Albuquerque, NM

Kagi AI Highlights:

• The city council voted on several zoning changes, including allowing tribal representatives to comment on land developments near the Petroglyph National Monument, allowing drive-thrus in certain areas, and creating design standards for developments near the planned Rail Trail.
• The ordinance allowing tribal representatives to comment on land developments near the Petroglyph National Monument passed unanimously, as it was seen as important to protect sacred tribal lands and cultural resources.
• The proposal to allow drive-thrus in the Volcano Heights Urban Center was controversial, with the Planning Department and Environmental Planning Commission recommending against it, but it ultimately passed in a 6-3 vote.
• An ordinance was passed to require development standards like landscape buffering and building design restrictions for properties next to the planned Rail Trail in downtown Albuquerque.
• The council voted on several amendments to the Integrated Development Ordinance (IDO) Annual Update, including increasing alley lighting, allowing more duplexes, and adjusting fence/wall heights.
• The amendment to allow duplexes in more residential areas failed in a 3-6 vote, while the amendment to require energy storage systems to meet neighborhood standards passed unanimously.
• An amendment to have neighborhoods and developers meet after a development is proposed (rather than before) passed 5-4.
• The amendment to allow tribal representatives to meet with developers about land-related applications passed unanimously.
• The proposal to increase allowable front yard fence/wall heights to 5 feet failed 1-8.
• The amendment to allow overnight shelters in certain zones also failed 3-6.

John Brown Breakfast Club Barbecue and Bake Sale! We are collecting donations to serve breakfast every Saturday morning at 9 under the Coal bridge for our unhoused neighbors! We just made thirty vegan cookies from our top secret recipe book 🍪 Looking forward to seeing you there - Solidarity not Charity ✊ Happy Pride 🏳️‍🌈 we'll see you tomorrow and Sunday 🌯

Kagi AI Summary: Albuquerque, New Mexico has been aggressively clearing homeless encampments, resulting in the loss of personal belongings for thousands of homeless individuals. The city has escalated these efforts despite a court order prohibiting the destruction of unattended possessions. Homeless residents have lost critical items like medication, identification, and survival gear, making it harder for them to find housing and jobs. The city claims it provides notice and resources, but advocates say this is rarely the case. Lawsuits have been filed challenging the city's actions as unconstitutional, but the issue remains unresolved as the city continues its encampment removal program at an accelerated pace.

>During a community event in Sandoval County today, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland signed Public Land Order 7940 protecting more than 4,200 acres of Bureau of Land Management-managed public lands in the Placitas area.

The final mineral withdrawal protects, preserves, and promotes the scenic integrity, cultural importance, recreational values and wildlife habitat connectivity of the lands and the surrounding area. The lands will be closed to new mining claims, mineral sales, and oil and gas leases for the next 50 years, subject to valid existing rights.

https://www.nmhu.edu/eoc/

In case of paywall: https://archive.is/DbraV

Kagi AI Summary > The New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness organizes an annual point-in-time count of the homeless population in Albuquerque. Last year's count found over 2,300 homeless individuals. Volunteers will canvass the city on Tuesday to survey unsheltered people and those in shelters. The count provides data required for federal funding and gives officials a sense of needs. However, it is acknowledged to be an imperfect undercount, as it depends on conditions and willingness to participate. Notably, the 2023 nationwide report found that New Mexico saw the largest increase in homelessness at 57% over the past year, along with high rates of unsheltered veterans and chronic homelessness.

Kagi AI Summary: The passage lists the addresses of various food establishments in Albuquerque, New Mexico that have recently been downgraded due to health code violations. Many issues were observed like rodent droppings throughout facilities, food debris built up under kitchen equipment, and employees not properly washing their hands. Major violations included lack of date labeling on food items, food stored at improper temperatures, and chlorine sanitizer buckets lacking test strips. Several restaurants had gaps in external doors and walls allowing pest entry. Overall, the list shows that many popular food locations were cited for health code violations and risks to customers if issues are not addressed properly.

