city’s limit for contributions to mayoral candidates is $6,000. White told the on line news outlet City Desk the extra $4,000 has been returned. White reported spending of $68,210.20 which included $39,000 paid to long time Republican politcal consultant Jay McClesky.

Click here to review the financial disclosure statement and to download all filed contributions and filed expenditures for Darren White:

https://campaignfinance.cabq.gov/#/exploreDetails/L7j64Ew1a0rWwbrOJFbL4JP4048PFnxLXRUfdOLcQk01/2/null/2/2025

ALEXANDER M.M. UBALLEZ

COMBINED FINANCIAL TOTALS

Total Contributions $197,940.71 (Previously $98,411.80)
Total Expenditures $76,139.15 (Previously $68,633.09)
In-Kind Contributions $8,738.70 (Previously $88.70)
In-Kind Expenditures $0.00 (Previously $0.00)
Current Cash Balance $121,801.56 (Previously $29,778.71)
Current Debt Balance $50,000 (Previously $0.00)

TOP CONTRIBUTORS

Alex Uballez $50,000
Michael Cassidy $5,250
Organizers In the Land of Enchantment $5,000
OLE $5,000
Aleli Colon $3,610.72
Haley Murphy $2,407.27
Brian Colon $1,203.22
Diane Cox $1,203.22
Gabriela Gomez $1,200.00

ALEXANDER M.M. UBALLEZ lists 503 contributors for a total of $197,940.71 in contributions.

Download All Filed Contributions
Download All Filed Expenditures

ANALYSIS: Alex Uballez ended the reporting period having raised $197,940.71 with a Current Cash Balance of $121,801.56.Former U.S. Attorney Alexander Uballez, who abandoned public financing and has raised $98,411.80 in individual donations. Uballez’s single largest donor is himself having donated $50,000 of his own money. Large contributors were $962 from Miranda Viscolli, leader of the nonprofit New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence, $1,203 each from Brian Colón, former state auditor and managing partner of the Singleton Schreiber law firm’s New Mexico office, and his wife Aleli Colón and multiple donations under $500 from local attorneys.

Click here to review the financial disclosure statement and to download all filed contributions and filed expenditures for Alexander M.M. Uballez:

https://campaignfinance.cabq.gov/#/exploreDetails/YjD7dBPe243VBfqRi2eazQpRrh19RviUIoO4CmCWDAE1/2/null/2/2025

LOUIE SANCHEZ

COMBINED FINANCIAL TOTALS

Total Contributions $222,488.83 (No change)
Total Expenditures $58,519.69 (No change)
In-Kind Contributions $1,000.00 (No change)
In-Kind Expenditures $0.00 (No change)
Current Cash Balance $163,969.14 (No change)
Current Debt Balance $152,500.00 (No change)

TOP CONTRIBUTORS

Sanchez, Louie $150,000
Sanchez, Louie $10,000
Peterson Properties $6,000
Thomas P. Tinnin $6,000
Alarid, Vanessa $6,000

LOUIE SANCHEZ lists 111 contributors for a total of $222,488.83 in contributions.

ANALYSIS: There is virtually no major changes from City Councilor Louie Sanchez’s previous campaign finance report. City Councilor Louie Sanchez has raised $222,488.83 with $160,000 of that coming from money Sanchez loaned himself for the campaign in June. His current cash balance stands at $163,969.14.

Click here to review the financial disclosure statement and to download all filed contributions and filed expenditures for Louis Sanchez.

https://campaignfinance.cabq.gov/#/exploreDetails/t4aI25Nr9EiUnEI8lwunGApRrh19RviUIoO4CmCWDAE1/2/null/2/2025

DANIEL CHAVEZ

COMBINED FINANCIAL TOTALS

Total Contributions $114,375.00 (No change)
Total Expenditures $107,318.47 (Previously $106,107.47)
In-Kind Contributions $0.00 (No change)
In-Kind Expenditures $0.00 (No change)
Current Cash Balance $8,267.53 (Previously $7,056.53)
Current Debt Balance $0.00 (No change)

TOP CONTRIBUTORS

Kathleen Chavez $6,000
Peterson Properties, LLC $6,000
Ava Bataglia $1,000
John Martin Bradley $600
Phillip Ward $500

Daniel Chavez lists 10 contributors for a total of $114,375.00 in contributions.

ANALYSIS: Daniel Chavez, President of Parking Company of America, reported $114,375 in total contributions, including $100,000 he loaned himself. Chavez’s current balance shows $7,056.53 available for campaign expenses after spending over $107,000 on the campaign, most of which was spent on petition circulating. He ended the recent reporting period with $8,267 in cash available. Daniel Chavez is considered by many as the only candidate that is capable of self-financing his campaign and has the ability to donate much more if he chooses.

The link to the quoted or relied upon news source is here:

Click here to review the financial disclosure statement and to download all filed contributions and filed expenditures for Daniel Chavez:

https://campaignfinance.cabq.gov/#/exploreDetails/3XlNxpvg2kPbP3TGLUHobwpRrh19RviUIoO4CmCWDAE1/2/null/2/202

MEASURED FINANCE COMMITTEE FINANCIAL REPORTS

There are three measured finance committees (MFA) formed to promote 3 individual candidates for Mayor. On September 8, the 3 committees filed finance reports for the period of August 11 to July 8 with the City Clerk as follows:

ASEND ALBUQUERQUE MEASURED FINANCE COMMITTEE

Ascend Albuquerque is the measured Finance Committee which has been formed for the sole purpose “to support the election of Tim Keller as Mayor of Albuquerque.” On July 14, 2025, Ascent Albuquerque filed it fourth financial disclosure statement as required by the City’s election code. Following is a summary of the Financial Report for Ascend Albuquerque:

COMBINED FINANCIAL TOTALS

Total Contributions $155,350 (Previously $132,350.00)
Total Expenditures $35,,019 (Previously $30,276.44)
In-Kind Contributions -0- (No Change)
In-Kind Expenditures – 0- (No Change)
Current Cash Balance $120,330 (Previously $102,073.56
Current Debt Balance $0.00

TOP CONTRIBUTORS

Council of Carpenters, Brotherhood of Carpenters $20,000
New Mexico Building and Construction Trades Council: $20,000
Fresquez Concessions, Inc $15,000
Sangre De Cristo Hotel Investment, LLC $10,000
IBEW PAC Voluntary Fund $10,000

ANALYSIS: Included in major donations to Ascend Albuquerque are donations from those who do business with the city. Fresquez Concessions, Inc along with one of its principal owners Lenny Freques, manages all the concessions at the airport. The partners of the law firm of Robles, Rael & Anaya donated $30,000. The law firm over any years has been contracted by the city to represent it in civil rights lawsuits. Two brothers of the prominent Garcia family each donated $5,000 and their family are the owners of car dealerships as well as being major downtown developers. The Garcia’s have also made contributions to Mayor Keller’s city endowment fund.

