On March 31, in a special session of the New Mexico legislature, the state became the 18 state to legalize recreational cannabis . New Mexico already has a medical cannabis program that has more than 107,000 enrolled patients. The new recreational sale law takes effect July 1 and sales are to begin no later than April 1, 2022.

Under the state law, cannabis establishments can also offer on-site consumption in certain circumstances. The state law allows people 21 years or older to buy, possess and use marijuana outside the home of up to 2 ounces of marijuana. People will be able to buy no more than 2 ounces of cannabis or 800 milligrams of edible cannabis. There are also limits on extracts.

The state will regulate all sellers and there will be no limits on the number of licenses issued. This is a dramatic departure from the limited number of licenses available in liquor licenses which have a cap based upon population. There will be a cap on the number of plants sellers can grow. Households would be permitted to grow up to 12 mature plants for personal use.

The New Mexico Cannabis Control Division is in charge of making statewide rules and regulations for the new industry. On Tuesday, May 26, it was reported that the first proposed rules dealing primarily with marijuana producer license and plant fees were released. The link to the proposed regulations is here:

ccd.rld.state.nm.us

The first proposed state regulations deal with marijuana producer license and plant fees. The drafted sets the cost of both producer and retailer licenses at $2,500 annually. Licenses for cannabis consumption areas, or designated places where adults can smoke, eat or drink cannabis products, would cost $2,500 annually under the draft rule. The state regulations must be adopted in order to meet the specific deadlines for implementing the law. The deadlines for the regulations under the state law are as follows:

No later than September 1: Start accepting and processing license applications from producers.

No later than Jan. 1, 2022: Start issuing licenses and server permits; begin training and education programs.

No later than April 1, 2022: Begin retail sales of recreational cannabis.

https://www.petedinelli.com/2021/04/01/recreational-cannabis-and-expungement-o

ABQ CITY COUNCIL ENACTS ZONING REGULATIONS ON SALES AND HOURS OF OPERATION

A major provision of the enacted state law is that local jurisdictions, city and counties, cannot opt out of commercial sales, but can establish restrictions on operating hours and locations. The state legislation gives local governments some authority to determine where cannabis dispensaries can be located. The state’s 14 counties do not have the authority to prohibit cannabis sales nor prohibit the licensing of stores.

On June 17, 2021, the Albuquerque City Council held a special council meeting to offer amendments to the Integrated Development Ordinance (IDO) that establishes the rules to regulate the recreational cannabis industry. The council meeting lasted several hours where public input was allowed. Twenty-one amendments to the ordinance were offered, debated and voted upon. One of the 21 amendments was withdrawn.

Public comments addressed everything from distance regulations to clarifying how existing medical cannabis retailers will be affected. The city council adopted an amendment that medical-only retailers do not fall under the new zoning restrictions, but are “grandfathered” in.

MAYOR KELLER’S ORGINAL PROPOSED RESTRICTIONS

Mayor Tim Keller had requested the City Council enact amendments to the Integrated Development Ordinance that would limit any marijuana dispensary to operate within 300 feet from any school, daycare, church or residential neighborhood. It is essentially identical to restrictions place on bars and adult entertainment establishments by state law. The proposed ordinance also said they could not open within 660 feet from any main street.

As was originally written, Keller’s proposed zoning restrictions would have barred cannabis businesses from opening on streets abutting “Main Street” corridors, which included the large stretches of Central Avenue, plus parts of San Pedro, Fourth Street, Bridge and Broadway and included the Nob Hill Central Area.

According to the Keller Administration, the regulations proposed were based mostly on their review of regulations in other communities that already have legalized recreational marijuana

On June 2, it was reported that the Keller Administration had modified the zoning proposal that would have heavily restricted where the legalized recreational marijuana market could operate in Albuquerque. Ostensibly, the first proposal was rushed because the city has only one opportunity per year to update its zoning code.

The yearly updating of the comprehensive zoning code was already underway when state lawmakers in April voted to legalize recreational cannabis. Keller’s initial proposal would have blocked new shops from opening in Nob Hill and areas of Downtown and limited opportunities in mixed-use zones. According to the Keller Administration, the original proposal was based largely on other communities around the U.S. that have already legalized recreational marijuana and the frameworks they have instituted.

On June 2 after objections by the industry were raised, the Keller Administration released an updated proposal. The new proposal from the Keller administration would:

1. Prohibit cannabis dispensaries on the five roads designated as “Main Streets,” which include much of Central Avenue and parts of Fourth, Broadway, San Pedro and Bridge, where considerable public money has been spent on revitalization.

2. Allows cannabis storefronts on side streets from the identified main streets reversing the original proposal barring them for 660 feet off the main streets.

3. Cannabis dispensary licensing application proposed within 300 feet of a residential mixed-use zone would be required to get “conditional use” approval through a public hearing.

4. Mandates 1,000 feet between cannabis retail businesses.

5. Time of operation for all retail sales dispensaries would be limited to 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

6. Off-premise, roadway signs would be prohibiting. State law allows signs of any size on the actual buildings.

7. All of the 47 current medical cannabis dispensaries in Albuquerque will be grandfathered in even if they become a recreational cannabis retail site regardless of what zoning is put in place.

The link source material is here:

https://www.abqjournal.com/2396266/mayor-loosens-cannabis-shop-zoning-proposal.html

CITY COUNCIL VOTES NO ON KELLER’S ZONING RESTRCITONS

Several of the amendments adopted amounted to a rejection of what Mayor Keller wanted. The council vote no to implement a proposed rule from Mayor Tim Keller’s administration to keep cannabis retailers from opening new shops within 1,000 feet of each other or “adult entertainment” or “adult retail” operations. The council also voted no on a ban on cannabis shops within 300 feet of religious institutions which was sponsored by City Council President Cynthia Borrego.

The council approved amendments to the IDO to govern how newly legalized recreational cannabis market can operate in the city. Those zoning restrictions regulations include setting a distance of 600 feet between marijuana retailers unless the operator succeeds with a conditional use application that requires a public hearing before a city hearing officer and subject to appeal.

Councilor Pat Davis proposed several amendments that relaxed where cannabis businesses could operate, including removing some distancing rules for cannabis cultivators and manufacturers looking to operate near residential zones. Those amendments were enacted. Davis explained it this way:

“[Manufacturing] businesses are not open to the public. They are just simply facilities to operate and prepare products for other places and don’t usually have any impacts on the neighbors.”

One major proposal Mayor Keller wanted was to strictly prohibit retail sales of recreational sale of cannabis from main street corridors such as Central Avenue. The amendment was sponsored by Republican Trudy Jones at the request of the Democrat Mayor. The council voted eight to one against the amendment with Councilor Trudy Jones also voting no even though she was the sponsor. Jones explained she had talked to Central Avenue business owners who said they are struggling and would welcome any vitality the recreational cannabis industry might bring and said:

“I am sponsoring this by request [of Mayor Keller]. They would very much like to have some traffic and some business.”

Jones added that the business people she spoke to do not see the cannabis industry as “harmful.”

Keller’s proposed restrictions on what can be displayed on cannabis business signs also failed.

The only amendment offered by the Keller Administration that passed was to “grandfather” in existing medical cannabis operators. The medical cannabis operators will be allowed to continue uninterrupted and expand into the recreational market even if their existing location is not compliant with the new cannabis-related rules.

The council also enacted separate standards for cannabis “microbusiness” licensees, giving them more latitude when it comes to locations. The amendment was sponsored by Democrat Lan Sena who told the council it was intended to promote “equity” and ensure smaller operators could compete with those with greater financial resources.

After public comments and several hours of discussion, the council voted on each of the 20 proposed amendments. Councilor Lan Sena complained that the process to decide how to regulate the cannabis industry in Albuquerque seemed a bit rushed and told the councilors:

“I really do struggle with the fact that we did rush through an industry that was so new without having more guidelines from the state “I really do wish that there was more time so that we could have more people at the table, specifically those that are still awaiting expungement — for those that have previously been incarcerated and harmed and wanted to be part of this conversation. … We do not decriminalize cannabis every two months. … it’s a once-in-a-generation decision and for us to have gone through so fast, I just will be voting ‘no’ in the overall ordinance.”

The Integrated Development Ordinance (IDO) is open for amendments only once each year, and the deadline to amend it was fast approaching leaving the city council no choice to act now. As the industry develops, amendments to the IDO can be made in future years.

CITY COUNCIL TEMPORARILY BANS CANNABIS SHOPS IN HISTORIC OLD TOWN

On June 21, the Albuquerque City Council voted unanimously 9-0 to temporarily ban cannabis shops from operating in Old Town Albuquerque.

City Councilors established a moratorium to stop cannabis sales, cultivation and manufacturing use in Old Town until July 2022 or until the city’s zoning code updates are released.
The temporary ban was done to will allow the Council to touch base with Old Town merchants, stakeholders, among other groups before allowing the historic area to open cannabis stores.

Links to news sources are here:

https://www.koat.com/article/cannabis-shops-banned-for-now-from-old-town-albuquerque/36794818

https://www.krqe.com/video/city-councilors-weigh-temporary-ban-on-marijuana-sales-in-old-town/6740370/

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

There is little doubt that New Mexico has the real potential to be “a production juggernaut” and a magnet for tourists and cannabis users from Arizona and Texas. Arizona legalized recreational cannabis last year but Texas has not.

The Albuquerque City Council can take comfort that they enacted responsible and reasonable zoning restrictions on what will in all likely be a major industry in the state and city. Given the fact that the IDO can only be amended once a year, acting now was necessary.

The city Council needs to enact an ordinance to mandate requirements that need to be included for all recreational cannabis businesses that seek a business license to do business in the city that will prevent them from becoming magnets for crime and would include:

1. Security cameras and uniform security personnel.

2. Mandatory background checks and periodic drug testing of all employees as a condition of employment.

3. Storage of all product in secured areas reducing access after hours of operation, such as used by jewelry stores to prevent thefts.

4. Mandatory nuisance abatement agreements before the city issues a license to do business where the business owner agrees to take remedial measures in the event the business reaches a level of calls for service as a result of criminal activity.

Both the city and the industry need to think broadly about the future of New Mexico’s marijuana industry. The decisions made now as to zoning restrictions and requirements to do business before the state regulations are adopted will have unintended consequences if not careful.

ONE READER’S REACTION

A reader of this blog article offered the following observations that merit publication:

I’m retired from the security industry (guard service). In my years of operations and consulting I’ve developed a preference to avoid the use of uniformed personnel in bank lobbies, check-cashing services, liquor stores, and – now – cannabis establishments. It is rare to see a security guard who really looks and acts the part, especially where the duties are limited and boring in the extreme. Guns are not appropriate, either, except in very unusual circumstances. Police have more than enough trouble with guns, but a security guard with minimal training presents a real challenge. Guns should be prohibited from the establishment (as is presently the case with on-sale liquor businesses and others where management forbids them) though properly trained staff might appropriately carry firearms.

I don’t know how long the present increased level of cannabis interest and consumption will last. The rules we establish should be both stringent and flexible to account for potential future need, whether increased or diminished.

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POSTSCRIPT

Following are the amendments to the Integrated Development Ordinance as numbered and that passed or failed on a majority or unanimous vote:

WHAT AMENDMENTS PASSED

B5: Clarifies existing language in the IDO about how odors are to be mitigated and moves the responsibility of enforcement from the Environmental Health Department to the Planning Department. (Unanimous vote)
B6: Adds to the IDO the phrase “licensed premise”, and changes existing distances separations from 330 feet to 300 feet to be consistent with state law, and adds preschool to the definition of day care. (Unanimous vote)

B8 Adds a definition for on-site consumption. (Unanimous vote.)