Kagi AI Summary: The merger between PNM Resources and AVANGRID has been officially cancelled after three years of negotiations. While the $8.3 billion deal had overcome initial opposition, the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission ultimately rejected it in 2021 due to concerns raised by advocacy group New Energy Economy. AVANGRID appealed the decision but the court did not rule in time. With the deadline expired at the end of 2023, AVANGRID chose to withdraw from the merger. PNM had proposed extending the agreement until a court decision was made but AVANGRID declined. As a standalone company, PNM remains committed to transitioning to 100% renewable energy for its customers with or without AVANGRID's investment.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – As renovations continue at the Albuquerque International Sunport, the city is looking to fill space inside with art pieces from New Mexican artists.

The $3 million art project looks to bring in pieces from local artists to complement the airport’s larger renovation project to expand the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) area, update food and beverage concessions, and bring in new retailers. Only five New Mexican artists have been selected so far.

As New Mexico’s wine industry prepares for its 400-year anniversary, Central New Mexico Community College (CNM) wine production classes will prepare students to join the winery’s needed workforce.

Looks very young

The Albuquerque City Council will see some new faces, and probably new political dynamics

Voting is off to a slow start in Bernalillo County with just one day left of early voting before Election Day.

As of this evening, less than 9% of the roughly 420,000 eligible voters had cast ballots in the local election.

A Future Home for New Mexico United, and Maybe the Team Itself, is in the Hands of the City Council

A unique exhibition comparing the works of painter Georgia O’Keeffe and sculpture Henry Moore will open at the Albuquerque Museum September 30 - December 31. The exhibit re-creates both artists’ studios in the museum with their original contents using their tools, furnishings and found objects that inspired many of their artistic creations.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Long-time Albuquerque restaurant, Mr. Powdrell’s Barbeque House, is closing its location on Central Avenue NE.

Through an open public art competition, four artists were selected to create temporary installations that integrate art, science, flight, astronomy, and exploration. The four installations, “Balloon Eclipse,” “Space Messengers,” “Laser Borealis,” and “Cosmic Prism” were funded by the Albuquerque Public Art Program with support from the Balloon Museum to activate the museum’s annular eclipse programming. Museum visitors are able to interact with each of the temporary installations from October 7th to the morning of October 15th, during pre-dawn and evening events with museum admission and special event parking.

It's that time of the year again, folks! The Corrales Harvest Festival is right around the corner and it promises to be a weekend of fun and festivities that the whole family can enjoy. The Harvest Festival will take place on Saturday, Sept. 30 and Sunday, Oct. 1, with events happening all day long.

Bands of Enchantment is an international music television show celebrating rock, indie, country, hip-hop, and folk on the backdrop of New Mexico - the land of Enchantment.

Keeping warm in the winter, having hot water and, for some, cooking might cost a bit more next year if the New Mexico Gas Company has its way.

I am trying to find a way to get back from a one way drive to Durango. I have heard there are buses that go from Albuquerque to Denver and back, is there anything like that for Durango (or near by)?

Maxeon Solar Technologies has chosen Albuquerque, New Mexico, as the location for its first U.S. manufacturing expansion. The new 3 GW facility will produce TOPCon PV-silicon cell technology and the Maxeon’s proprietary shingled-cell Performance Line solar modules.

Gilead Rises has become a familiar staple of the Downtown Albuquerque music scene in the last couple of years. Formed just as COVID was shutting down venues, the band built up a hard-won cult following with their foot-stomping, crowd-energizing rockabilly/punkabilly/psychobilly sound. In the last year alone they've opened for such touring bands as Franks & Deans, 12 Step Rebels and The Horrorpops. Now the quartet—consisting of Arelis Buchanan on vocals, Margarita Wild on drums, Craig Buchanan on guitar and Steve Wild on bass—has assembled its first album of original songs. The self-titled debut was released last week with a rafter-raising party at Launchpad.

The Paper. took the opportunity to chat with the Buchanans about their musical journey.