The city link to review the Financial Disclosure Statement for Ascend Albuquerque is here:

https://campaignfinance.cabq.gov/#/exploreCommitteeDetail/VMQvJiHXaP1z-Iz2eL_papP4048PFnxLXRUfdOLcQk01/null/null/2/2025

Safer Albuquerque Committee (Safer ABQ)

Safer Albuquerque Committee (Safer ABQ) is the measured finance committee formed to “advocate for Mayling Armijo’s candidacy for mayor during the Albuquerque 2025 mayoral race and align with values that reduce crime, reduce homelessness, and promote job growth.”

COMBINED FINANCIAL TOTALS

Total Contributions $145,080 (Previously $135,080.00)
Total Expenditures $140, 519 (Previously $133,363.750)
In-Kind Contributions 0.00 (No Change)
In-Kind Expenditures 0.00 (No Change)
Current Cash Balance $4,560.08 (Previously $1,716.25)
Current Debt Balance $0.00 (No Change)

TOP CONTRIBUTORS

Katrina Tracy $65,000 (Previously $55,000)
Chauling Mary Armijo $40,000
Four Winds Mechanical HTC/AC $40,000
Charles Rolison $80.00

The city link to review the Financial Disclosure Statement for Safer Albuquerque Committee (Safer ABQ) is here:

https://campaignfinance.cabq.gov/#/exploreCommitteeDetail/M3FjOgNU2Z3h9u5VXBTrEgpRrh19RviUIoO4CmCWDAE1/null/null/2/2025

CIPGAW: Committee to Elect Eddie Varela Mayor of Albuquerque

CIPGAW: Committee to Elect Eddie Varela Mayor of Albuquerque is the measured finance committee which has been formed “for the purpose to Elect Eddie Varela Mayor of Albuquerque.”

COMBINED FINANCIAL TOTALS

Total Contributions $39,000 (Previously $7,500)
Total Expenditures $39,000 (Previously $6,924,83)
In-Kind Contributions: -0- (No Change)
In-Kind Expenditures: -0- (No Change)
Current Cash Balance: -0- (Previously $575.17)
Current Debt Balance: -0- (No Change)

TOP CONTRIBUTORS

Hat Mesa Oil $39,500
Bradley William Day $7,500

The city link to review the Financial Disclosure Statement for CIPGAW: Committee to Elect Eddie Varela Mayor of Albuquerque is here:

https://campaignfinance.cabq.gov/#/exploreCommitteeDetail/feXJuXAYkFJVGJBhl95rMZP4048PFnxLXRUfdOLcQk01/null/null/2/2025

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

With a little more than 7 weeks before the November 4 election, Mayor Tim Keller has an insurmountable lead when it comes to campaign donations and cash on hand to spend. Following is a breakdown of the current cash balance for each of the 7 candidates:

Tim Keller $654,046.56
Mayling Armijo $60,700.15
Eddie Varela $9,856.21
Darren White $130,373.73
Alexander Uballez $121,801.56
Louis Sanchez $163,969.14
Daniel Chavez $8,267.53

The measured Finance Committee Ascend Albuquerque which has been formed for the sole purpose of promoting Tim Keller has a current cash balance of $120,330 available to spend.

The fact that Mayor Keller is the only candidate to secure $755,946 in public finance and a measured finance committee that has raised another $155,350 to promote him for a grand total of $911,296,296 is a testament of the power of Keller’s incumbency.

After expenditures, the Keller campaign still has $654,046.56 that will be used to promote his candidacy. All six of the other candidates combined have raised $494,968.29. It is clear evidence Keller is running against a very weak field of candidates given that Keller was the only one who qualified for public finance. The measured fiancé committee promoting Keller still has $120,330 in cash on hand to promote Keller and to tear down his opponents.

It is clear from review of all 6 of Keller’s opponents campaign finance reports that none of his opponents have caught on with major donors except perhaps themselves. All 6 are simply trying to self-finance as much as they can to compete against Keller. Mayling Armijo and her family members have contributed $39,175 directly to her campaign out of $108,133 raised. Eddie Varela has contributed $10,000 directly to his campaign out of $20,676 raised. Darren White has contributed $28,765 directly to his campaign out of $198,583 raised. Louie Sanchez has contributed $150,000 directly to his campaign out of $222,488.83 raised. Daniel Chavez has contributed $100,000 directly to his campaign out of $114,375.00 raised.

Safer Albuquerque Committee, the measured finance committee formed to promote Mayling Armijo, has raised $145,080 but at least $80,000 of that has come from her family. The Current Cash Balance is now $4,560.08.

Some politcal pundits and columnists have said that if Keller’s opponents are unable to raise sufficient campaign donations, there is a possibility that Keller could capture 50% of the vote and avoid a runoff election between the top two finishers. That is likely wishful thinking given just how unpopular Mayor Tim Keller really is amongst voters with one recent poll showing Keller has a disapproval rating of 60% and an older poll finding he has a 33% approval rating. No amount of money spent on his behalf to get him elected to a third term may be enough to reform his image in the eyes of voters who have simply had enough of his self-promotion ways with very little accomplished.

With the November 4 election approaching fast, expect the Keller Campaign to get very aggressive and go negative with his opponents given Keller’s unfavorable ratings. The biggest problem among all 6 of his opponents is that none of the six seem to have truly gained traction and support. All of Keller’s opponents have been relegated to scrambling for private financing and trying to self finance.

Seven weeks in a political campaign can be an eternity. There is a slight chance that a major event will occur that will change the dynamics of the race and one of the 6 candidates will catch on. Until then the general public can expect an onslaught of negative campaign commercials and mailers from all 7 candidates as Mayor Tim Keller’s campaign spends the $654,046.56 cash on hand, the measured finance committee Ascend Albuquerque spends its $120,330 cash on hand and the other 6 candidates spend their combined $494,968.29 .

You can always turn off your TV and radios until November 5.