DISTANCE AND SEPARATION REQUIREMENTS

B12: Adds a distance separation requirement between Cannabis Retail facilities of 600 feet (Davis sponsored, Passed 6 Yes, 3 No)

B14 Removes the distance separation requirement for Cannabis Cultivation and Cannabis Manufacturing from a residential zone district (Davis sponsored, passed 7 YES, 2 NO)

B15 Would allow Cannabis Cultivation and Cannabis Manufacturing to occur within 300 feet of a residential zone district, school, or child day care facility with a Conditional Use approval. (Davis sponsored, 7 YES, 2 No)

ZONING AND GODFATHERING AMENDMENTS

B18 Would allow Cannabis Manufacturing in more zones and adds a square foot limitation for Cannabis Manufacturing in Mixed-Use zones (Davis sponsored, 8 YES, 1 NO)
B21 Would create an exemption for most distance separation requirements for cannabis businesses operating under a Cannabis Microbusiness, as defined by the State of New Mexico. (Sena sponsor, 8 YES, 1 NO)

B19 Adds ‘grandfathering’ language to specify that existing medical-cannabis facilities will still be legal for the purposes of the IDO if they choose to pursue recreational cannabis in the future. Sponsored by Jones at the request of Mayor, passed on a 9-0 vote)

WHAT AMENDMENTS FAILED

Follow are the amendments as numbered and that FAILED on a majority or unanimous vote.

DISTANCE AND SEPARATION REQUIREMENTS

B9 contained 3 separation requirements:

1. Allows cannabis manufacturing in more zones and adds a square foot limitation for Cannabis Manufacturing in Mixed-Use zones
2. Would create an exemption for most distance separation requirements for cannabis businesses operating under a Cannabis Microbusiness, as defined by the State of New Mexico.
3. Adds a distance separation requirement between Cannabis Retail facilities of 600 feetSPONSORED BY JONES AT MAYOR’S REQUEST, FAILED WITH 8 VOTING NO.

B10: Adds a distance separation requirement between Cannabis Retail and religious institutions of 300 feet. (Sponsored by Borrego, Failed on 3 yes, 6 No)

B11: Adds a distance separation requirement between Cannabis Cultivation and Cannabis Manufacturing to a religious institution of 300 feet. (Sponsored by Borrego, FAILED; 4 Yes , 5 NO)

B13 contained 3 separation requirements

1. Would have prohibited Cannabis Retail on lots abutting a Main Street corridor, within 300 feet of a residential zone district, group home, or religious institution. (Failed: 1 YES, 8 No)

2. Would have allow Cannabis Retail to occur within 300 feet of a lot containing a residential use in a mixed-use zone district with a Conditional Use Approval. (Failed: 1 YES, 8 No)

3. Would have prohibited on-site consumption on lots abutting a Main Street corridor. (Failed: 1 YES, 8 No)

B13 was sponsored by Jones at the Mayor’s request and failed on an 8 no vote.

B16 Would restrict sign type, location, and content for all three cannabis uses (Retail, Cultivation, and Manufacturing) Sponsored by Jones at the Mayors request, FAILED with 8 voting NO.

TIMES OF OPERATIONS

B17 dealt with hours of operations and failed on a 8 no votes:

1. Would have disallowed customer visits and deliveries between 10pm and 7am for Cannabis Retail sales.

2. Would have disallowed customer visits and deliveries between 10pm and 7am for Cannabis Cultivation and Cannabis Manufacturing if located within 300 feet of a residential zone.

WITHDRAWN AMENDMENT

B20 was sponsored by jones at the request of the Mayor but was withdrawn for consideration, It would exempt integrated cannabis microbusinesses or cannabis producer microbusinesses from limitations on customer and/or delivery hours.

Following is the city link to the Integrated Development Ordinance (IDO) Amendments for Cannabis-related Uses listing the amendments by amendment number, what was being proposed in the amendments and the sponsors.

https://www.cabq.gov/council/documents/packetb_cc-cannabis_june17-7.pdf

Links to quoted news coverage are here:

https://www.krqe.com/news/marijuana/albuquerque-cannabis-rules-city-sets-regulations/

https://www.abqjournal.com/2401215/cannabis-shops-cleared-for-central-ex-council-approves-regulations-as-part-of-annual-zoning-update.html

On May 18, it was reported that Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller and the city are looking at the Albuquerque Rail Yards as one area the city is looking at for a new soccer stadium. According to the report, Keller believes a new stadium at the Rail Yards could transform Albuquerque and he had this to say:

“You know, the feasibility study is coming out very soon, so stay tuned in June, and they’re going to have several locations, and sort of a cost model outline, so we’re excited, but we’ll wait for the study and take it from there. … You know, for us, we want it to be a vibrant place that is both accessible to the community around and a reflection of that heritage and also an area that is a magnet for people to come from all over the state to visit, work or live or to shop.”
.

The Rail Yards Market recently reopened, but there’s also a proposal to build an immersive art exhibit at the site. The city has $140 million worth of projects in 2021 including a Rail Trail that will connect the Rail Yards to east downtown Albuquerque. The new path would let people walk or ride their bikes over train tracks. The $5 million project is still in the design phase.

https://www.kob.com/albuquerque-news/albuquerque-investing-in-projects-at-the-rail-yards/6112483/?cat=500

RAIL-YARDS MASTER DEVELOPMENT PLAN

On June 16, 2014, the Albuquerque City Council by a unanimous vote of 9 to 0 approved and adopted R-14-23 entitled “Railyards Master Development Plan and Site Development Plan For Subdivision To Provide The Appropriate Policy Framework And Regulations To Guide The Redevelopment Of The Railyard Site”. The Master Development Plan is 73 pages long and with tables, designs and photos it is 224 pages.

The Development plan was prepared by Samitaur Constructs. The “Railyards Master Development Plan and Site Development Plan” is highly detailed and takes great care to identify the historical nature of the Railyards, what affect it will have on the community and identifies what types of development should be considered. You can review the entire Railyards Master Development at this link:

https://www.cabq.gov/council/documents/rail-yard/RYMDP_Section1.pdf

On September 16, 2018 Mayor Tim Keller announced the city had severed its relationship between the city and Samitaur Constructs announcing the city had taken back management and control of the development. The city has upgraded one building, the blacksmith shop, where the Rail Yards Market Place takes place on weekends. Steps are also being taken to activating a second building to accommodate additional vendors and the city has submitted a contamination remediation plan to the State.

LELAND CONSULTING GROUP FINANCIAL REPORT

Leland Consulting Group is a Portland-based development consulting firm that was contracted to study the financial feasibility of redeveloping the Albuquerque Rail Yards. The Leland Consulting Group has determined that it will cost the city between $50 million and $80 million in infrastructure, environmental remediation and structural renovations to develop the property.

The city has completed an environmental study of the site and has submitted a voluntary remediation plan to the state. The city is moving forward with demolition of small non-historic structures for site improvements. The city has also submitted a state capital request for $15 million to support rail yard environmental remediation and site improvements.

When Mayor Keller says that a “feasibility study is coming out very soon, so stay tuned in June” what he is referring to is the private financial feasibility study.

The Leland report suggests 3 different levels of development of varying levels of density. The report notes redevelopment will occur over many years, making it impossible to predict the exact mix that would work. All the levels of redevelopment call for “adaptive reuse” of buildings on the property’s north side, which the report calls the Rail Yards’ “front door.” Proposed uses include Central New Mexico Community College’s film center, the existing Rail Yards Market, and new retail, restaurants and commercial tenants and residential homes.

The Leland draft report recommended 10,000 to 20,000 square feet of retail space in the Rail Yards over the next decade. According to the report, the focus should be on food and beverage tenants, vendors related to film or rail travel, existing area businesses looking to expand or “small, local vendors that build on the Rail Yards’ unique, historic and gritty character.”

The Leland development report suggests using large existing buildings near the Rail Yards’ center. The Boiler Shop and the Machine Shop alone has nearly 4 acres of enclosed floor space. There are facilities that would require renovation for concerts, festivals, special events, film productions and even team sporting events. Two scenarios suggest renovating and remodeling existing buildings to create 110,000 to 200,000 square feet of employment space. The Leland report suggests that is more space than likely needed over the next decade.

Housing is also recommended in the report. The report’s various scenarios include 65 to 160 mixed-income housing units near the Rail Yards’ southern end.

DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS

When Mayor Keller says that a “feasibility study is coming out very soon, so stay tuned in June” he is referring to any one of 3 separate development proposals to be considered. Those proposals are low density development, medium density development and a high-density development.

The Leland Report projects $50 million will be needed for the low-density development, $55 million preparation work for the medium density and $80 million for high density development. Leland is recommending that the city select the medium density development. The report does caution that the $55 million to $80 million estimates are strictly preliminary.

The medium density development would require $55 million for utilities, landscaping, cleaning up contamination and making improvements to the deteriorating structures on the property. It has been determined that the ground contamination cleanup is not as serious as was originally thought and will be less costly because the rail yards were once used for steam locomotive repair and not diesel or gas engine repair.

There is no commercial electrical grid service on the site which may require extensive investment or even a separate electrical generating facility. It has also been reported that there are options dealing with the removal asbestos and lead paint contamination that are available, such as not removing the lead paint but “encapsulating” it.
According to the financial analysis:

“As a conservative starting point, LCG recommends viewing these as costs [of $55 million to $80 million] that are likely to be borne by the City … These costs associated with ‘horizontal’ development (site preparation, transportation, utilities) will be necessary in order to set the stage for ‘vertical’ development (i.e., building improvements and new building construction, which are not shown).”

In other words, Leland is suggesting the taxpayer money be used for the $55 million to $80 million site preparation. In comparison, the ART Bus project was $130 million to build infrastructure and platforms up and down central.

The consultant’s estimates do not include the many other possible expenses, or hidden costs, associated with structural retrofits of two of the buildings “where evidence of past fire(s) were observed, which could affect the structure,” and the foundation retrofits and floor resurfacing in some of the buildings that are 100 years old. According to the report a more thorough “property and building conditions assessment” is required.

SIX GUIDING PRINCIPLES

The 2014 adopted “City Council Rail Yards Master Plan” contains 6 guiding principles intended to serve as a framework to guide the redevelopment of the Rail Yards over many decades. Following are the 6 guiding principles quoted verbatim without editing:

GUIDING PRINCIPLE #1: JOB GENERATION, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & ECONOMIC VIABILITY

The Rail Yards, once an economic pillar for the community, is envisioned to become a hub of economic activity again. The Master Plan provides a framework for renewed economic and business success for the Project Area and is sufficiently flexible to accommodate a variety of potential future economic uses and opportunities. The Plan also provides opportunities to generate quality, living-wage and high-wage jobs and programs that will link those jobs with community residents. The Master Plan recognizes that the success of the Project Area is directly related to the financial feasibility of the overall mix of uses that is ultimately developed. Implementation of the Master Plan should prioritize uses that are financially self-sustaining and, preferably, revenue-generating and minimize the City’s exposure to and obligation for direct costs and subsidies.

EDITOR’S COMMENT: Data should be presented as proof that a soccer stadium will produce “quality, living-wage and high-wage jobs and programs.”

GUIDING PRINCIPLE #2: HOUSING INTEGRATING HOUSING :

Integrating housing into the Rail Yards redevelopment of the site is important for three reasons: 1. To ensure the availability of affordable housing in the community; 2. To minimize possible displacement of people as a result of redevelopment; and 3. To create a true mixed-use environment and a constant presence on the site, which will increase the overall vibrancy and safety of the site. The Master Plan supports construction of the required Workforce Housing and includes opportunities for additional affordable and market rate housing. The development of housing at the Rail Yards will be coordinated with the City’s ongoing efforts to rehabilitate existing housing in the surrounding neighborhoods.

