OPINION: Why I'm running for mayor of Albuquerque

Albuquerque is my family’s home. I’m a lifelong New Mexican. I believe in the promise of this city. Today, that promise is at risk. Violent and property crime rates remain high, our police department is understaffed and overwhelmed, and residents are losing trust in the very institutions meant to protect them.

We face a public safety crisis in Albuquerque, and the truth is, City Hall has failed to meet the moment. Political theater, finger-pointing and surface-level gestures have replaced real leadership. We deserve better.

As a Navy veteran, small business owner and experienced executive, I understand that leadership means accountability, service and results. It means listening to the community, confronting hard truths and making bold, data-driven decisions. That’s exactly what I intend to do as mayor.

To make Albuquerque safer, we must start by rebuilding trust between law enforcement and the people they serve. That begins with hiring a new police chief who understands that effective policing is built on community partnership, not intimidation or politics. Our current leadership has failed to implement smarter, community-oriented policing practices. Officer morale has eroded, response times have skyrocketed and violent crime continues to plague our neighborhoods. We need change from the top down.

Next, we must boost officer recruitment and retention. Albuquerque is hundreds of officers short of where we should be. I propose a public service aid program for high school students, a veterans-first recruitment track and a more transparent, streamlined hiring pipeline. These initiatives will reduce response time delays, improve presence in neighborhoods and attract public servants who reflect the values of our city.

But policing alone isn’t the answer. Public safety means more than just patrol cars and arrests. We must fully fund community policing initiatives that prioritize neighborhood beat patrols, local liaisons and mental health crisis teams. If elected, I will engage the Albuquerque Community Safety department and deploy trained behavioral health professionals who know how to de-escalate situations, mitigate crises before they happen and connect people to resources.

This isn’t just theory, it’s what works. Cities across the country have shown that when you combine strong policing with smart, targeted support services, crime goes down and trust goes up. Albuquerque can have that same future.

We must also confront the root causes of rising crime. Addiction, homelessness and untreated mental illness are not issues we can arrest our way out of. We need real investments in transitional housing, substance abuse treatment and street outreach.

But let me be clear: Compassion does not mean chaos. I will enact and enforce no-sleep zones near schools, parks and public transit to protect our public spaces. We can be compassionate without sacrificing safety.

Finally, any public safety strategy must be accountable to taxpayers. I will demand measurable results from every department I oversee and implement stringent safeguards to prevent fraud and abuse. Albuquerque residents should know that their dollars are making a difference, not being lost in bureaucracy.

This is not a partisan issue. It’s not about left versus right. It’s about whether our city can function, whether our neighborhoods can be safe and whether our government can be trusted to do its job. I’m running for mayor because I believe we can fix what’s broken.

We can clean up Albuquerque. We can make it safe. We can realize our potential. We can do it with leadership that serves the people and delivers real results. I’m Mayling Armijo, and I’m ready to lead.