Jaemes Shanley Announces His Candidacy As A Write-in Candidate for City Council District 7 Opposing Incumbent City Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn; Write In Jaemes Shanley For City Council District 7

Posted on September 10, 2025 by Pete Dinelli

On September 2, Jaemes Shanley filed his Declaration of Intent to be a write-in candidate for City Council District 7 along with 500 nominating petition signatures of registered voters. The Bernalillo County Clerk verified the signatures as registered voters and certified Jaemes Shanley’s write in candidacy.

City Council District 7 is the mid heights city council district currently represented by first term City Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn. The district includes the uptown retail business district including the Commons, Winrock and Coronado Shopping Center. The District boundaries are generally Montgomery Boulevard on the North, I-25 on the West, Lomas on the South and Eubank on the East.

Jaemes Shanley is the President of the Mark Twain Neighborhood Association located in the mid heights and is the Vice President of the District 7 Coalition of Neighborhoods which boasts membership of 14 neighborhood associations. His complete biography is in the postscript.

Jaemes Shanley submitted the following announcement of his candidacy to be published as a public service announcement with no charge by www.PeteDinelli.com:

“I AM RUNNING A WRITE-IN CAMPAIGN FOR DISTRICT 7 CITY COUNCIL – THIS IS WHY

The choice to mount a write-in campaign for public office is not a trivial pursuit, regardless of age or political experience.

Neither is it easy to watch and experience the city you have known for 56 years fall into decay, neglect, and functional stasis in the face of what is, figuratively speaking, a three-alarm fire.

I believe Albuquerque’s elected governance is well intentioned. Yet it has failed to deliver needed remedies for a city-wide crisis that is unraveling the fabric of an orderly and thriving urban life.

Big problems are typically complicated and often interconnected. That does not make them insoluble. It simply demands more outreach and collaboration within the community to apply talent, experience, resources and commitment with laser focus to define and implement the solution.

In 1983, as a resident of Australia, I witnessed and experienced a nation tackle and resolve an existential crisis by doing that. A newly elected Prime Minister gathered all parties with capacities and interests bearing on intractable stagflation and produced an “Accord” which unshackled the economy and remained in effect for 13 years.

The salient problem facing Albuquerque today is that public safety, commercial vitality, and growth are all being checked by the failure to resolve the emergency level crisis of thousands of people living unsheltered and unprotected on our streets, subject to a host of depredations that include weather and temperature extremes, squalor, addiction, behavioral health impairment, petty to major criminality and worse.

Over the past 8 years, our city government has built a massive Gateway System at great cost to address this problem yet, as can be seen on our streets and, too frequently in our neighborhoods, street homelessness remains essentially unchanged, if not worse.

Failed strategies should have a short lifespan, not be permitted to grow into an “unhoused building/industrial complex”.

Perceived anxiety among Albuquerque’s residents drives local government to endorse approaches to these unhoused populations that can be as cruel as they are ineffective. Pushing people from one unhoused location to another is relocation not resolution. Too often the methods used add more layers of trauma to afflicted individuals as they watch their already meagre belongings crushed in the back of a Solid Waste truck.

There are those who believe this issue can be resolved by a shift in priority from “unhoused industrial complex” to “carceral industrial complex”. That might clear the streets in the short term but what are the costs and long-term implications for Albuquerque of maintaining a “factory” that is virtually guaranteed to transition thousands from petty to hardened criminality?

We can do better. The resources, experience and skills exist in Albuquerque to formulate and implement a practical plan of action to end street homeless at its present scale so we can recover the vast areas of our city that have been surrendered to this crisis. If that requires innovative outside-the-box approaches and an unprecedented degree of engagement, coordination and collaboration between city, county, and state government and the non-government individuals and organizations able to contribute value, effectiveness, and alacrity, why not?

Albuquerque City Council should be working in tandem with a Mayoral administration dedicated to the proposition that Albuquerque is a city that deserves and must have the unimpaired and unimpeded potential to build flourishing, safe, and vibrant community throughout.

That requires Ordinances and Resolutions that are carefully and honestly crafted to address real problems, not to push hidden agendas or “fix” what is not broken, like single family neighborhoods.

It requires monitoring and holding accountable the Administration to deliver efficiently on its core mission to service the community, be that public safety or Planning Department execution of Permitting, Inspections, and Code Enforcement.

It requires the entire city government to recognize, support, and celebrate locally owned business enterprises.

Making Albuquerque whole and healthy again is neither mission impossible nor is it a rewind back to the better days I have witnessed. It is the essential first step required to realize a future Albuquerque that combines its incomparable and unique magic with rational adaptation to future needs so that it becomes the best it has ever been.

I do not accept that Albuquerque should remain so far short of its potential. It must once again become a compelling home and destination for business entrepreneurs, skilled professionals, young families, providing well—paying jobs with future-defining sustainable industries and innovative businesses.

There is urgent work to be done to make that happen…….and that is why I am running a Write-in campaign for District 7 City Council.”

I respectfully ask for the vote of all District 7 residents on November 4.

SINCERELY

Jaemes Shanley

DINELLI COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

It would be a major mistake to discount the write in candidacy of Jaemes Shanley against Tammy Feibelkorn given her unpopularity within District 7. Jaemes Shanley’s emerging support from voters who want change and are tired of Feibelkorn’s failure to represent their best interests are the reasons for his write in candidacy. This is why Shanley was able to secure over 500 qualifying petition signatures by going door to door with supporters in just a few weeks.

First term City Councilor Tammy Feibelkorn is considered highly unpopular within City Council District 7 because of her sponsorship or support of controversial major legislation that has failed to be enacted by the city council during her four year tenure. The legislation has included her unwavering support of city sanctioned “safe out door spaces” for the homeless and her sponsorship of legislation to increase density in establish neighborhoods.

City Councilor Tammy Feibelkorn sponsored R 25-167 which was the “opt in” zoning law ordinance to create a voluntary rezoning process that would let property owners switch to higher-density zoning if they want to build more housing on their residential properties. The Planning Department would have very broad authority to increase density with adjoining property owners having no rights to object. It would allow duplexes, townhomes and small apartment buildings in single-family neighborhoods to increase density. Feibelkorn proclaimed it will increase affordable housing. It will not. Feibelkorn has a “Field of Dreams” zoning philosophy of “if we rezone it, they will build it,” ignoring adjacent property owner rights, favoring developers and investors. Feibelkorn “opt-in” zoning ordinance is clearly “overkill” that will affect all quadrants of the city favoring developers and investors. It will destroy the character of established neighborhoods and lead to gentrification. It will be developers and investors on the prowl who will purchase existing homes for the development of duplexes, townhomes and small apartment buildings in single-family neighborhoods.