EDITOR’S COMMENT: An analysis needs to be made as to what extent will the market for housing be affected next to a sports stadium.

GUIDING PRINCIPLE #3: COMMUNITY CONNECTIVITY

The Master Plan complements all adopted plans for surrounding areas, including the Barelas, South Broadway and San Jose neighborhoods. The Plan supports current and planned economic activity in the Downtown area and encourages connections with existing attractions in the area—such as the Albuquerque Zoo and BioPark, Tingley Beach, Rio Grande State Park, the National Hispanic Cultural Center, the South Broadway Cultural Center, Old Town and its museums, Downtown Albuquerque and its amenities, the Alvarado Transportation Center, the Historic 4th Street Corridor, local sports venues, the Albuquerque Sunport, and others. The Plan reinforces the City’s transit goals and objectives, and supports pedestrian, bicycle, auto and public transportation to and from the site.

EDITOR’S COMMENT: It difficult to imagine how a sports stadium will be able to connect with existing attractions in the area. A professional soccer sports stadium would likely create more of a synergy next to other athletic facilities such as the UNM Pit basketball arena, the UNM Football Stadium, Isotopes Baseball Stadium and the Duke City BMX Velodrome.

GUIDING PRINCIPLE #4: LAND USES

The Master Plan encourages new development on the Rail Yards site that balances new economic and design approaches with protection of the integrity and history of the Rail Yards and the surrounding residential communities. The Plan complements the goals in other adopted plans that cover or affect the Rail Yards site.

EDITOR’S COMMENT: It is difficult to understand how a soccer stadium will ensure the “protection of the integrity and history of the Rail Yards.”

GUIDING PRINCIPLE #5: ARCHITECTURE AND HISTORIC REHABILITATION

The Master Plan recognizes the significant value of the existing Rail Yards historic resources, i.e. buildings and structures, to a local, state and national audience. The fundamental approach to site development will be to maintain the “integrity” of the site as a whole, with individual structures being rehabilitated and adaptively re-used for modern and functional purposes, in consultation with the New Mexico Society of Historical Preservation Office (SHPO).

EDITOR’S COMMENT: The biggest hurdle for a soccer stadium at the rail yards will be how to “maintain the “integrity” of the site as a whole, with individual structures being rehabilitated and adaptively re-used for modern and functional purposes.” One way that a professional soccer stadium could protect the integrity and history of the Rail Yards would be with an architectural design that would fit into and complement the other rail yards structure designs such. An example would be a stadium that takes on the outside appearance of the engine “round house” which was torn down many years ago.

GUIDING PRINCIPLE #6: ART AND CULTURE

The Master Plan encourages opportunities for promoting the art, history and culture of the site, the community and the region. The Plan sets aside space for a museum that celebrates the history of transportation, particularly rail transportation. Commercial and residential tenants, local community members, and visitors from near and far will be attracted by heightened aesthetics, comfortable, quality amenities, and a unique cultural vibrancy.

A NEW STADIUM FOR NEW MEXICO UNITED

New Mexico United has laid out its plans for a new stadium and they’re looking at downtown. The team is looking for a 10,000 to 15,000 seat stadium, costing between $50 million to $100 million. United CEO Peter Trevisani says he is looking at what worked in other cities with new fields like Colorado Springs. He says it’s a good example of how a stadium can revitalize a neighborhood. The findings of the city’s study are expected in late June or early July. It is more likely than not that the Rail Yards will wind up on the list for the New Stadium.

https://www.krqe.com/sports/local-sports/rail-yards-remain-a-strong-contender-for-new-mexico-united-stadium/

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

It’s very understandable that Mayor Keller and the city would get excited about the prospect of building a new soccer stadium at the Albuquerque Rail Yards to accommodate the United New Mexico soccer team. Keller’s desire to have a soccer stadium built at the Albuquerque Rail Yards may be nothing more than unrealistic dream of a legacy project he covets as a Mayor and as a former high school football quarter back reliving glory days on any sports field.

It is not a given that the adopted 2014 “Railyards Master Development Plan and Site Development Plan” nor the six adopted guiding principles will allow the building of a soccer stadium. The Master Plan for the railyards recognizes that the success of the project area is directly related to the financial feasibility of the overall mix of uses that is ultimately developed, integrating housing, and plans for surrounding areas, including the Barelas, South Broadway and San Jose neighborhoods. The Mater Plan for the railyards makes it clear that the protection of the integrity and history of the Rail Yards be protected.

When you review the six guiding principles for the railyards development, there is absolutely no mention of any kind of “sports” venue or stadium which is problematic and likely very intentional given the historic nature of the railroads. An attempt was made by former Mayor Jim Baca in to build a new baseball stadium in downtown to revitalize it, and that fizzled so Baca was stuck razing the old baseball stadium and building Isotopes Baseball stadium.

No one knows for certain how the enactment of the new City Planning Comprehensive plan will have on the Railyard Development. The building of a professional soccer stadium may just be another “gentrification” project that ultimately has a dramatic and negative affect on historical Barelas Neighborhood, the way the ART Project had on historical Central and Route 66.

For the last 50 years, City Hall and virtually all Albuquerque Mayors have been fascinated and enamored with trying to revitalize the Downtown Central area. All the Mayors wanted to bring back Downtown Central of its heyday of the 1950’s and 1960’s where it was the center of commercial, business and retail and entertainment activity.

First there was “urban renewal” of the 1970’s with the new convention center built, followed by the Festival Market Place, followed by the Convention Center expansion with building the Hyatte Regency and the adjoining office building, then the rejected “Performing Arts Center”, then the 4th Street Mall concept, then the attempt to build the new Isotopes’ Baseball stadium downtown, then the convention center and civic plaza remodeling, then the ART Bus project. Each time it was a Mayor involved trying to leave his lasting mark on the city with his own legacy project. You can review Central Downtown revitalization over the years at this link”

https://www.petedinelli.com/2018/09/04/downtown-revitalization-deja-vu-all-over-again/

It was on September 4, 2018 that Mayor Tim Keller announced his downtown revitalization plan. Keller proclaimed development of the Albuquerque Rail Yards as his top priority for downtown revitalization. Keller proclaimed it a “potential” economic development engine. Keller said he wanted to reinvent the historic Albuquerque Rail Yards by finding a development partner to transform the area into “an amenity where thousands can gather year-round”. The city and Keller have never found a private enterprise developer.

What is ill advised is Mayor Tim Keller apparently thinks the Rail Yard redevelopment can all be done with local talent and local and state investment tax dollars. Such massive amounts of capital, usually in the billions of dollars, is needed to build large capital projects.

To be blunt, the truth is that the City Hall and the State do not have the financial ability to undertake a cleanup and a massive investment and make capital improvements in the billions of dollars to revitalize Downtown Albuquerque. Keller for that matter, like all other Mayor’s the city has had, is enamored with Downtown revitalization and the Railyards is in the Barelas neighborhood area.

The problem is Mayor Keller does not have an understanding nor the business and investment experience background and savvy in the private sector of what it’s going take to get it done.

Mayor Keller and the city need to seek out experience in the private sector who have done such projects like those in El Paso, Denver, Phoenix and Oklahoma and even Dallas, Texas and who have a proven record of success.

Otherwise, the Rail Yard Development will wind up being just another failed legacy project to feed the ego of a Mayor very much like the ART Bus project that destroyed the character of Route 66. All Mayor’s come and go sooner, but their mistakes live on with failed projects they leave behind.

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POSTSCRIPT

A reader of this blog article offered the following observations that merit publication:

An urban planner, I am not. Have never claimed to be one. But, of course, I still have opinions. My concerns with a railyard soccer field are:

There are a fixed number of soccer events per year. Even if HS soccer teams (if there be any such) use the field for championship playoffs, the number is still low. The rest of the year, the site will be vacant.

A big-time-sports area already exists. As you point out, there are already baseball and basketball arenas on University. Football and other facilities are proximal to those key facilities. Adding a soccer field would help consolidate these activities, and would substantially increase the total number of events per year.

Parking for 10 to 15-thousand spectators would require substantial space and facilities. If games were held during the times when shoppers and tourists were planning to come to the area, the congestion and competition for space could become problematic.

Soccer is ascendant right now. I think it’s the most thrilling of team sports, but it certainly isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Interest could wane, just as interest in the other sports waxes and wanes over time. Putting all the teams in the same area would seem the best way to be able to absorb and adapt to changes in public participation.

And, finally, there’s the public purse. Who will be funding the stadium? I’m not aware of any substantial “investment” by a city into sports teams that pays off handsomely except for team owners.

Rail-Yard Development Tim Keller’s “Legacy Project” Could Become Another “ART Bus” Project Destroying Another Historic Area

https://www.krqe.com/sports/local-sports/rail-yards-remain-a-strong-contender-for-new-mexico-united-stadium/

On June 8, 2021, the City of Albuquerque filed a $12. 5 million lawsuit, $2.5 million for compensatory damaged and $10 million for punitive damages. The lawsuit was filed in the 2nd Judicial District Court. The basis of the lawsuit relates to light fixtures, weighing 25 pounds each, installed along the Central Ave ART Bus route, that are falling to the ground endangering the public safety. There are an amazing 1,047 Central Avenue streetlights from Louisiana to Coors. Installation of the lights were completed by December 2017.

The city named as Defendants the California-based Environmental Lighting for Architecture Inc., (ELA), the manufacture of the lights, and 6 other firms, including New Mexico based Bradbury Stamm Construction, the general contractor for ART, Dekker/Perich/Sabatini, the architectural subconsultant for the project and Dalkia Energy Solutions, Massachusetts firm hired to convert the city’s streetlights to LED lighting

According to the lawsuit allegations, it was in March when the problems with the lighting fixtures were discovered by a private company under contract with the city. The contractor found 7 missing light fixtures on Central Avenue with light fixtures having completely fallen off the light poles.

The civil complaint filed alleges at least 46 streetlights detached from the poles and had “either fallen to the ground or required removal because they were only being held in place by electrical wiring. ” The civil complaint alleges in part:

“The falling light fixtures create an immediate threat to the safety of pedestrians and drivers utilizing the roadways. ”

The civil complaint alleges that a report prepared for the city found that ill-fitting screws and other parts provided by the manufacturer “allowed the fixtures to move and wear out, causing the lights to work loose from the poles and falling.”

According to the lawsuit, in December, 2020, the city used ELA’s safety mechanism to secure about 1,700 streetlights, including those installed as part of the ART project. The city also directed a contractor to replace 45 failed light fixtures. The city wound up paying a total of $494,000 for the replacements and the retrofitting on new light fixtures that should have lasted decades.

City officials say they are unaware of any injuries associated with the falling lights. Municipal Development spokesman Johnny Chandler had this to say when the city found out about the lighting fixtures:

“We immediately started fixing the problem, whether that includes retrofitting or getting new fixtures. … We will retrofit the fixtures when acceptable, and completely change the fixtures if needed”.

NAMED DEFENDANTS REACT

The Albuquerque Journal contacted representatives of the named Defendants for comment.

Scott Jones, president of ELA, in a written statement issued Wednesday, June 16, Jones said:

“[The firm] has reached out to the city and offered assistance and hope that a swift and amicable solution can be found. … It should be noted that the lighting fixtures are not original ELA Lighting Company’s products, but rather ELA lighting fixtures that were modified by an outside source against ELA’s recommendations.”

Kendal Giles, the Chief Operations Officer for Dekker/Perich/Sabatini, said his firm did not belong in the suit as a named party because it had no part in the selection or installation of the streetlights and his firm’s role was limited to ART platforms.

Officials with Bradbury Stamm Construction, the general contractor, did not respond to inquiries.
Dalkia Energy Solutions, the Massachusetts firm hired to convert the city’s streetlights to LED lighting did not immediately respond to inquiries.

