[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98,110],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6547419,"mediaKeyId","3626735-1d086be618e8d66e6fe034f38945234d","parentId",3626735,"title","Transit drivers describe escalating assaults, sanitation problems and fentanyl exposure; council seeks better data and security options","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",2937000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3626735-1d086be618e8d66e6fe034f38945234d&start=2937&end=2937","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3626735-1d086be618e8d66e6fe034f38945234d/thumbnail_2937000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6547419/Albuquerque/Bernalillo-County/New-Mexico/Transit-drivers-describe-escalating-assaults-sanitation-problems-and-fentanyl-exposure-council-seeks-better-data-and-security-options","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6547419-7772b4a6050b218f336389c0327c1bb4/orig.mp4?Expires=1775587778&Signature=FsDPHMsiHfNVQgFsVP5Lcs0eO-5MLT1-ZDbiYlgBxORXPK2-y9AUd8oIPdWnwQ2EbZMMBDt440tmIB~DJXhje10lKXojr3dbQ4HOGJGvc7f1tscYt9D04MVZNRXEtZotaTo1W-ChevTkcQ6zYsCMGo47WwgeQxoowN42CiuDEgcJioLlgGKz-zwoQJAorkfTuHhcx4i-NOdQNWBqAdxwOlY~67WNiWkjt1FojrBdpxYcNDjVnf12fMuXw-ge02o1IPFScFLXvZFdeMRvx6gjgqqrF4r7qGo69DaPEcP9hVrTHqg9jY03BOZV~qHqnvNkR8aG-yIfpFJYU1H0NMJ25g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Albuquerque","date","2025-06-02T00:00:00Z","article","Several Albuquerque transit drivers and trade representatives described persistent safety and sanitation problems on city buses during the June 2 public-comment period and asked the City Council for stronger enforcement and security support.

Denise Mooney Archibec, a motor-coach operator with City Transit, testified that drivers routinely face verbal abuse, threats and physical assaults; that buses are often used for drug activity and left with human waste and discarded paraphernalia; and that fentanyl smoke and other hazardous exposures are a recurring problem. \"Buses are routinely misused for personal spaces resulting in extensive messes, discarded drugs, paraphernalia including fentanyl,\" she said, and asked for \"immediate attention to implement greater security for law enforcement presence on all our transit routes.\"

Why it matters: Drivers said safety problems reduce service reliability and put staff and riders at risk. Councilor Rogers, who had earlier pulled a quarterly transit security report (EC 400) from the consent agenda for discussion, told the chamber she will seek more reliable, route-level data. Deputy Director Mike Davis told the council the transit system now uses infrared automatic passenger counters on its buses and that the agency provides quarterly reports; he acknowledged gaps in route-level reporting for APD and ACS service calls during the study period and said the agency has recently transitioned to a single counter technology.

Data and possible responses: Davis said the transit division receives and reports calls for APD service, ACS calls and metro security incidents by route, but that the available spreadsheets for the study period had many 'not applicable' entries for APD/ACS by route. Davis said the agency has migrated to infrared counters on all buses and that historical ridership-count methods were a mix of fare-box and infrared equipment. Councilors and staff discussed nonlaw enforcement safety models — including violence-interrupter programs and transit ambassadors — as options to reduce the strain on police and protect drivers while allowing officers to focus on higher-priority calls.

Request to administration: Drivers asked for a stronger uniform security presence and clearer enforcement of conduct rules, and asked the council to consider policy changes around free fares, enforcement mechanisms and dedicated transit security staff. Councilor Rogers moved and the council voted unanimously on a consent-item motion to note receipt of the quarterly transit security report (EC 400) and asked administration to provide the missing route-level data and improved reporting on APD/ACS/Metro security incidents for priority corridors such as Route 66.

Ending: Councilors thanked the drivers for speaking and asked transit staff to follow up with better route-level data and to explore security models that do not rely solely on sworn officers.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Albuquerque - City Council on 2025-06-02 5:00 PM - TWENTY-SIXTH COUNCIL - THIRTY-THIRD MEETING - Jun 02, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","City transit drivers testified about verbal and physical assaults, drug use and sanitation problems on buses. Councilors asked transit officials for clearer data and discussed security models including transit ambassadors and violence-interrupter programs.","taxTitle","Albuquerque, Bernalillo County, New Mexico","taxId",2710,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6547424,"Council questions National Guard role in support of APD after training and town-hall rollout",93,8800000,8893000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3626735-1d086be618e8d66e6fe034f38945234d&start=8800&end=8893","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3626735-1d086be618e8d66e6fe034f38945234d/thumbnail_8800000.jpg","/articles/6547424/Albuquerque/Bernalillo-County/New-Mexico/Council-questions-National-Guard-role-in-support-of-APD-after-training-and-town-hall-rollout","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6547424-fae011d32c51879e0d6a135352ccbec5/orig.mp4?Expires=1775587778&Signature=kM~2Av12Lzv5vt03tEzEzAjJVHIaeDOSuSNXojR4a53UhEbhnn0aRsO7TZw4MgScjPAFzekXVBYkLtQ-Soi8SAcvBvcOjrMVMbfZNKNDfB9Jq1ZWQCU13yFc6FjeHH96T0l1aDzr-ofzNJiwrtiHDQ3GH5eBxOM7wnfhZL-M8fazPh1NZUbVaZ-fcslJviFUitJBc4xHd1YaR66OL2E3aMhyIRNLp6yH70eH4kJguhlHkeLR3FVWokXsDxuZr4woPzdJtOu23lEKsPjH0GXpcjtHb78U5M7LaFO6bjAihGTPFW~xgQAkQUaptG201mrTOY8W-KgQhHyzLBHFiyygTw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City Council spent substantial time on June 2 questioning Albuquerque Police Department and administration officials about the National Guard’s recent training and limited deployment to support APD operations.