Feibelkorn stubbornly supported and voted for changes to the city’s zoning laws that eliminated adjoining property owner’s rights to appeal zoning changes and requiring appealing neighborhood associations to pay the attorney fees of developers who prevailed in seeking zoning changes.

City Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn is the major proponent of the Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) “pilot project” in District 7 that proposes to “retrofit” older neighborhoods with a destructive burden strenuously opposed to by area residents. GSI involves extensive excavations of streets the city claims are needed to capture stormwater and infiltrate it to groundwater. Opponents say it won’t and that studies show the bio swales need to be located above the water table within 5 to 18 feet. The water table is too far down for this to work yet millions will be spent.

When asked by her constituents to reconsider her positions, she simply says NO and says she has made up her mind even before the legislation is debated by the full city council. It is her votes, actions and her overt hostility to constituents who disagree with her that has resulted in voters believing she is not acting in their best interests.

New Mexico law requires elections to allow for write-in candidates, but only if they have been properly qualified for the election to allow their votes to be counted. A write-in candidate must be considered a candidate for all purposes and provisions relating to candidates in the Local Election Act, except that the write-in candidate’s name shall not be printed on the ballot nor posted in any polling place. On election day November 4 registered voters must physically write Jaemes Shanley name on the ballot in the blank space provided and not vote for Tammy Fiebelkorn.

On November 4, voters of District 7, which includes the author of this blog, are encourage to write in the name of Jaemes Shanley on the ballot in the blank space provided.

_________________________________

POSTSCRIPT

BIOGRAPHY OF JAEMES SHANLEY

Jaemes Shanley first arrived in Albuquerque in August 1969, after graduating High School in England, to attend UNM from which he graduated in 1973. His parents followed a year later, and his father retired in Albuquerque after a 30-year career as a US Naval aviator. In 1971 they purchased a home in the Mark Twain neighborhood where they resided for the remainder of their lives. Jaemes worked in the private sector in sales, marketing, and business strategy for U.S. corporations in Australia, Japan, and the United States. His work required extensive travel throughout Asia Pacific and Latin America, routinely on the ground in more than 30 countries. Jaemes and his wife returned to Albuquerque in September 2006 to renovate and take up residence in his parent’s Mark Twain neighborhood home where they reside today on their family “compound” along with 5 rescued cats. Jaemes drives the corridors of Albuquerque on an almost daily basis to deliver carrots to his horse, Rembrandt, who resides in Corrales.

Links to guest columns written by Jaemes Shanley:

Jaemes Shanley Guest Opinion Column: Councilor Fiebelkorn’s “Opt In” Zoning Proposal Reflected Willful Ignorance Of Our City’s Obvious Needs

Jaemes Shanley Guest Opinion Column: A Mark Twain Neighborhood Perspective Of Albuquerque

Jaemes Shanley Guest Opinion Column: The Audacity of Contempt

ABQ Journal Dinelli Local Columnist Opinion Column: “Keller Proposed Policies Would Violate Property And Contract Rights”; POSTSCRIPT: Original Blog Article Provided; Its Time We Elect A New Mayor

Posted on September 9, 2025 by Pete Dinelli

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 September 8 the Albuquerque Journal published on its editorial opinion page the below “Local Columnist” opinion column by Pete Dinelli:

JOURNAL EDITOR’S HEADLINE: Keller Proposed Policies Would Violate Property And Contract Rights

BY PETE DINELLI, LOCAL COLUMNIST

Mayor Tim Keller requested sponsorship and promoted enactment of three controversial pieces of legislation that divided the City Council and the community. The legislation generated hostility and mistrust. The legislation would interfere with people’s property rights and contract rights, increase the number of sanctioned homeless encampments and destroy established neighborhoods by increasing density. On Aug. 13, the City Council Land Use, Planning and Zoning committee voted to kill all three measures. The full City Council should do the same.

The Renter’s Empowerment and Neighborhood Transparency (RENT) ordinance is government overreaching, interfering with real property rights and the right of contract with the ultimate goal being rent control. There is no need for the RENT ordinance. The Uniform Owner-Resident Relations Act enumerates the responsibilities, rights and remedies of both owners and tenants which are enforced by the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court. The RENT ordinance constitutes an abusive interference with the operation and management of rental properties. Requiring more of property owners and landlords and less of tenants amounts to interference with property contract rights and obligations. One point of major contention is that renters should not be mandated by landlords to carry “renters insurance” and not be subject to extensive background and credit checks. These requirements are reasonable and necessary to manage rental properties and to protect the property owner and renters.

“Safe Outdoor Spaces” are organized, managed homeless encampments. Current zoning law allows two homeless encampments for upward of 50 people in all the nine City Council districts with regulations mandating hand-washing stations, toilets and showers, 6-foot fencing and require 24/7 security. Keller’s proposed legislation would relax or eliminate regulations to allow expansion of the Safe Outdoor Spaces program with the goal of increasing the number. Keller said the city needs to “scale up” by allowing smaller encampments. Keller wants as many as 100 smaller Safe Outdoor Spaces to accommodate 1,000 homeless. “Safe Outdoor Spaces” represent disaster for the city. “Safe Outdoor Spaces” will destroy neighborhoods, make the city a magnet for the homeless. They undercut the city’s efforts to manage the homeless through shelters and permanent housing and the integrated shelter system of five shelters.

R 25-167 is Keller’s proposed ordinance to create a voluntary rezoning process that would let property owners switch to higher-density zoning if they want to build more housing on their residential properties. The Planning Department would have very broad authority to increase density with adjoining property owners having no rights to object. It would allow duplexes, townhomes and small apartment buildings in single-family neighborhoods to increase density. Keller proclaims it will increase affordable housing. It will not. Keller has a “Field of Dreams” zoning philosophy of “if we rezone it, they will build it,” ignoring adjacent property owner rights, favoring developers and investors. Keller’s “opt-in” zoning is clearly “overkill” that will affect all quadrants of the city favoring developers and investors. It will destroy the character of established neighborhoods and lead to gentrification. It will be developers and investors on the prowl who will purchase existing homes for the development of duplexes, townhomes and small apartment buildings in single-family neighborhoods.

Voters must decide if Keller is acting in their best interests or simply promoting and doubling down on his failed policies. Voters will decide Nov. 4 if Keller is elected to a third term. It’s time we elect a new mayor for a new direction.