The link to the full Journal article with the quots is here:

https://www.abqjournal.com/2400836/falling-streetlights-along-abq-art-route-prompt-city-lawsuit-ex-millions-are-sought-in-damages-city-says-public-is-endangered.html

HISTORY OF DISATEROUS PROJECT

The ART Bus Project was billed as a project that would transform Central Avenue into a rapid transit corridor with a nine-mile stretch of bus-only lanes and bus stations. The final price tag for the project came to $135 million when adding associated utility and road work. Mayor Berry called his cheesy 9-mile bus project “world class” project when he decided to go forward with the project.

Once construction on the project started, many businesses along central were force to close never to open again. By 2016, the ART Bus project generated opposition, at times very hostile, from Central Avenue businesses who said the project choked off traffic and restricted access to businesses. A federal lawsuit was also filed in an attempt to stop the project, but the court dismissed the case after a daylong hearing on a permanent injunction.

The city commenced ART bus service in November 2019 using 20 diesel-powered buses, but in 2020, the bus service was suspended for a period of time because of the Covid Pandemic.

FAULTY ELECTRIC BUSES

When the ART Bus project was first promoted, a significant amount of public relations was used to get the public’s support of the project saying that electric buses would be used to cut down on noise and pollution and rejecting the use of diesel buses. The public relations campaign failed resulting in hostility for the project.

Electric buses were initially purchased but the city purchased seriously defective buses.
Among the biggest problems with the electric buses were:

The buses could not be charged because the charging system did not work properly.
The battery cages that housed the bus batteries are started to crack and separate.
Fully charged batteries on the buses were supposed to last for 275 miles, but the testing the city did revealed the charge was only good for 200 miles.

Axles on the buses leaked oil.

The buses did not go through the certification process required in order for the city to be reimbursed for the buses by the federal government.

A third-party certification officer would not certify the chargers that have been installed.
Restraint belts used to keep wheelchairs locked in place were in different locations in almost all the buses.

KELLER FILES LAW SUIT FILED OVER BUSES ONLY TO BACKDOWN

In 2018, the city rejected all of the electric buses delivered by manufacturer BYD Motors and demanded to return them. Mayor Keller with great bravado and a press conferencer ordered the filing of a breach of contract lawsuit against the bus manufacture. Keller said in part:

“We’re no longer going to be guinea pigs [for the bus manufacturer] anymore … Obviously, we very concerned about what we’ve been put through as a city … I think down the road, we’re interested in being fairly compensated for what we have been misled on these buses.”

The city settled the lawsuit with BYD that terminated the city’s obligation to buy $22 million worth of buses from BYD. Keller settled the case with a mutual dismissal of claims. Absolutely no damages were paid to the city by the bus manufacturer for the city being “guinea pigs” as Keller alleged even for the loss revenue to the city for the delay.

BUS STOP PLATFORMS DEFECTS

The problems with ART were not just with the electric buses and included the bus stop platforms and the overall design of the bus route.

There were problems with inconsistent heights on some of the bus stop platforms, which created problems for wheelchair access.

Two of the bus stations were not in the proper distance between the intersection and the actual platforms. One platform is so close to the intersection that a bus coming from the east side going west can’t make the approach.

“PIN CURBS” AND RED PAINT TO FIX POORLY DESIGNED BUS ROUTE

Since starting service November 30, 2019, the ART buses have had accident after accident and upwards of 25 major accidents and upwards of 30 minor accidents signaling a poorly designed project down the very middle of central.

The ART Bus was temporarily suspended as a result of the corona virus pandemic. During the temporary closure of the bus line, the Keller Administration began spending in January, 2021 over $200,000 more to construct “pin curbs” which are concrete edging to form barriers to boundaries for the dedicated bus lanes to prevent vehicles from traveling into the dedicated lanes.

On Tuesday, May 25, 2021, the Keller Administration continued with efforts to try and make the disastrous and poorly designed ART Bus along central more user friendly, this time with red paint. City maintenance crews began to paint ART Bus lanes with a bright red. The red painting is in areas along Central Avenue to signal the areas where busses go in either direction in one lane so as to make it easier for other drivers to avoid driving head on into the buses. The central blocks in east downtown, west downtown and the area in front of UNM were painted.

The city’s Transit Department Director Danny Holcomb said the red lanes had to get federally approved before the work could begin and he said:

“This is the same funding we got for the entire ART project. … We had some money left over, and we wanted to do as many safety improvements as we can. … We’re moving the stop bars back a little bit on the intersection so if you’re on a lane next to a bus, you can actually see the bus next to you while you’re making your left turn or u-turn.”

https://www.kob.com/albuquerque-news/art-lanes-get-bright-red-makeover/6121700/?fbclid=IwAR0_qchk2xBK11leXKT_RRL8hTDcYd9r8JamCREvfuKyE0-PFVDgrmF1ixw#.YK5SFWWVq68.facebook
https://www.abqjournal.com/1422320/car-crashes-into-art-bus-in-nob-hill.html

PLUMENTING BUS RIDERSHIP

On March 2, 2021, the City of Albuquerque released the biennial progress report for 2020. It’s a summary of progress across eight major goals set by the city council, compiled by the Indicators Progress Commission (IPC). According to the polling under Infrastructure, the city’s bus ridership per capita is less than 1% and is reported to be an extremely disappointing 0.20% for the integrated transportation system.

https://www.petedinelli.com/2021/05/25/taking-the-pulse-of-a-city-2020-albuquerque-progress-report-and-2019-citizens-satisfaction-survey-2020-census-and-data-book-highlights/

The city’s Transit Department provides fixed routes in the form of ABQ Ride and the rapid transit (ART) bus service and Para-Transit (SunVan) service for the mobility impaired population.

The fiscal year 2022 approved budget for the Transit Department Operating Fund is $49 million, an increase of $1.7 million or 3.5% above the Fiscal year original budget. The transit department employs 574 full time employees. In 2020, the ART bus line was reported to have a total of 814,295 boarding’s for the entire year, Rapid ride had 152,381 total boarding for the year and commuter total boarding were 98,000.

Pages 161 to 164, City of Albuquerque budget:

https://documents.cabq.gov/budget/fy-22-proposed-budget.pdf

Historically, city bus ridership has plummeted dramatically.

According to one report, the 2020 bus boarding’s were down a whopping 43% over previous year or 3.9 million fewer boarding’s. Boarding’s were down by 61% since 2012 peak which is 7.9 million fewer boarding. While ridership plunged, the Transit Department’s budget increased by 28%

https://www.abqreport.com/single-post/abq-bus-system-near-collapse-ridership-down-61-percent

In the hopes of increasing bus ridership, the Keller Administration announced that all bus service in the city will be FREE OF CHARGE when the new budget cycle commences on July 1.

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

Tim Keller was elected New Mexico State Auditor in 2014 and began running for Mayor in 2016. As State Auditor, Keller he made a name for himself saying he fought “waste, fraud and abuse” and never missed an opportunity to call it out and to investigate garnering headlines. ART was the exception for Keller and he declined to look into the project for “waste, fraud and abuse” as State Auditor. The ART bus project was built in 2016–17. ART began limited operation in November, 2017 the same month Keller was elected, but was subsequently delayed by Keller for over two years due to problems with the stations and buses. After the original fleet of electric buses was replaced by Keller with diesel buses, the line began regular service on November 30, 2019, a full two years after he was elected Mayor.

In 2017, then New Mexico State Auditor Tim Keller and candidate for Mayor, took absolutely no position on the controversial ART Project. Forums were held in city council districts that were going to be affected by ART. Keller avoided attending any of the city’s public forums to listen to public input. Keller also failed to attend the federal court hearing on the action filed for injunctive relief.

As a candidate for Mayor, Keller showed absolutely no curiosity about the ART project and steered clear of making comments and taking a position if the project should have been stopped. This coming from a State Auditor who made a reputation as a white knight to combat “waste, fraud and abuse” of taxpayer money, which is exactly what describes the ART Bus project.

No doubt Keller was afraid to oppose the ART Bus Project from the get go because it would have likely alienated his progressive base of supporters who are “mass transit” and city bus service supporters.

On January 9, 2018, a little more than a month after being sworn into to office as Mayor, Tim Keller said in a news conference about the ART Bus project:

“The problems are much worse than I think anyone believed. … This project is a bit of a lemon”.

Keller’s comments and observations are some of the biggest understatements in the city’s history summarizing a city construction boondoggle costing $135,000,000.

In June 2021, Keller’s “bit of a lemon” has now become a rotting lemon in the 100 + degree Albuquerque sun.

KELLER’S FAILED LEADERSHIP ON ART PROJECT

In 2017, Democrat Mayor Keller was elected in a landslide run off in part by advocating major changes in policy and rejection of the former Republican Mayor’s policies. Instead, what the city got was a Democrat Mayor who adopted many of the policies and projects started by Republican Mayor Richard Berry, including the signature legacy project known as ART.

All of this could have been prevented. Mayor Keller has only himself to blame. Instead of abandoning the ART bus project, Keller made the deliberate decision to finish the ART Bus Project thinking he could make it work. Simply put, the ART Bus is a failure and has destroyed historical Rout 66.

Keller has now spent most of his 4-year term to first complete the ART Bus project and trying to make it work. Keller is now hoping for another 4 years to make the ART Bus project work and all we will get is a bunch of empty buses going up and down Central Avenue.

Berry’s Boondoggle is Keller’s Crisis Project that has now destroyed historic Route 66. Keller has only himself to blame for his failed leadership.

Too bad. It did not have to be this way and ART could have been prevented with a little leadership. All Tim Keller had to do is to follow his own policy he established as State Treasurer to “combat waste, fraud and abuse” on a $135 million project that has now destroyed so many business on Central Avenue as well as historic Rout 66.

A link listing blog article on the ART Bus project can be found here:

Dinelli Blog Articles On ART Bus Project Listed

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On Tuesday, June 16, Mayor Tim Keller held a press conference to discuss “holistic” traffic safety and to announce his intent to renew the use of automated traffic camera’s and “speed vans” to issue speeding citations. During the June 16 press conference, Mayor Tim Keller announced he wants to resurrect the use of “speeding vans” to issue speeding citations to free up APD officers and set up them up in targeted areas of the city plagued by speeders.

Keller had this to say:

“[Speeding] is such a big problem. You cannot solve it by just deploying officers in a couple of weeks in different areas. We don’t have the officers to do that. The goal is to get people to stop speeding. So, if you just do that because there is a sign out, that’s fine. … I believe we don’t have a lot of choices left, in terms of tactical operations. … Having APD stand out here with speed guns for a week is not going to make a difference. … We are thinking about phasing [camera speeding citations] in so people know about them. You might get a warning first. “

Joseph Viers, the Albuquerque police commander for traffic and motor units, had this to say:

“One-third of all fatal crashes in Albuquerque involve excessive speed. … Automated [camera] enforcement can work to cut down on dangerous speeding, and officers do not have to be involved in that process directly. … In 2019, there were 97 fatalities, and that’s the highest it’s been over the past decade. … Pedestrian deaths have increased four times since 2010. … [Traffic stops] have the highest incidence for sometimes tragic confrontations between offices and civilians.”

According to Commander Viers, automated camera citation will free up police and allow APD to focus on other police work, particularly violent crime.

Jazmin Irazoqui-Ruiz, managing city attorney for policy, said it is important the city is “making sure that we aren’t criminalizing our community, making sure that this is solely a civil citation process … and offering alternative ways of paying for these citations so that it doesn’t result in a bench warrant.”

Under the proposed program, citations would be reviewed before being mailed, and motorists who receive citations would have access to an appeal process. People who cannot afford fines would be offered alternatives, such as community service. In the previous system, tickets went to the registered vehicle owner who may not have been the driver of the vehicle.

