OPINION: Albuquerque deserves results, not rhetoric

Eight years in office, and the mayor’s latest State of the City address still sounded like a campaign speech: a list of promises, a handful of slogans and recycled talking points about “turnarounds” and “transformation.” But when you measure by outcomes — crime, homelessness, jobs and quality of life — Albuquerque has gone backward.

Crime and safety: The mayor said we’ve “transformed (the Albuquerque Police Department).” That word should mean something. If transformation means record car thefts, rampant fentanyl and families afraid to let their kids walk to school, then we’re living in a different dictionary. Our officers are doing the best they can under a system that’s broken — but leadership has not delivered. We need community-centered policing, technology that works and a City Hall that listens to neighborhoods instead of hiding behind statistics.

Homelessness and mental health: The address again leaned on “more housing” as the silver bullet. Albuquerque has spent millions on short-term fixes that convert motels into shelters without structure or accountability. That hasn’t worked. Homelessness is a health crisis, not just a housing shortage. We need transitional housing models like Serenity Mesa, where people get treatment, accountability and a path back into community life. We need to expand mental health facilities and truly re-imagine care — not just shuffle people from street corners into buildings without support.

Jobs and the economy: Another applause line was “investing in jobs.” But look at the numbers: Too many young people are leaving Albuquerque for better opportunities. We have not built the pipelines for trade jobs, apprenticeships or sustainable careers. My plan is simple: Make Albuquerque a jobs capital again by strengthening unions and trade programs, building alternatives to expensive college degrees and attracting industries that create careers, not just gigs. We can make Albuquerque the short-film capital of the world, expand hospitality and tourism, and bring in high-paying, sustainable work by raising the bar on workforce development.

A city that thinks big again: The State of the City should be a vision statement. Instead, we heard a status report full of excuses. Where is the big idea? Where is the plan to revitalize Downtown, to connect the Rio Grande to our economy, to make this city a place families want to stay and invest? My Rio Grande Riverwalk proposal is one example: A bold, job-creating project that combines water storage, tourism, dining, culture and recreation. It’s the kind of thinking Albuquerque needs to reawaken our civic pride and bring us together again.

Leadership matters: In business, if results lag year after year, leaders are held accountable. City Hall should be no different. We can’t afford to keep settling for speeches that sound good while neighborhoods decline. My career has been about building people, training leaders and solving problems in Fortune 500 companies. I know how to set metrics, measure outcomes and deliver results — because that’s what leaders do.

It’s time for Albuquerque to stop accepting slogans and demand solutions. We don’t need another “State of the City” full of spin. We need a city that works.

Let’s raise the bar.