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 the Albuquerque Journal guest column is here:

https://www.abqjournal.com/opinion/article_3ce473a9-9883-44f2-a066-9db48ca6acd4.html

POSTSCRIPT

The Albuquerque Journal has a 600-word limitation on all opinion columns submitted for publication by the paper. The forgoing opinion column is a condensed version of the August 18 article published on the News and Commentary blog www.PeteDinelli.com entitled “Mayor Tim Keller’s “Renters Right Ordinance”, Relaxation of Safe Outdoor Space Restrictions, And “Opt-In” Zoning Ordinance Each Voted Down By City Council’s LUPZ Committee; Keller Doubles Down On His Failed, Divisive Policies As He Seeks A Third Term; It’s Time We Elect A New Mayor”. The original article was relied upon for fact checking purposes and provides greater detail on the 3 ordinances that Mayor Keller was promoting, the City Councilors who sponsored the ordinances, providing Analysis and Commentary on all 3 ordinances and the final vote. Below is the link to the original article:

Mayor Tim Keller’s “Renters Right Ordinance”, Relaxation of Safe Outdoor Space Restrictions, And “Opt-In” Zoning Ordinance Each Voted Down By City Council’s LUPZ Committee; Keller Doubles Down On His Failed, Divisive Policies As He Seeks A Third Term; It’s Time We Elect A New Mayor

Gov. MLG Calls Special Session For October 1 To Deal With Trump’s Federal Spending Cuts; No Surprise That No Crime Bills Included

Posted on September 8, 2025 by Pete Dinelli

On September 4, after two months of speculation and hinting that she would call the New Mexico legislature into Special Session, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced by press release that she has called lawmakers back to the capital starting October 1 for a special session. The Special Session will be focused on a state-level response to federal spending reductions to Medicaid and food assistance programs.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham began suggesting the possibility of a special session even before July 4, when President Donald Trump signed H.R.1, the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” Trump’s spending bill that contains significant cuts to New Mexico’s Medicaid and nutrition programs.

Following is the press release:

“As deep federal budget cuts threaten to compound the challenges facing New Mexico communities, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced … that she will call lawmakers into a special session starting Oct. 1 to find solutions and mitigate harm.

“New Mexicans should not be forced to shoulder these heavy burdens without help from their elected officials,” Lujan Grisham said. “After discussions with legislative leaders, we’ve resolved to do everything possible to protect essential services and minimize the damage from President Trump’s disastrous bill.”

Lawmakers plan to consider a package of measures that could include:

Funding to the Rural Health Care Delivery Fund to allow stabilization grants for quality health care providers.

Taking action to make health insurance premiums more affordable in the marketplace and for New Mexicans losing Medicaid coverage.
New investments in food assistance for children, seniors and families in need.
Funding for public broadcasting.
Additional resources to help the Health Care Authority prepare for upcoming Medicaid enrollment changes.

H.R.1, which Trump signed into law on July 4, will reduce state revenues, and force the state to spend more by shifting costs from the federal government to the states. The reduction in federal Medicaid and SNAP funds alone will result in multi-billion-dollar losses annually that threaten household budgets and the survival of New Mexico’s health care system, particularly in rural areas.

“New Mexico cannot stand by while Washington’s reckless budget cuts inflict generational harm on families and communities across the state,” Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth said. “A special session is essential to protect our rural healthcare providers, safeguard Medicaid coverage, and ensure that New Mexicans don’t bear the burden of federal failures.”

“New Mexico is not going to allow Trump and the radical right to take food off your table or kick your family off your healthcare plan,” Speaker of the House Javier Martínez said. “We have been hard at work evaluating how this federal budget will impact New Mexico and how we can best fight back. Now, we’re ready to roll up our sleeves to protect access to the services you and your families need most.”

The governor is also in discussions with the legislature to address behavioral health challenges that affect our criminal justice system and community safety in the special session and the upcoming 30-day session.”

The link to the press release is here:

https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2025/09/04/governor-announces-special-session-to-begin-oct-1/

Special sessions are limited to no longer than 30 days under the state Constitution. The October 2025 session will be the seventh special session of the legislature called by Governor Lujan Grisham. According to the Legislative Council Service and going back to 2020, the average daily cost of a special session is $57,000. Last year’s single-day special session cost $92,883. That figure includes compensation for necessary session staffers. No one can say for certain how long the October 1 special session will last. Most special sessions called in recent years have ended after a few days.

The October 1 special session will be the first called by Lujan Grisham since a July 2024 session focused on crime-related issues that ended with the Democratic-controlled Legislature adjourning without taking action on most of the governor’s proposed agenda. In an effort to avoid the same fate with the October 1 session, the Governor’s Office top staffers have been meeting with Democratic legislative leaders in recent weeks about a special session spending package that could exceed $400 million. That funding would come from nearly $3.5 billion in unspent money in state reserve funds, as state revenue levels have surged to record-high levels in recent years.

Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” is in fact a large tax reduction package signed into law that trimmed close to $1 trillion from Medicaid, Medicare and subsidies from the Affordable Care Act and $230 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, spending over the next 10 years to pay for the tax reductions. State health officials are warning that Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” he signed in July could lead to more than 90,000 New Mexico residents losing health care coverage and the possible closure of rural hospitals. According to state executive and legislative branch economists the federal budget bill is projected to cost the state an average of $206 million per year over the next five years.

HOT BUTTON CRIME LEGISLATION NOT INCLUDED

While announcing the special session’s start date of October 1, the Governor’s Office confirmed that hot-button legislation dealing with crime will be deferred until the start of the 30-day regular session in January. Bills dealing with juvenile crime and firearm restrictions are expected to be delayed until next year’s 30-day session. The governor’s office says she is in discussions with the Legislature to address behavioral health challenges that affect the criminal justice system and community safety in the special session and during the upcoming 30-day session.

Michael Coleman, the governor’s chief spokesperson, said this:

“Lawmakers can expect a comprehensive list of requests from the governor in the 30-day session specific to public safety, such as juvenile justice, increases to penalties for various firearm crimes, and human trafficking changes, among other items.”

Other legislation expected not to be included in the Special Session is legislation targeting New Mexico’s three federal immigrant detention centers, which generated testy debate during a recent interim committee hearing. The three detention centers run by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement are located in Chaparral, Estancia and Milan.

The governor’s chief general counsel told lawmakers in July that legislation banning New Mexico local governments from entering into contracts with federal agencies to detain immigrants for civil violations could be included in the special session mix.