Unlike the widely disliked red light camera program abolished in 2012, Keller’s proposed new system would be mobile and target only speeding vehicles, although not low-level speeders going a few miles over the limit. Violators would receive citations that are civil, rather than criminal, and they would be handled administratively, “basically like parking tickets” Keller said.

The last time the city used speeding vans was in 2006 where vans were used in school zones and the use grew to interstates and neighborhoods. Soon the speeding van program evolved into the “red light” camera program where red-light cameras were erected at the most heavily traffic intersections in the city.

In 2010, the New Mexico state legislature banned the use of speed vans on state and federal roadways. The “red light camera” program became so controversial that it was forced on the city ballot. In October, 2012, 53% of voters voted to end the program, which included red light cameras and speed vans. The Albuquerque City Council repealed the red light camera ordinance. In 2011, Albuquerque discontinued its association with Redflex and its camera system.

https://www.koat.com/article/speed-enforcement-vans-could-return-to-abq/36732337

Mayor Keller said during the press conference the automated camera program will occur only if the Albuquerque City Council adopts an ordinance to create the system and provide for traffic penalties under the city’s civil code.

THE PROBLEM IS NOT JUST SPEEDING

It’s common driving the streets of Albuquerque to see others speeding, be cut off by another driver, see someone run a red light, watch drivers barrel through school zones, use corner businesses to drive into and out as a shortcut to avoid a red light, vehicles with cracked windshields or broken taillights, people using their cell phones while driving ignoring traffic in front or on the side of them. You can often see people driving without their seat belts on, drivers swerving in and out of lanes at high speeds and engaging in careless driving, driver’s looking in their rearview mirror checking out their teeth, hair or makeup.

Then there are drivers yelling at each other in road rage or drivers being totally oblivious to pedestrians and people on bikes or motorcycles, drivers that are obviously in a haze or driving under the influence based on their weaving in and out of traffic. You can also see drivers that have been in a car accident patiently waiting lengthy periods of time for a police officer to show up to take an accident report.

What you do NOT see are Albuquerque Police Officers (APD) making traffic stops, issuing traffic citations or warnings. It’s the sure presence of police on the road that changes people’s driving habits. The only time you hear or see an APD mark unit on the streets of Albuquerque is when they are traveling far in excess of the speed limit with their red lights on and sirens blazing no doubt to get to the next homicide or violent crime scene.

The Governors Highway Safety Association report has ranked New Mexico as having the highest pedestrian fatalities per capita for five years in a row.

METRO TRAFFIC COURT ARRAIGNMENT PROGRAM

Traffic citations are criminal misdemeanor citations and can only be given when a police officers actually witnesses the offense, such as speeding or running a red light. Traffic cases are “officer prosecuted”, meaning sworn police officers on their own have to present the case to the court.

In 2006, the Metropolitan Traffic Court Arraignment Program was created by an agreement between the City Attorney, the Bernalillo County District Attorney and the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court. Despite the historical and designated role of the Bernalillo County District Attorney’s office as the chief law enforcement office for the prosecution of criminal cases, misdemeanor or felony cases, the City Attorney’s office was tasked with the program. Then Deputy City Attorney Pete Dinelli was given the assignment to create the program with the hiring of Assistant City Attorneys and paralegals and to manage and oversee the attorneys and para legals.

Two Assistant City attorneys and 4 paralegals were hired because of the volume of traffic cases. Assistant City Attorneys are cross deputized or appointed “special prosecutors” by the Bernalillo County District Attorney with the sole authority to negotiate plea agreements in traffic cases at the time of arraignments, thereby negating the need for sworn APD personnel to appear at arraignments.

The rationale for the city attorney’s office to be involved with traffic arraignments is twofold:

1. To provide a major accommodation to the Metropolitan Court
2. To eliminate the need of sworn APD officers to go to court for arraignments on traffic offenses.

The traffic court arraignment program reduces police overtime where APD sworn personnel are entitled to a minimum of 2 hours of overtime charged at time and a half under the union contract.

HOW IT WORKS

When a person is stopped and issued traffic citation, the citing sworn officer determines if the driver will contest the citations. If the driver wants to contest the citations issued, an arraignment date and time is immediately scheduled by the citing officer. The Metropolitan Traffic arraignment program streamlines the process, saves time and money and negates the appearance of police officers at arraignments.

There are upwards of 170 different traffic violation citations that can be issued by sworn law enforcement. The most common traffic citations include speeding, reckless driving, careless driving, failing to stop, improper lane change, no registration, no insurance, suspended driver’s license, failing to yield, and open container. On any given day, between 250 and as many as 500 cases can be negotiated, resolved and approved by the Metro Court. The average Metropolitan Traffic Court arraignment case results in court fees and fines anywhere from $65 to upwards of $250.

APD BUDGET INCREASE

The Albuquerque Police Department (APD) budget is the largest budget department in the city with the city council approving a $212 million budget commencing July 1. The approved budget is an increase of 3% from last budget year with nearly $32 million coming from the city’s federal coronavirus relief money.

The approved APD budget funds 1,706 full time positions that includes civilian staff and funding for 1,100 sworn police. Currently, APD has 980 sworn police.

The APD approved budget includes:

$2.5 million to support the hiring of 100 new officers, which factors in existing vacancies and savings from retirements and other separations.
$627,000 to acquire electronic control weapons that have an audit trail to monitor usage and compliance with use of force policies.
$594,000 to purchase on-body cameras.

APD’s approved 2022 fiscal year budget that begins on July 1 can be found at page 147 of the City’s Budget with the link here:

https://documents.cabq.gov/budget/fy-22-proposed-budget.pdf

KELLER’S APD STATISTCLY UNERPEFORMS IN TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT BY THE THOUSANDS

Review of the hard numbers in Keller’s budget reveal that APD during the last 4 years reflects that enforcing traffic laws has never been a major priority for APD under Keller’s appointed APD Chief’s Michael Geier and now Chief Harold Medina.

APD’S DRAMTIC DECLINE ISSUING TRAFFIC CITATIONS UNDER MAYOR KELLER

Review of the hard numbers in Keller’s budgets while he has been Mayor reveals just how bad things have deteriorated with APD performing a basic law enforcement function of patrolling the streets and issuing traffic citations.

In 2009, there were 86,175 traffic arraignment cases in Metro Court. In 2015 traffic cases dropped to 31,163, or over 55,000 fewer traffic citations. Between 90% and 95% of the traffic cases are APD cases with the remainder being BCSO and State Police cases, which is one reason city personnel were used.

https://www.petedinelli.com/2016/12/26/dwi-and-traffic-enforcement-dangerously-down/

In 2009 the City Attorney’s traffic court arraignment program consisted 2 full time Assistant City Attorneys and 4 full time para legals. As of June 18, 2021, the City Attorney’s traffic court arraignment program consists of just 1 Assistant City Attorney, 1 full time paralegal and 2 half time paralegals. The dramatic decline in city attorney personnel is directly attributed to the decline by the thousands of traffic citations.

The real problem is that APD sworn police are seriously underperforming by choice and traffic enforcement is not a priority for APD. City Attorney statistics reveal a dramatic decrease by the thousand in the number traffic citations being issued by APD. When you review the City’s budget for each of the past 8 years, the statics reveal that thousand more traffic citations were issued with a smaller number of APD sworn police on the force during Mayor Berry’s second term compared to Mayor Keller’s years in office. A dramatic drop in the thousands of traffic citation began to occur in Keller’s first year in office, even when there were more sworn APD officers in field services patrolling the streets.

Following are the statistics for APD total sworn police officers with the number cases disposed of through the city’s traffic arraignment program:

MAYOR RICHARD BERRY YEARS

2014 APPROVED FISCAL YEAR BUDGET (July 1, 2014- June 30, 2015 )

Actual # officers participating in annual bid: 429 (Total staffing with civilians and sworn 1,525) (APD Budget, pages 211 and 215)
Actual # of Traffic Cases going to Arraignment: 39,169 (Legal Budget, p 185)
Actual % of traffic cases resolved by pleas: 92% (Legal Budget, p 185)

The link to the 2014 approved fiscal budget is here:

https://documents.cabq.gov/budget/fy-14-approved-budget.pdf

2015 APPROVED FISCAL YEAR BUDGET (July 1, 2014- June 30, 2015 )

Actual # officers participating in annual bid: 411 (Total staffing with civilian and Sworn: 1,455 (APD Budget, pages 211 and 213)
Actual # of Traffic Cases going to Arraignment: 49,200
Actual % of traffic cases resolved by pleas: 70%

The link to the 2015 approved fiscal budget is here:

https://documents.cabq.gov/budget/fy-15-approved-budget.pdf

2016 APPROVED FISCAL YEAR BUDGET (July 1, 2015- June 30, 2016 )

Actual # Sworn Police for the year: 879 (Patrol Field Services, 420) page 183
Actual # of Traffic Cases going to Arraignment: 39,541 (Legal budget )page 181
Actual % of traffic cases resolved by pleas: 87%

The link to the 2016 approved fiscal budget is here:

https://documents.cabq.gov/budget/fy-16-approved-budget.pdf

2017 APPROVED FISCAL YEAR BUDGET (July 1, 2016- June 30, 2017 )

Actual # Sworn Police for the year: 833 (APD budget, Page 207 )
Actual # of Traffic Cases going to Arraignment: 34,077 (Legal Department Budget, page 183 )
Actual % of traffic cases resolved by pleas: 59% (Legal Department Budget, page 183)

The link to the 2017 approved fiscal budget is here:

https://documents.cabq.gov/budget/fy-17-approved-budget.pdf

2018 APPROVED FISCAL YEAR BUDGET (July 1,2017 – June 30, 2018)

Actual # of sworn officers for the year: 861 (APD budget, Page 204, )
Actual # of Traffic Cases going to Arraignment: 36,161 (Legal Department Budget, Page 178,)
Actual % of traffic cases resolved by pleas: 64% (Legal Department Budget, Page 178,)

The link to the 2018 approved fiscal budget is here:

https://documents.cabq.gov/budget/fy-18-approved-budget.pdf

MAYOR TIM KELLER YEARS

2019 APPROVED FISCAL YEAR BUDGET (July 1, 2018 – June 30, 2019)

Actual # of sworn officers for the year: 867 (APD budget, Page 211)
Actual # of traffic cases going to Arraignment: 26,106 (Legal Department Budget, Page 187)
Actual % of cases resolved by plea: 75% (Legal Department Budget, Page 187)

The link to the 2019 approved fiscal budget is here:

https://documents.cabq.gov/budget/fy-19-approved-budget.pdf

2020 APPROVED FISCAL YEAR BUDGET (July 1, 2019 – June 30, 2020)
Actual # of sworn officers: 964 (APD budget, Page 213)

August 1, 2019 APD “Staffing Snapshot”: 972 sworn officers with 600 officers in the field patrolling 6 area commands

https://www.kob.com/albuquerque-news/apd-staffing-numbers-how-many-officers-are-in-your-neighborhood-/5449523/?cat=500

Actual # of Traffic Cases going to Arraignment: 26,544 (Legal Department Budget, Page 186)
Actual % of traffic cases resolved by plea: 70% (Legal Department Budget, Page 186)

The link to the 2020 approved fiscal budget is here:

https://documents.cabq.gov/budget/fy-20-approved-budget.pdf

2021 APPROVED FISCAL YEAR BUDGET ( July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021)

Actual # of sworn officers reported for full year: 924 ( APD budget page 226)

During the February 8, 2021, City Council Public Safety Committee, then Interim Chief Harold Medina reported that APD has 957 sworn police and 371 sworn police were in Field Services responding to calls for service or 39% of the entire sworn force.

