Albuquerque leaders ask Legislature for millions to solve several key issues 

As the jam-packed legislative session is set to begin in Santa Fe on Tuesday, Albuquerque leaders are asking for their share of the state’s estimated $11.3 billion budget to make improvements in public safety, homelessness and quality of life for residents.

In a collection of capital outlay requests, Mayor Tim Keller, city councilors and Bernalillo County commissioners have asked for everything from funding for pickleball courts to motel acquisitions for transitional housing.

“Our priorities this session are similar to years past: we are focused on housing and homelessness, public safety, pedestrian and bicycle safety, and quality of life projects such as the Rail Trail,” said city spokesperson Dan Mayfield in a statement on behalf of the Mayor’s Office.

Here’s a breakdown of what Albuquerque's leaders hope to get out of this year’s session.

Public safety

Keller has asked for funding for all three branches of his public safety agencies, including the Albuquerque Police, Fire Rescue and Community Safety departments.

The request asks for funds to buy new vehicles for each department, as well as money to finish fire stations in Wells Park and Mesa del Sol.

Beyond boots on the ground and brick and mortar, both the mayor and City Councilor Joaquín Baca have asked for funding for high-intensity activated crosswalks to protect pedestrians and cyclists after a series of cyclist deaths made headlines last year.

Though the deaths, particularly that of 19-year-old Kayla Vanlandingham drew community outcry, New Mexico has long been ranked the worst in the nation for pedestrian fatalities, partially due to a high concentration of fatal accidents along Central.

Councilors have also asked for funds for speed cameras across the city and “road diets,” which would decrease lanes on some busy streets to improve safety.

Moreover, the Bernalillo County Commission has asked for $4 million for a public safety training center and "crime prevention technology" for law enforcement. 

Homelessness

As the number of people living on the streets of Albuquerque grows, local leaders have asked for money for a wide array of solutions.

Keller has asked for additional funding for the Gateway, a system of homeless shelters, as well as funds to convert hotels and motels into transitional housing.

Last year, the city received $21 million for housing and homelessness initiatives, a sum that was divvied up amongst the Gateway shelters, with the remainder used to purchase an old hotel along Interstate 40 that will become an affordable housing project for low-income seniors.

Keller is also asking legislators for funds to improve the city’s “data infrastructure” surrounding homelessness so it can better track and quantify available shelter beds, housing vouchers and other services.

The county is asking for a hefty $98.3 million to sustain its housing efforts, which include a renovated hotel for homeless families, the tiny home village and rental assistance programs. 

Quality of life

The majority of capital outlay requests by city councilors involved quality of life improvements such as renovating residential parks, adding bike lanes or upgrading roads.

Some ideas were more novel.

Councilor Nichole Rogers, whose district encompasses East Central, has petitioned the Legislature for funds to buy an abandoned Walmart and turn it into a “mixed-use” space for the community to gather.

The old Walmart on San Mateo south of Central has sat empty for two years after the retailer pulled out due to the store’s “underperformance.” Rogers envisions the lot one day becoming a community garden, park, housing, or perhaps all three.

Moreover, Keller has asked for more funding for the Rail Trail, a planned 7-mile loop for pedestrians and cyclists around Downtown and Barelas.

In September, the Rail Trail lost $11.5 million in federal funding after the U.S. Department of Transportation clawed back a grant because the project “no longer aligns” with the DOT’s priorities under President Donald Trump.

Still, the project is pressing ahead, although most of the loop has yet to begin construction.

County commissioners are also asking for funds for recreation. The county requested $5 million to expand the Mesa del Sol Regional Outdoor Sports Complex to ready it for regional and national youth sports tournaments. 

Gillian Barkhurst is the local government reporter for the Journal. She can be reached at gbarkhurst@abqjournal.com or on Twitter @G_Barkhurst