Rep. Andrea Romero, D-Santa Fe, one of the sponsors of that legislation, said on September 4 there were ongoing discussions about specific bill details. She said she believes there is growing momentum for such legislation. Romero said this:

“I feel like our legislative body is definitely seeing the realities of why we need to address ICE detention in our state.”

Lujan Grisham’s Communication Director Michael Coleman confirmed that legislation to ban Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention would not be on the agenda, a possibility previously mentioned by the governor’s chief counsel that prompted renewed debate on the topic among lawmakers.

REPUBLICANS REACT

Republican lawmakers reacted to the Democrat Governor Lujan Grishams’ calling a special session by criticizing the governor for not including crime-related issues and changes to New Mexico’s child welfare system on the special session agenda.

Senate Republican Leader Bill Sharer issued the following statement in response to the governor’s special session announcement:

“We appreciate any opportunity to provide real solutions for New Mexicans. Just as we did during last year’s failed public safety special session, Republican legislators are prepared to address the pressing issues facing our state. Based on countless conversations with constituents and concerned New Mexicans, our efforts remain focused on restoring the safety of our communities, protecting our state’s vulnerable children, and improving our access to quality health care. Democrats in the legislature have opposed our common-sense proposals to improve public safety, including needed changes to juvenile justice laws and an end to the revolving-door release of repeat violent offenders. Democrats have also refused to hold CYFD accountable for the ongoing abuse and even deaths of children under their care. And, at the urging of their trial attorney friends, Democrats have rejected efforts to reduce medical malpractice costs and to have New Mexico join the interstate medical licensure compact—both actions which would drastically improve health care access in New Mexico. We remain hopeful that Democrat lawmakers will decide to come to the table ready to collaborate on the real issues New Mexicans are concerned about, rather than engage in unproductive political theater.”

Sharer said this in a separate interview:

“It appears to me to be a taxpayer-funded anti-Trump rally. … If we’re going to have a special session and try to solve a problem, then we should try to solve a problem.”

Sharer pointed out most of the federal funding changes to Medicaid and food assistance programs contained in Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” are not scheduled to take effect until 2027 or later showing as he showed no reservations and absolutely no disdain for the cuts that are coming to the state. Republican lawmakers also questioned the extent of the funding cut estimates and cite tax breaks and other provisions in the federal bill that could benefit New Mexico residents.

Leading Republican lawmakers said they still plan to draft bills dealing with criminal penalties, New Mexico’s child welfare system and the state’s medical malpractice system, even if Lujan Grisham does not include the issues on the special session agenda.

House Minority Leader Gail Armstrong, R-Magdalena, described those topics as “real emergencies” facing the state. Armstrong said this:

“New Mexicans deserve a special session that takes these issues seriously — not another round of political theater dictated by the 4th floor of the Roundhouse.”

Links to quoted or relied upon news sources are here:

https://www.koat.com/article/new-mexico-governor-legislative-special-session-2025/65984999

https://www.kob.com/new-mexico/governor-announces-special-session-to-begin-oct-1/

https://www.krqe.com/news/new-mexico/new-mexico-governor-announces-special-legislative-session-beginning-in-october/

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/article_a8e3e153-84b0-4ac9-8d0c-9c62752e6a6b.html

https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/governor-calls-lawmakers-for-special-session-starting-oct-1/article_232cf3ae-a000-465c-b074-76a7a0845f52.html

https://sourcenm.com/2025/09/04/nm-gov-announces-oct-1-for-special-session-tackling-federal-cuts-to-healthcare-nutrition-public-broadcasting/

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

It should come as absolutely no surprise that the Governor is not including any legislation for the special session dealing with crime-related issues. The Governor learned a harsh lesson when she called a special session in July 2024 focused on crime-related issues without a consensus reached before the session with lawmakers and it ended with the Democratic-controlled Legislature adjourning without taking action on any of her proposed agenda. Simply put, unless a clear consensus can be reached on changes to the juvenile justice laws, firearm restrictions and increased criminal penalties, including such measures in a special session would simply be a waste of time.

It is absolutely clear from the Governor’s press release announcing the October 1 Special Session and the comments made by Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth and New Mexico Speaker of the House Speaker Javier Martínez a strong consensus has been reached on how to deal with the severe budget cuts and damage done by Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” to New Mexico. The October 1 special session is designed to find ways to offset the impact of federal funding cuts passed by Congress and approved by President Trump in July. The goal is to ensure initiatives like the rural health care delivery fund and food assistance programs can continue operating and make sure Medicaid recipients do not lose health coverage.

What Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth and Speaker of the House Javier Martínez said about the Special Session is worth repeating.

Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth said this:

“New Mexico cannot stand by while Washington’s reckless budget cuts inflict generational harm on families and communities across the state. …. A special session is essential to protect our rural healthcare providers, safeguard Medicaid coverage, and ensure that New Mexicans don’t bear the burden of federal failures.”

Speaker of the House Javier Martínez said this:

“New Mexico is not going to allow Trump and the radical right to take food off your table or kick your family off your healthcare plan. … We have been hard at work evaluating how this federal budget will impact New Mexico and how we can best fight back. Now, we’re ready to roll up our sleeves to protect access to the services you and your families need most.”

It is downright pathetic and so very typical of New Mexico Republican lawmakers to try and deflect the actual damage being done to the New Mexico by President Trump. Minority Republican Floor Leader Senator Bill Sharer shows just how out of touch he is with the average New Mexican when he says this:

“I’m confused as to why this burning need for a special session, especially when it doesn’t appear there’s anything special needed.”

It’s nauseating that Sharer and his Republican colleagues totally approve of all things Trump and what Trump is doing to the State and its people. To Sharer and New Mexico Republicans there is nothing special needed to protect rural health care delivery, food assistance programs and make sure Medicaid recipients do not lose health coverage until it actually happens and it’s a crisis and even then they may not act.

New Mexico Republican legislators also harp on the need to increase efforts to deal with public safety to reduce crime, especially violent crime, with those efforts usually concentrating on increased penalties and more incarceration and what they refer to as the revolving-door of release of repeat violent offenders. Republicans never acknowledged the need for common sense gun control legislation to reduce the proliferation of guns used to commit violent crimes. The availability and proliferation of guns must be recognized as a big part of the state’s violent crime problem, something Republicans will never understand or they just choose to ignore.

Governor Lujan Grisham and the Senate and House leadership are correct to concentrate during the Special Session on how to deal with the severe budget cuts and damage done by Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” to New Mexico during the Special Session. At this point, there is no need complicate a Special Session with crime legislation that no consensus can be arrived at during what will likely be a short one or two day Special Session.