Actual # of traffic cases going to arraignment: 19,650 (Legal Department Budget, page 200)
Actual % of traffic cases resolved by plea: 70% (Legal Department Budget, page 200)

The link to the 2021 approved fiscal budget is here:

https://www.cabq.gov/dfa/documents/fy21-adjusted-approved-numbered-w-hyperlinks-final.pdf

2022 FISCAL YEAR BUDGET (July 1, 2021 June 30, 2022)

Actual # of sworn officers reported for full year: 1,004 ( APD budget page 149)
Actual # of traffic cases going to arraignment: 4,044 mid year with 47% pleas, 8,088 projected for the year. (Legal Department Budget, page 128)
Actual % of cases resolved by plea: 47% pleas mid year, 50% pleas projected for year. (Legal Department Budget, page 128)

The link to the 2022 fiscal year budget is here:

https://documents.cabq.gov/budget/fy-22-proposed-budget.pdf

NUTSHELL COMPARISON

Traffic citation cases in Metro Court dropped from 36,161 in Berry’s last fiscal year he was in office to 26,106 in Keller’s first fiscal year in office with the numbers dropping each year thereafter during the Keller years to a paltry 4,044 mid year in 2022 fiscal year.

From the foregoing, a nutshell comparison of the second term of Mayor Berry Compared to the Mayor Keller’s term is as follows:

MAYOR BERRY YEARS OF TRAFFIC ARRAIGNMENT CASES AND APD PERSONNEL:

Traffic Arraignment Cases Under Berry:

2014: 39,169, 2015: 49,200, 2016: 39,541, 2017: 34,077, 2018: 36,161

APD Sworn Field Services And Total Sworn Under Berry:

2014: 429 field, 2015: 411 field, 2016: 420 field, 2017: 833 (total sworn) 2018: 861 (Total Sworn)

MAYOR KELLER YEARS OF TRAFFIC ARRAIGNMENT CASES AND APD PERSONNEL

Traffic Arraignment Cases under Keller:

2019: 26,106 , 2000: 26,544; 2021: 19,650, 2022: 4,044 mid year with 47% pleas, 8,088 projected for year with 50% pleas

APD Personnel Under Keller:

2019: 867 total sworn , 2020: 972 total sworn, 2021: 957 sworn police, 2022: 1,100 total sworn budgeted.

ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARY

When Mayor Keller insists that “You cannot solve [speeding] by just deploying officers in a couple of weeks in different areas. We don’t have the officers to do that”, he is misleading the public and wrong on two levels. It’s not the need for more police officers, but making traffic enforcement a priority by APD.

One of the very basic functions of any municipal police department is traffic law enforcement. APD is the largest funded department with a $212 million budget with 1,678 full time positions that includes 578 civilian staff and funding for 1,100 sworn police. Yet Keller whines about not having enough officers as opposed to ordering the Department to make traffic law enforcement a priority.

What is pathetic is that Keller actually thinks that a “holistic” approach will reduce speeding. Reducing speeding has everything to do with visibility and APD patrolling the streets of the city and just enforcing traffic laws that result in consequences. When a person is issued a traffic citation by a cop for failure to wear a seat belt and the person is required to plead guilty or go before a judge to see if they can get out of the fine, it changes conduct.

The City and APD were under a Court Approved Settlement Agreement the last 3 years of Mayor Berry’s second term and the full term of Mayor Tim Keller. Complaints by Mayor Keller that APD does not have enough sworn police to do traffic enforcement rings very hollow. APD now has more police officers under Mayor Keller than Mayor Berry, yet APD issued thousands of more traffic citations during Berry’s second term than Keller’s term.

According to the city budgets from the last 8 years, traffic court cases handled by the City Attorney dropped from 36,161 in Berry’s last fiscal year he was in office to 26,106 in Keller’s first fiscal year in office with the numbers dropping each year thereafter to a paltry 4,044 mid year in 2022 fiscal year.

MISUNDERSTANDING OF BASIC LAW ENFORCEMENT

Mayor Tim Keller, and the Albuquerque City Council for that matter, have a serious misunderstanding to the point of being totally ignorant to think that issuing automated camera speeding citations resulting in civil fines is going to solve the city’s speeding problem. A civil administrative proceeding presided over by city administrative hearing officers will occur to review the speeding citations and give the person an opportunity to defend. The problem is, civil citations will likely be ignored. Without criminal contempt powers that a court of law has to issue orders to arrest for failure to appear, a city administrative hearing officer can do absolutely nothing, but smile and grin in the hopes a person will pay the fine.

As was the case with the “red flex” cameras and its administrative hearings, it will not solve the speeding problem and only result in another severe public relations backlash and resentment of “big brother” is watching you as you drive the streets of Albuquerque.

POWER OF THE COURTS REASON THAT CRIMINAL TRAFFIC CITATIONS REDUCE SPEEDING

When a police officer issues a misdemeanor criminal citation for speeding or other traffic offenses, the crime must occur in the presence of the officer where the officer has witnessed the crime. Automated red light camera citations are civil because the crime is a recorded image.

There is a major reason that traffic citations are criminal misdemeanor charges with fines and not civil. It’s because traffic citations issued by police officers and backed up with the authority of the courts, it has a major impact on the general public to deter conduct and reduce speeding and other traffic violations.

In addition to the criminal aspect, there is also a civil aspect to the misdemeanor charges. Automatic driver’s license revocation can occur with traffic citations. The more citations are issued, the more impact it has to threaten the suspension of a person’s driver’s license because of points assessed. Auto insurance companies also monitor their client’s traffic record and will increase insurance rates or even cancel coverage.

Police presence and visibility on the streets is the most effective way to change people’s driving habits, especially with speeding. Mayor Keller would be wise, especially during an election year, to abandoned the automatic camera citations idea and stick to the use of street patrols with reliance on the Metro Court arraignment program.

Mayor Keller needs to order APD to make traffic enforcement a priority and stop it with the press conferences where he announces “holistic” programs where he whines about not having enough sworn police officers. Keller needs to stop the whining at least until November 2.

From April 17 to June 19, 2021, publicly financed candidates for Mayor must gather both 3,000 signatures from registered voters within the City and 3,779 qualifying donations of $5.00. According to the city’s public finance laws, public finance candidates are given $1.75 cents per voter for regular elections and 60 cents per voter if there is a runoff between the two top vote getters. In the 2021 municipal election, candidates for Mayor who qualify for public finance will be given $661,309.25.

Both incumbent Mayor Tim Keller and Sheriff Manny Gonzales have secured the required 3,000 qualifying signatures to be placed on the ballot and secured the 3,779 qualifying $5.00 donations. Candidate for Mayor Patrick Ben Sais has failed to secure the required number of signatures and donations, but he still has the option to continue with gathering nominating petition signatures as privately financed candidate.

From June 8 to August 10, 2021, privately financed candidates for Mayor must gather more than 3, 000 nominating petition signatures from registered voters within the City

PROCESSED PETITION SIGNATURES:

Candidates for Mayor who gather the 3,779 qualifying $5 donations to the city are give $661,000.

As of Friday June 18, following are the updated City Clerk numbers for Processed Petition Signatures and $5.00 qualifying donations:

MAYOR TIM KELLER

Required Petition Signatures: 3,000
Verified Petition Signatures: 4,189
Rejected Petition Signatures: 607
Remaining Petition Signatures Needed: – 0 –
Percentage of Verified Petition Signatures Met: 100%

Required $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 3,779
Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 4,057
Rejected $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 328
Remaining $5.00 Qualifying Contributions Needed: -0-
Percentage of Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 100%

SHERIFF MANNY GONZALES

Required Petition Signatures: 3,000
Verified Petition Signatures: 3,757
Rejected Petition Signatures: 745
Remaining Petition Signatures Needed: – 0 –
Percentage of Verified Petition Signatures Met: 100%

Required $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 3,779
Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 4,106
Rejected $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 573
Remaining $5.00 Qualifying Contributions Needed: -9-
Percentage of Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 100%

PATRICK BEN SAIS

Required Petition Signatures: 3,000
Verified Petition Signatures: 950
Rejected Petition Signatures: 689
Remaining Petition Signatures Needed: 2,050
Percentage of Verified Petition Signatures Met: 32%

Required $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 3,779
Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 3
Rejected $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 1
Remaining $5.00 Qualifying Contributions Needed: 3,776
Percentage of Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 0%

https://www.cabq.gov/vote/candidate-information/2021-candidates/petition-qualifying-contribution-tally-1

CITY COUNCIL

From May 31 to July 5, 2021, all City Council candidates must gather 500 qualifying signatures from registered voters within the district and must gather the $5.00 qualifying donations. The number of qualifying donations required and the amount of public financing given vary in each city council district based on the population of registered voters. Thus far no candidate has collected the required number of nominating petition signatures nor the $5.00 qualifying donations.

Following are the City Clerk numbers for Processed Petition Signatures and $5.00 qualifying donations in each of the city council districts.

DISTRICT 1 CITY COUNCIL

City Council District 1 candidates who qualify for public finance will be given $41,027.

LAN SENA (Incumbent)

Required Petition Signatures: 500
Verified Petition Signatures: 191
Rejected Petition Signatures: 26
Remaining Petition Signatures Needed: 309
Percentage of Verified Petition Signatures Met: 38%

Required $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 411
Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 126
Rejected $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 12
Remaining $5.00 Qualifying Contributions Needed: 285
Percentage of Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 31%

LOUIE SANCHEZ

Required Petition Signatures: 500
Verified Petition Signatures: -0-
Rejected Petition Signatures: -0-
Remaining Petition Signatures Needed: 500
Percentage of Verified Petition Signatures Met: -0-

Required $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 411
Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: -0-
Rejected $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: -0-
Remaining $5.00 Qualifying Contributions Needed: 411
Percentage of Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: -0-

DISTRICT 3 CITY COUNCIL

City Council District 3 candidates who qualify for public finance will be given $40,000

KLARISSA PENA (Incumbent)

Required Petition Signatures: 500
Verified Petition Signatures: 314
Rejected Petition Signatures: 76
Remaining Petition Signatures Needed: 186
Percentage of Verified Petition Signatures Met: 63%

Required $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 315
Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 164
Rejected $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 22
Remaining $5.00 Qualifying Contributions Needed: 151
Percentage of Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions:52%

BENJAMIN TELLES

Required Petition Signatures: 500
Verified Petition Signatures: 38
Rejected Petition Signatures: 38
Remaining Petition Signatures Needed: 462
Percentage of Verified Petition Signatures Met: 8%

Required $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 315
Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 14%
Rejected $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 2
Remaining $5.00 Qualifying Contributions Needed: 301
Percentage of Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 4%

ANTHONY ZAMORA

Required Petition Signatures: 500
Verified Petition Signatures: 36
Rejected Petition Signatures: 24
Remaining Petition Signatures Needed: 464
Percentage of Verified Petition Signatures Met: 7%

Required $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 315
Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 23
Rejected $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 1
Remaining $5.00 Qualifying Contributions Needed: 292
Percentage of Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 7%

DISTRICT 5 CITY COUNCIL

City Council District 5 candidates who qualify for public finance will be given: $50,489.

