City Council tables bill that tackles Downtown vacancy rates

A bill largely aimed at lowering the number of vacant buildings in Downtown Albuquerque will be on the agenda for the next City Council meeting.

The legislation would revamp some 30-year-old city ordinances and add incentives for building owners to avoid leaving properties vacant. Councilors voted 8-1 Monday to table the measure, citing concerns about the language and broadness of the measure.

Councilor Klarissa Peña, who joined the meeting remotely, was the lone vote against tabling the bill and voiced multiple times throughout the evening she did not like the measure.

“I don’t support the bill just in general. ... When we’re talking about this is very reminiscent of the lowrider ordinance that was repealed just a few years back, when it really targeted a certain segment of the population,” Peña said.

In 2018, when the City Council repealed a 2005 ban on lowrider cruising — a vehicle synonymous with Chicano culture — Peña spearheaded the effort. Her concern, like those of many critics of the bill tabled Tuesday, was language seeming to target Albuquerque’s homeless population.

While it focused largely on curbing dilapidation and vacancy rates of Downtown buildings, a section of the proposed bill barred people from lying on sidewalks.

Councilor Louie Sanchez criticized the bill for being too broad.

“When you look at this bill in its totality, everyone seems to be pissed off. Both sides,” Sanchez said. “I think this bill needs a lot more work. I think that we could separate these bills and break them all the way down and work on each bill simultaneously, or just work on each bill individually to see how they work out.”

Councilor Joaquín Baca, who represents Downtown, sponsored the bill.

“The running joke is the only thing in Albuquerque people hate more than the status quo ... it’s change, and that’s understandable,” Baca said. “But let’s talk about that status quo. Our city is having some challenges, struggling. And everyone here recognizes that.”

At a Sept. 5 town hall, attended by more than 50 constituents, Baca said the bill is geared toward helping existing businesses Downtown but was keeping the unhoused residents in mind as he called them “neighbors” multiple times.

Critics of the bill showed up in droves Tuesday to speak out against the “no obstruction” section that bars people from lying on the sidewalk.

As those opposing the bill spoke, many of those in attendance stood in solidarity, snapping their fingers, occasionally leading to an applause or outburst. Council President Dan Lewis banged his gavel on three occasions to establish decorum in the chambers.

Many critics also claimed the bill limited their First Amendment right to protest. Baca said that is not the intention of the bill and said language can be added to clarify that.

More than 60 people signed up to speak on the bill in person and remotely. Just a handful — mostly business owners and Downtownresidents — spoke in support of the bill.

There are over 3,000 people experiencing homelessness according to a study this year conducted by the New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness.

Local activist Lila Nezar was one of those who spoke out against the bill, noting during her remarks the lack of support the measure had across the political spectrum.

“I will say to Baca’s credit that this bill is bipartisan in the sense that anyone with half a brain will be against it, regardless of party,” she said.