Jaemes Shanley Guest Opinion Column: Councilor Fiebelkorn’s “Opt In” Zoning Proposal Reflected Willful Ignorance Of Our City’s Obvious Needs

Posted on September 5, 2025 by Pete Dinelli

Following is a guest opinion column written by Jaemes Shanley. Mr. Shanley is the President of the Mark Twain Neighborhood Association located in the mid heights and is the Vice President of the District 7 Coalition of Neighborhoods which boasts membership of 14 neighborhood associations. You can read his full bio in the postscript below. Mr. Shanley gave consent to publish his guest column on www.PeteDinelli.com and he was not compensated for it.

COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN’S “OPT IN” ZONING PROPOSAL REFLECTED WILLFUL IGNORANCE OF OUR CITY’S OBVIOUS NEEDS

Sometimes you get to the point where you “just can’t take it anymore”.

I reached my breaking point in June when I read City Council Resolution R-25-167, sponsored by my City Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn, concluding she was not acting in the best interests of my District 7 nor of the city. She was using her perceptions of Albuquerque’s housing needs to promote an agenda that would destroy established neighborhoods in the interest of randomly increasing density to benefit developers at the expense of homeowners.

FIEBELKORN’S OPT IN ZONING

The Councilor’s Resolution 25-167 proposed “Opt-in Zoning” whereby anyone owning a single-family home could apply to “upzone” their R-1 zoned home and redevelop to increase density by converting the home to a duplex or townhouse. If you owned a corner lot on any block of any neighborhood, you could “upzone” and build 3 story multi-family apartments next to single family homes. The most offensive provision of the “Opt-In” zoning is that adjacent homeowners or neighborhood associations would not be given any notice of the opt-in to increase density and essentially not be able to oppose or appeal the resulting development which would then be “permissive use”. If they did find an avenue for appeal, adjoining property owners or Neighborhood Associations would risk being penalized $1,000 if they lost, thanks to Ordinance O-24-69 for which Councilor Fiebelkorn voted “yes” in January.

Developers or investors, when judgements go against them, face no corresponding risk or penalty.

The ultimate goal of the Opt-in zoning ordinance was to increase “affordable housing”, however, there is no data to support the theory that upzoning properties creates affordable housing. The Ordinance was based on out-of-date 2022 population and housing data. It predicated housing needs on reality-defying projections of 2% annual population growth over the next 20 years. This is a city which has lost 4,500 residents since 2020. It excluded mention of current vacancy rates over 6% in Albuquerque’s multi-family dwellings and the fact there are presently 3,137 apartments or townhouses now under construction and another 9,593 at various stages of proposal.

Simply put, Opt-in zoning would destroy the character of existing neighborhoods and would have favored developers and investors who could care less about the character of existing neighborhoods. It was far more likely to lead to gentrification and destabilization of property values as lenders were challenged to determine lending limits on properties no longer located in contiguous context.

Fortunately, this measure was voted down by the Land Use Planning and Zoning Committee on August 13^th, with only Councilor Fiebelkorn voting in favor.

BUS ROUTE TO NOWHERE

Undeterred by the failure of R-25-167, Councilor Fiebelkorn pressed forward with another Resolution that was also ultimately about up zoning. This Resolution proposed amending the Comprehensive Plan to change Menaul from Louisiana west to Rio Grande from a Multi-modal to a Major Transit (MT) corridor. At a meeting this summer organized by the Near North Valley NA, the City Transportation Department clearly stated that this shift is unnecessary for increasing bus frequency. Bus service will increase when the driver shortage is solved. Claims about the need to fix a ‘broken corridor’ also rang hollow.

This proposed change is not about transit, it is about increasing density along the corridor without adequate public notification or input from residents. There are several changes to MT corridors proposed in the 2025 IDO Biennial Update, soon to be submitted to the Environmental Planning Commission (EPC). If this package of amendments passes as currently written, MT corridors will have—permissively—higher allowable building heights and shorter distances for height limits protecting Neighborhood Edges.

A request at Council to defer R-25-175 failed after Councilor Fiebelkorn grilled the Staff Planner about the design standard differences between Multi-Modal and Major Transit, pedantically repeating “so, no change?” after each item noted.

She thus very skillfully, and to my mind duplicitously, managed to avert any airing or discussion of the “hidden agenda” of this legislation. That hidden agenda being Items 32, 33 and 44 on the Pre-EPC Submittal Spreadsheet for the 2025 IDO Biennial Update (available to view here: https://abq-zone.com/ido-update-2025-citywide-ammendments-pre-epc-submittal ) These amendments, when adopted, will make these changes to MT corridors permissive, thus removing public notification. The network of MT corridors thru-out the city, now including Menaul from Louisiana west, creates wide swaths available for increased density. Where this is in keeping with the long-accepted Comprehensive Plan vision of Centers and Corridors; great! Where it runs across historic areas of established R-1 neighborhoods; not so great!

While Councilor Fiebelkorn will point to the Menaul MRA and other de-invested sections of Menaul as the target zone for higher density development, market reality will drive developer interest to locations in closest proximity to established residential neighborhoods able to contribute to the economic potential of the commercial components of mixed-use development. Residents of Quigley Park, Bel-Air, Santa Barbara-Martineztown, Wells Park, Near North Valley, and even Los Duranes neighborhoods all face the prospect of living, quite literally, in the shadow Resolution 25-175 will be permitted to cast over our community in the name of an ephemeral bus service that cannot be presently delivered.

DEEP DIVE TAKEN TO UNDERSTAND OUR CITY’S PROBLEMS

What makes Councilor Fiebelkorn’s attempted “Opt-in Zoning” and forcefully promoted “Bus Route to Nowhere” resolutions and actions most offensive are their willful ignorance of the very real problems that afflict our city. We can and must do better.

During the past 10 months, I have engaged in a “deep dive” to seek and to understand our city’s problems, which were not here 40 years ago. My efforts have included the following:

Riding the entire bus route of the Albuquerque Rapid Transit (ART), to experience the nature of the service and the people who use it, and to observe the reality of its Central corridor, compared to the extravagant projections offered by Mayor Berry when he first proposed it 2014. The salient contribution of the ART Bus project was to degrade Central as business after business shut down never to return.
Participating in 3 survey teams on the annual Point-In-Time count of homeless people living on the street one night in January.
Attending since December last year, all the monthly Transformative Neighborhood Planning meetings held at the Gateway Center Homeless facility on Gibson.
Attending every public meeting regarding the proposed redevelopment of the State Fair Grounds and connecting with the appointed consultant Stantec to ensure their community outreach includes the District 7 neighborhoods, like mine, on or adjacent to the Fairground’s northern border.
Listening to and learning from numerous organizations, coalitions, non-profits, and committed individuals who work tirelessly to make our city a better and safer place to live.