CYNTHIA BORREGO (Incumbent)

Required Petition Signatures: 500
Verified Petition Signatures: 138
Rejected Petition Signatures: 20
Remaining Petition Signatures Needed: 362
Percentage of Verified Petition Signatures Met: 28%

Required $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 505
Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 142
Rejected $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 20
Remaining $5.00 Qualifying Contributions Needed: 363
Percentage of Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 28%

DAN LEWIS

Required Petition Signatures: 500
Verified Petition Signatures: 443
Rejected Petition Signatures: 21
Remaining Petition Signatures Needed: 57
Percentage of Verified Petition Signatures Met: 89%

Required $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 505
Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 402
Rejected $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 18
Remaining $5.00 Qualifying Contributions Needed: 103
Percentage of Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 80%

PHILLIP RAMIREZ

Required Petition Signatures: 500
Verified Petition Signatures: 124
Rejected Petition Signatures: 21
Remaining Petition Signatures Needed: 57
Percentage of Verified Petition Signatures Met: 89%

Required $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 505
Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 4
Rejected $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: -0-
Remaining $5.00 Qualifying Contributions Needed: 501
Percentage of Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 1%

DISTRICT 7 CITY COUNCIL

City Council District 7 candidates who qualify for public finance will be given $44,194.

EMILIE DE ANGELIS

Required Petition Signatures: 500
Verified Petition Signatures: 75
Rejected Petition Signatures: 17
Remaining Petition Signatures Needed: 425
Percentage of Verified Petition Signatures Met: 15%

Required $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 442
Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 18
Rejected $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: -0-
Remaining $5.00 Qualifying Contributions Needed: 448
Percentage of Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 4%

TAMMY FIEBELKORN

Required Petition Signatures: 500
Verified Petition Signatures: 271
Rejected Petition Signatures: 19
Remaining Petition Signatures Needed: 229
Percentage of Verified Petition Signatures Met: 54%

Required $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 442
Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 18
Rejected $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: -0-
Remaining $5.00 Qualifying Contributions Needed: 229
Percentage of Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 54%

TRAVIS KELLERMAN

Required Petition Signatures: 500
Verified Petition Signatures: 170
Rejected Petition Signatures: 30
Remaining Petition Signatures Needed: 330
Percentage of Verified Petition Signatures Met: 34%

Required $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 442
Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 22
Rejected $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 7
Remaining $5.00 Qualifying Contributions Needed: 320
Percentage of Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions:28%

MAURO WALDEN-MONTOYA

Required Petition Signatures: 500
Verified Petition Signatures: 70
Rejected Petition Signatures: 4
Remaining Petition Signatures Needed: 430
Percentage of Verified Petition Signatures Met: 14%

Required $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 442
Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 98
Rejected $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 5
Remaining $5.00 Qualifying Contributions Needed: 344
Percentage of Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 22%

ANDRES VALDEZ SR

Required Petition Signatures: 500
Verified Petition Signatures: 157
Rejected Petition Signatures: 31
Remaining Petition Signatures Needed: 343
Percentage of Verified Petition Signatures Met: 31%

Required $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 442
Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 126
Rejected $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 19
Remaining $5.00 Qualifying Contributions Needed: 316
Percentage of Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 29%

DISTRICT 9 CITY COUNCIL

City Council District 9 candidates who qualify for public finance will be given $41,791.

ROB GRILLEY JR

Required Petition Signatures: 500
Verified Petition Signatures: 47
Rejected Petition Signatures: 1
Remaining Petition Signatures Needed: 453
Percentage of Verified Petition Signatures Met: 9%

Required $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 418
Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 127
Rejected $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 2
Remaining $5.00 Qualifying Contributions Needed: 291
Percentage of Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 30%

RENEE GROUT

Required Petition Signatures: 500
Verified Petition Signatures: 352
Rejected Petition Signatures: 83
Remaining Petition Signatures Needed: 148
Percentage of Verified Petition Signatures Met: 70%

Required $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 418
Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 269
Rejected $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 40
Remaining $5.00 Qualifying Contributions Needed: 149
Percentage of Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 64%

https://www.cabq.gov/vote/candidate-information/2021-candidates/petition-qualifying-contribution-tally-1

_____________

POSTCRIPT

Before signing any petitions or donating to candidates, voters should know where candidates stand on the issues they care about and what they will do if elected. A few questions and issues candidates for City Council need to think about and disclose their positions on include any of the following:

CITY PERSONNEL AND SERVICES

1.As an elected city councilor, you will be tasked to vote on and on and approve the Mayor’s major appointments. Should the current Chief Administrative Officer, City Attorney, Chief of Police, Fire Department Chief, Chief of Staff, Chief Operations Officer and all other current department directors be replaced?
2. Are you in favor of a state “right to work statute” that would impact or eliminate city employee unions?
3. Should city unions be prohibited from endorsing candidates for municipal office?
4. Are you in favor of privatizing city services or work such as public safety, the 311 call center operations, the bus system or the maintenance and repair work done at city facilities such as the Bio Park?

APD AND CRIME:

1.What is your position on the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) consent decree and mandated reforms?
2. The city and APD have been working under a federal court approved settlement agreement for 6 years after the Department of Justice found a “culture of aggression” and the use of deadly force. The city has spent millions a year on the reforms and the city is no closer to the dismissal of the case. Is it time to have APD placed in receivership of the federal court or should the case just be dismissed?
3. What would you do to enhance civilian oversight of APD and the implementation of the Department of Justice mandated reforms?
4. Should the APD Chief, Assistant Chief, Deputy Chiefs and APD command staff be replaced with a national search and replaced by “outsiders”?
5. Should a national search be conducted for a new law enforcement management team to assume control of APD and make changes and implement the DOJ consent decree mandated reforms?
6. Should the function of Internal Affairs be removed from APD and civilianized under the city Office of Inspector General, the Internal Audit Department and the City Human Resources Department?
7. What are your plans for increasing APD staffing levels and what should those staffing levels be?
8. Since 2010, there have been 41 police officer involved shootings and the city has paid out $50 million to settle deadly force and excessive use of force cases. Should the City return to a “no settlement” policy involving alleged police misconduct cases and require a trial on the merits or a damages jury trial?
9 What are your plans or solutions to bringing down high property and violent crime rates in Albuquerque?
10. Should APD personnel or APD resources be used in any manner to enforce federal immigration laws and assist federal immigration authorities?
11. Should APD and the Bernalillo County Sherriff’s Office be abolished and consolidated to form one regional law enforcement agency, combining resources with the appointment of a governing civilian authority and the appointment of a Superintendent of Public Safety?

THE ECONOMY

1.What strategy would you implement to bring new industries, corporations and jobs to Albuquerque?
2. Albuquerque’s major growth industries include health care, transportation, manufacturing, retail and tourism with an emerging film industry. What programs would you propose to help or enhance these industries?
3. Do you intend to keep the current Director of the City’s Economic Development Department and support staff?
4.The current budget for the Economic Development is $7.5 million out of a $1.2 Billion Budget, would you be in favor of more than tripling the budget to allow for investment grants?
5. To what extent should tax increment districts, industrial revenue bonds and income bonds be used to spur Albuquerque’s economy?
6. What financial incentives do you feel the city can or should offer and provide to the private sector to attract new industry and jobs to Albuquerque, and should that include start-up grants or loans with “claw back” provisions?
7. What sort of private/public partnership agreements or programs should be implemented to spur economic development?
8. What sort of programs or major projects or facilities, if any, should the city partner with the State or County to spur economic development?
9. What programs can the city implement to better coordinate its economic development with the University of New Mexico and the Community College of New Mexico (CNM) to insure an adequately trained workforce for new employers locating to Albuquerque?
10. Are you in favor of the enactment of a gross receipt tax or property tax dedicated strictly to economic development, programs or construction projects to revitalize Albuquerque that would be enacted by the City Council or be voter approved?
11. What programs can Albuquerque implement to insure better cooperation with Sandia Labs and the transfer of technology information for economic development.
12. On September 6, 2019, a $29 million infrastructure bond tax package was approved by the Albuquerque City Council at the Mayor’s request to be financed by the City’s Lodger’s Tax. The lodger tax bond package was labeled as a “Sports – Tourism Lodger Tax ” because it was to be used for a number of projects around the city labeled as “sports tourism opportunities.” The lodger tax is paid by those staying at hotels and vacation rentals in the city and by ordinance is to be used to promote tourism, not athletics facilities for general population use. Do you feel that this was appropriate?

PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT

1.What is your position on the rewriting of the comprehensive zoning code which was an attempt to bring “clarity and predictability” to the development regulations and to attract more “private sector investment”? Critics say it has essentially “gutted” sector development plans by the development community and it has repealed all sector development plans designed to protect neighborhoods and their character.
2. Should the City of Albuquerque seek the repeal by the New Mexico legislature of laws that prohibit city annexation of property without county approval?

EDUCATION

1.Should the City of Albuquerque have representation or be included on the Albuquerque School board, the University of New Mexico Board of Regents and the Community College of New Mexico Board?
2. What should the city do to help reduce high school dropout rates?
3. Should the City of Albuquerque advocate to the New Mexico legislature increasing funding for early child care development programs and intervention programs with increased funding from the permanent fund?
4. What education resources should or can the city make available to the Albuquerque school system?

POVERTY AND THE HOMELESS

1.What should be done to reduce the homeless population in Albuquerque?
2. What services should the City provide to the homeless and poor if any?
3. Should the City continue to support the “coming home” program?
4. Should the city be more involved with the county in providing mental health care facilities and programs?
5. The city has purchased the 530,000 square foot Gibson Medical Center for $15 Million. Should the facility be converter to one, single 24/7 homeless shelter facility for 300 or more homeless as a centralized facility or should the city use a “multi-site approach” to the city’s homelessness crisis and have a number of smaller shelters that would only house up to 50 to 75 people?

TAXATION AND PROJECT FINANCING

1.Are you in favor of increasing the city’s current gross receipts tax or property taxes to pay for essential services and make up for lost gross receipt tax revenues caused in part by the repeal of the “hold harmless” provision and that has mandated budget and personnel cuts during the last 7 years?
2. Do you feel that all increases in gross receipts taxes should be voter approved?
3. The City has borrowed over $63 million dollars over the past two years to build “pickle ball” courts, baseball fields and the ART bus project down central by bypassing voters and using revenue bonds as the financing mechanism to pay for big capital projects. Do you feel revenue bonds is an appropriate funding mechanism for large capital projects?
OTHER ISSUES

1. What is your position on the mandatory sick leave initiative known as the “Healthy Workforce” ordinance mandating private businesses to pay sick leave to employees?
2. Should the City and the City Attorney’s office enforce the increase in the minimum wage and mandatory sick leave initiatives?
4. If you qualify to be a public finance candidate, will you truly be a public finance candidate or do you intend to rely upon measured finance committee’s set up to promote your candidacy?
5. Should major capital improvement projects such as the Albuquerque Rapid Transit (ART) project, be placed on the ballot for voter approval?
6. What is your position on the ART Bus project and should the line be dismantled and should historic Route 66 be restored to its original number of lanes and the ART Bus platforms dedicated to new uses ?
7. Should Albuquerque become a “sanctuary city” by City Council resolution or by a public vote or not at all?

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

The city cannot afford city councilors who makes promises and who offer only eternal hope for better times that result in broken campaign promises. What is needed are city councilors who actually know what they are doing, who will make the hard decisions without an eye on their next election or higher office, not make decisions only to placate their base and please only those who voted for them. What’s needed is a healthy debate on solutions and new ideas to solve our mutual problems, a debate that can happen only with a contested election.

Voters are entitled to and should expect more from candidates than fake smiles, slick commercials, and no solutions and no ideas. Our City needs more than promises of better economic times and lower crime rates for Albuquerque and voters need to demand answers and hold elected officials accountable.

The Rosenwald Building is a historic building located In Downtown Albuquerque on Central and built in 1910. It was the first reinforced concrete building in the city. It is a massive 42,000-square-foot three-story building with a two-story recessed entrance and simple geometric ornamentation. The building was added to the New Mexico State Register of Cultural Properties and the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. The Rosenwald Building was renovated in 1981 and the upper floors were converted to office space. The city of Albuquerque bought the building in 2007 for $1.7 million under Mayor Chavez who left office in 2009. The building remained vacant with the city never developing it for its own use and city services.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosenwald_Building

https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerque-metro/city-moves-to-sell-historic-downtown-albuquerque-building/

CITY SELLS ROSENWALD BUILDING

On June 7, it was reported that the Albuquerque City Council voted to approve the sale of the historic, 3 story Rosenwald Building in the heart of downtown Albuquerque. There are two well known sayings that apply to the sale of the Rosenwald building, one when it comes to real estate and the other when it comes to politics:

In real estate: “Location, location, location is everything!”.

In politics: “Follow the Money!”

TOWNSITE QO21

Online records reveal a company called Townsite Qo21 LLC put in a private bid for $350,000, the so called appraised value of the building. The company intends to build condominiums. Qo21 is a New Mexico Domestic Limited-Liability Company created on January 16, 2019. The company’s filing status is listed as Active and its File Number is 5814235. The Registered Agent on file for this company is Edward Garcia, who is also one of the principals with the Garcia Automotive. The Garcia family, the principal owners of the Garcia Automotive group, are also major stakeholders in the Albuquerque downtown real estate.

https://www.bizapedia.com/nm/townsite-qo21-llc.html

https://opencorporates.com/companies/us_nm/5814235

The approved legislation includes a proposed lease agreement for the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) to move the downtown substation now located at the Alvarado Transportation into the first floor of Rosenwald Building in a 1,100 square foot space. Renderings include a reception area, workspace, offices, and a kitchenette. The initial lease would be just under 14 years with the option to extend it.

Links to news sources are here:

https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerque-metro/apd-proposes-leasing-part-of-rosenwald-building-for-downtown-substation/

https://www.krqe.com/video/apd-new-tenants-or-massive-downtown-building/6699715/

FOLLOWING THE MONEY LEADS TO TIM KELLER

The measured finance committee formed to support Mayor Tim Keller’s bid for a second 4 year term is called “BUILD BACK ‘BURQUE”. Review of the third Financial Statement filed by Build Back ‘Burque reveals the following information:

STATED PURPOSE: “Support Mayor Tim Keller’s re-election to a second term for the city of Albuquerque”

The Chairperson for “Build Back ‘Burque” is Michelle Mayorga. According to the American Association of Political Consultants “Michelle Mayorga has spent nearly 2 decades working on campaigns, progressive issues, and in local and national administrations. She previously served as Western Field Director at the AFL-CIO, Western Political Director at the DCCC, and Coordinated Director for the Democratic Party of New Mexico in 2012.” The Treasurer for “Build Back ‘Burque” is Robert Lara. Mr. Lara is a licensed New Mexico attorney and is the former State Treasurer of the Democratic Party of New Mexico.

CASH BALANCE FROM LAST REPORT: -0-
TOTAL MONETARY CONTRIUTIONS FOR PERIOD: $22,500
TOTAL EXPENDITURES FOR PERIOD: $500.64
CLOSIING BALANCE: $21,999.36

MAJOR DONORS

ED GARCIA, Garcia Automotive Group: $5,000
TOBY GARCIA, Garcia Automotive Group: $5,000
ED GARCIA, Garcia Automotive Group: $2,500
TOBY GARCIA, Garcia Automotive Group:$2,500
NEW MEXICO BUILDING TRADES: $5,000

Note that Ed Garcia and Toby Garcia are listed as with Garcia Automotive Group. Both donated $7,500 each for a total of $15,000 of the $21,999.36 closing balance for “Build Back ‘Burque”.

The link to the 2021 Campaign Finance Reports for BUILD BACK ‘BURQUE is here:

https://campaignfinance.cabq.gov/PublicSite/SearchPages/OrganizationDetail.aspx?OrganizationID=7112

NOT THE FIRST TIME MAKING CONTRIBUTIONS TO HELP KELLER

On January 7, 2019, Mayor Tim Keller announced the creation of the One Albuquerque Foundation. It’s a foundation formed by the city to collect donations from the general public to support city initiatives and projects. According to the city’s website page:

“… the endowment Fund raises funds in support of and to supplement measurable city priorities, including the housing voucher program for people experiencing homelessness, recruiting and retaining public safety officers, expanding opportunities for young people in Albuquerque, and equipping our workforce with the skills they need to succeed. Additional funding for these priorities will accelerate progress and help scale significant investments the City is already making go much farther, much faster.”

On February 7, 2020 the Albuquerque Journal reported that Mayor Tim Keller’s “Albuquerque One Foundation” raised nearly $250,000 with Mayor Keller involved with the solicitation of the donations. Records provided by the city pursuant to a request for public records show most of the money came from a cross section of well-known businesses and individuals. The donations that make up the $250,000 are not small donations from people but are in the thousands made by a few. All told, 35 entities and individuals donated $248,250 to the fund.

A breakdown of the larger donations to Keller’s “Albuquerque One Foundation” revealed that the Garcia Automotive Group was the single largest donor and donating $50,000. Garcia Subaru is part of the Garcia Automotive which also owns several car dealerships, including Honda, Volkswagen, Infiniti, Cadillac, Mercedes, Jaguar, Land Rover and Alfa Romeo. The Garcia family also own significant parcels of commercial real estate in the Old Town Area and has a stake in the New Mexico United professional soccer team, with the city currently looking for a new site for a soccer stadium.

https://www.abqjournal.com/1421506/familiar-businesses-back-abq-foundation.html

DOWNTOWN PUBLIC SAFETY DISTRICT CREATED

It was on September 12, 2018 that Mayor Tim Keller and the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) announced the creation of a “Downtown Public Safety District.” Keller made the announcement at the Alvarado Transportation Center where the substation was to be located. The announcement was made by Keller with great fanfare surrounded by all his top administrators, including APD Brass. The creation of the district was in response to a petition drive by Downtown businesses and residents demanding such a substation.

https://www.abqjournal.com/1219908/keller-unveils-new-downtown-public-safety-district.html

https://www.koat.com/article/mayor-we-re-trying-to-move-beyond-the-notion-of-a-band-aid-solution-for-downtown/23109157

The Downtown Police District was to be headed by an APD Deputy Chief with a Lieutenant and Sergeant assigned. The goal was to have a permanent police presence in Downtown Albuquerque. The congregation of the homeless in the area have been a chronic problem especially around the Alvarado Transportation Center. Consequently, a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) was to be assigned to the district to address homelessness and behavioral health needs.

Several other city departments a well as community organizations were to provide services to the homeless and mentally ill. Albuquerque Fire Rescue (AFR) was to increase its presence near Central Avenue during high-volume call times and by driving a loop around the district after each call for service. The Transit and Municipal Development departments were to contribute security personnel to the district in coordination with APD’s patrol plans. The Municipal Development and Solid Waste departments were to expand the use of street cleaning machines throughout Downtown, including alleyways, and add collection routes for Downtown businesses to address overflow of trash from Saturday nights. 5. Solid Waste was to use its Block-by-Block program to wash sidewalks and its Clean City Graffiti crew to eradicate graffiti as soon as possible.

https://www.cabq.gov/police/news/mayor-tim-keller-unveils-new-downtown-public-safety-district

SIXTY DAY TACTICAL PLAN ANNOUNCED

During the May 17, City Council meeting, City councilors asked questions regarding the safety of downtown Albuquerque on Central after two consecutive weekends of violence and mayhem. On Friday, May 7, mayhem in Downtown Albuquerque when APD Officers were called around 9 p.m. to a parking lot at Second and Central for reports of a man with a gun. The man fled, ramming a vehicle that had two women inside to escape the parking lot. Over the May 14 weekend, a shooting, sexual assault and reports of general mayhem in Downtown Albuquerque. On Sunday, May 16, APD Police said a man was shot Downtown late Sunday night after a group of motorcyclists, allegedly members of the Bandidos gang, opened fire on a car.

Valley Area Commander Josh Brown announced during the council meeting that APD will initiate a 60-day operation on May 29 in Downtown. The tactical plan will utilize DWI-units, traffic police and other investigative units. Commander Brown said the operation will run Thursdays through Sundays and there will be “zero tolerance” on modified exhaust, racing and traffic violations.

Commander Brown told city councilors that crowds have always congregated around Downtown but the problem is “outliers” who “are there strictly to commit crime.” Brown stressed that APD is not targeting the Downtown cruising scene and told councilors:

“We don’t have a problem with them, they have high-end cars that they’ve invested money into. They’re there with their families and they’re not causing problems. We’re targeting the other groups that are coming in that have nothing better to do – drinking in public, shooting guns, things like that. … Public perception is just that, it’s a perception of safety. If people don’t feel safe it’s my job to make sure that they do. ”

The link to quoted source material is here:

https://www.abqjournal.com/2392645/city-councilors-decry-downtown-chaos-apd-planning-crackdown.html

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

The City of Albuquerque owns tracts of land and buildings that are sometimes no longer needed to satisfy a public purpose. These types of properties are known as “surplus properties.” Once the Real Property Division identifies a potential surplus property, it seeks to have it declared not-essential by the City Council. Not-essential properties are then marketed for sale in accordance with City Ordinance and are sold through a bidding process. The question that remains unanswered is why was the Rosenwald Building sold in a private sale and when was it declared surplus property and not-essential?

https://www.cabq.gov/municipaldevelopment/city-real-estate-sales-services/surplus-city-properties-for-sale

Next thing you know, Keller and the City Council will want to sell the historic KIMO to developers in a private bid process so that the public will never know about it.

The sale of a building by the city on the National Register of Historic Places is what you get when you elect a Mayor and a City Council that has absolutely no clue as to the history of the city. Instead of selling the building, the City and the Mayor should have given the developer a 100 year lease, as opposed to title to the building.

In order to prevent this from ever, ever happening again, the City Council needs to enact an ordinance that strictly prevents city hall from ever selling historical buildings once bought by the city. The ordinance would mandate maintenance, repairs and remodeling as the need requires for city use.

It’s the land ownership that matters the most as to location, location, location. Once title transfers, the new property owners can do whatever they want with it, including building the proposed condos, renovate it for office space, or just hold on to it as a vacant building. The building owners can even seek to have the building declared substandard as to making it a danger for occupancy and have it torn down and build a high rise. Many a downtown structures on central have been turndown and are now dirt parking lots.

Mayor Keller and the City Council have no clue of the importance of preserving a community’s history and have forgotten the teardowns of historic structures. First there was the Franciscan Hotel and then the Alvarado. Then you had the 1970’s urban renewal that literally torn down many historical structures and residential areas with urban renewal which essentially destroyed the downtown area making it a “ghost area” as the city grew to the north east heights.

Simply put, the sale of the Rosenwald building should never of happened and was a dereliction of duty by the Mayor and City Council.

It was a sure act of stupidity on the part of Mayor Tim Keller and the Albuquerque City Council to sell a landmark building the city owns in the heart of Albuquerque on Central for the building of condos in the very area that is becoming a war zone. A question that the city council never asked is how successful has the Downtown Public Safety District located in the Alvarado Transportation center been and why does the APD need a 1,100 square foot office area in a condo building just a few blocks down from the Alvarado transportation center?

What is also pathetic is that the City Council agrees to a 14 years lease for a 1,100 square foot APD substation in a 42,000-square-foot three-story building. You would think the city could have at least demanded to give the city option to use the entire first floor as a substation and not a mere 1,100 square feet of it. Another question that should have been asked is if the real purpose of the APD lease is to provide police protection for a residential development?

The sale of city owned historical building is what you get when you elect a Mayor like Tim Keller who secures $65,000 for his personal agenda and election efforts and a City Council that is derelict in it duties and forgets the city’s past mistakes and its history.

Links to two related blog articles on the history of downtown and uptown Albuquerque are here:

A Brief History of Downtown Albuquerque: 1952 to 2019

A Brief History of ABQ Uptown: 1952 to 2019