One of the most informative things I did was a property-by-property survey of five of our major commercial corridors from end to end: Central, San Pedro, Menaul, 4^th Street, and San Mateo. This project involved confirming by visual inspection the nature and status of 3,816 properties of which 2,223 were commercial premises. 21%, or 626 of those premises were closed, for lease, vacant, or abandoned.

Central, San Pedro, Menaul, 4^th, San Mateo Corridors

Properties Count

Apartment Complex 69 1.8%
Town Houses 262 6.9%
Mobile Home Park 9 0.2%
Single Home Lot 295 7.7%
Motel / Hotel 38 1.0%
Vacant Lot 118 3.1%
Parking Lot 39 1.0%
Construction Site 13 0.3%
Self-Storage 24 0.6%
Total Operating Businesses 2,323 60.9%
Closed Businesses 626 16.4%

Total Properties 3,816

% businesses closed 21%

Access to and download of the full surveys and summaries is available to anyone with a Google enabled email address

ADDRESSING THE CITY’S HOUSING NEEDS

When driving the streets of our city with eyes open, it becomes very obvious where remedy is required. It is NOT the re-zoning of our neighborhoods to increase development and population density as Councilor Fiebelkorn advocates.

To paraphrase James Carville, “It’s the Corridors, Stupid!”.

We do have housing needs. To address those housing needs, we need to do the following:

First, we need Transitional Housing/Shelter into which the people residing on our streets and sidewalks can be located, with supportive services and case management, as the first essential step to recovery from the horrific conditions in which they are living. There are people in Albuquerque who know how to “curate” communities of these folks. Stability, security, basic utilities and sanitation should be accessible to anyone living in the state with the 38^th largest total GDP in the richest country on earth.

Second, we need more affordable housing, especially for those earning 60% or less of the Area Median Income. Unfortunately, that cannot be “built” given the cost of building housing today. It can only be subsidized into existence. Required financial resources are finite and the federal component is less secure today than ever. That requires surgical precision in the application of the funds available.

Third, we need housing that can be priced to permit people to get a foot on the ladder of home ownership and equity accumulation as early as possible. That is crucial to resuscitation of the American middle class dream of upward mobility and it requires higher density residential development, which has been going on all over Albuquerque, and needs to continue. There are 12,730 units in apartment or townhouse developments at various stages of construction or proposal in Albuquerque right now. The City is spacious enough to realize them without “blotting out” views of the Sandias or horizons which are such a signature feature and pleasure of living in our Albuquerque.

Fourth, we need to acknowledge that there is an overflowing abundance of available unused property and vacant lots on our major corridors dying for transition from an increasingly obsolete commercial/strip mall model to the kind of mixed-use higher density walkable communities with proximity to bus services and bike lanes for which organizations like StrongTownsABQ and BikeABQ are advocating. Our neighborhoods also desperately need this, to restore the perimeter corridor connectivity and vitality that was once an integral part of neighborhood character.

Fifth, we need to do whatever we can to promote, support and nurture small locally owned business formation and growth. We cannot reverse the trends of online shopping and the lower prices allure of national big box retail chain stores, but we can put more priority on and be more engaged in making heroes of locally owned business operations that create jobs at all levels of their organizations including mid-level and executive and, unlike their big national competitors, do not export out of New Mexico’s economy all of their profits, executive salaries, and headquarters investments.

WHAT THE CITY DOES NOT NEED AND NEEDS

In the corporate world where I lived my professional career, the lifespan of failed strategies is measured in quarters, not in years.

Albuquerque does not need an “unhoused industrial/building complex” with a price tag to date of over $300 million and no visible impact observable on the street.

The city does not need a “prison industrial/building complex” that can only result in trauma and distrust that impedes people, brutalized by a lifestyle unimaginable to most of us, from taking an offered hand to assist that first step toward a better life.

Albuquerque does not need to assign the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) the mission impossible task of responding to a criminal element that is able to embed and hide among its victims in a nomadic population numbering in the thousands. Nor does it need to be perpetually diverted from its core mission by petty criminality, trespass, theft and vandalism that is driven fundamentally by the desperation and behavioral maladies induced by intolerable unsheltered living conditions.

What the city does need is a practical, high priority program, fully measured and accountable, to transition people from the streets into shelter as quickly as it can be done. That program must be informed, advised, and assisted by the people in Albuquerque who have the experience and insights gained by having done it.

I believe Albuquerque can succeed in ending the crisis of street homelessness. The city can do so by taking a disadvantage and turning into an advantage. Albuquerque has more empty standalone buildings than there are people living on our streets. That can be the seed for a real solution. Our City, County, and State Government have the resources and tools to enable faster and more effective action to convert unused commercial properties into functional and transitional housing.

WHAT THE CITY COUNCIL CAN DO

City Council is a representative body. From my perspective that should also make it a body that is consultative with its constituents. District 7 residents deserve a City Councilor that:

Prioritizes issues by the scale of their impact on D7 and the City,
Bases their actions on facts rather than generalities or wishful thinking,
Proactively communicates with constituents about measures of impact BEFORE voting,
Commits to Ordinances & Resolutions that clearly and understandably reveal all their provisions and their direct implications for the community,
Solves or measurably improves real problems,
Performs rigorous due diligence in advance of voting on measures,
Demands factual accountability for major expenditures,
Has an unwavering commitment to a vision of Albuquerque that is economically thriving, socially cohesive, sensibly sustainable, and in visual harmony with its unique heritage.

I have the best motivation to be a more proactively engaged citizen: the inspiration gained in observing, listening to, and learning from the people, remarkable in thought and deed, I have been privileged to meet and observe in my “deep dive” into the reality of Albuquerque.

In doing so, I have also come to understand profoundly why my parents, who moved and retired here in 1970, after living all over the world, believed to the end of their lives they had parachuted into paradise.

Albuquerque does not need to fix what is not broken.

It does need to engage the entire community to fix what is broken.

We can restore Albuquerque’s integrity and vitality with the right vision, strategy, and fully accountable tactical plan of action.

Respectfully for your consideration,

Jaemes Shanley

President Mark Twain Neighborhood Association

Vice-president – District 7 Coalition of N.A.’s

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