APD Commander Viers told the council the Guard received training focused on scene preservation and basic support tasks comparable to police service aids (PSAs). \"It was kind of a cut-down version\" of PSA training, Viers said, and added the Guard’s duties will be limited to perimeter and scene security, assisting at the Real-Time Crime Center and helping at the prisoner-transport unit.

Why it matters: Councilors raised community concerns about civil liberties, uniforms and community engagement. Councilor Rogers and others criticized the administration’s community outreach, saying town-hall materials were not translated, the city did not provide adequate advance notice across districts and community engagement guidance (the city’s toolkit) was not used. Rogers also asked whether Guard members would carry handcuffs or be armed; APD said they would not be sworn officers, would not be issued handcuffs for detention and would be issued only OC spray as defensive equipment.

Operational details and oversight: Commander Viers said the Guard’s training included radio procedures, traffic control and scene preservation; APD conducted most of the training in Santa Fe with hands-on scenarios at the city’s reality-based training center. Viers said Guard members will be authorized to operate city PSA vehicles after receiving an operator permit and will have access to city radios for communications with dispatch. APD said the Guard will not replace sworn officers but will free sworn personnel for proactive policing by performing limited support tasks.

Community engagement and follow-up: Several councilors pressed the administration to improve community outreach, provide translations and offer district-level briefings. CAO Dr. Lisa Single and Chief Medina provided contact information for National Guard leadership to council offices and agreed to follow up; councilors asked for a district briefing so communities can ask questions directly.

Ending: Councilors asked for clearer written materials on Guard roles and uniforms, translation of town-hall content and better notice to districts. APD said it would provide further details about the number deployed, their assignments and the binational coordination of training.","Councilors pressed APD about a National Guard deployment intended to supplement police service aids; APD said Guard members were trained for scene security, RTCC support and prisoner-transport assistance and will not be sworn officers.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6547429,"Council advances intoxicating hemp-products ordinance after weeks of debate; 7-2 vote moves it forward",1993,4871000,6864000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3626735-1d086be618e8d66e6fe034f38945234d&start=4871&end=6864","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3626735-1d086be618e8d66e6fe034f38945234d/thumbnail_4871000.jpg","/articles/6547429/Albuquerque/Bernalillo-County/New-Mexico/Council-advances-intoxicating-hemp-products-ordinance-after-weeks-of-debate-7-2-vote-moves-it-forward","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6547429-064c1fc8edb5a717e3d20664463592fb/orig.mp4?Expires=1775587778&Signature=hpb0ecsY9IiM~Sy-31F~0BLcpKgFcGfUD27-ZEA9Ov-eDGWFGsUUb6uj~58vVuFgIPm~HscpQT4gHtqHpx7epQW8ZIPVpDGx2zwcpHEAMAFm1CjNzeDPSiQDXQiovFjkEudhDIN7sODfhTPcqtUsRAPbjlSBTtgSvD~Y7hGRijBm2cOkMONXr0EFKbnzmpiTWq23aiNTG398BdMdbUT4TTMMv7xKa7hqPCfYWfob6213lrnMuLUbRUVUKtqTkQ1tN8~gjOGHP9ouvOvF3AA2Hby~x0W9paZfZ56IkYbjmNN73AXYxuEmt0h-bcVj5oE7mb5NXf8ACPHUTgFsaJ26cw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Albuquerque City Council on June 2 voted 7–2 to give a “do pass” recommendation to R-78, legislation sponsored by Councilor Dan Lewis that would create a new Part 3 in Chapter 9, Article 11 of the Revised Ordinances of Albuquerque (1994) to prohibit retail sales of specified intoxicating hemp-derived products in the city.

The sponsor told the council the ordinance targets high-dose, semi-synthetic or synthetic hemp products sold in convenience stores and gas stations and marketed in packaging that can appeal to children. \"If your business model is to market that high dose hemp and put it into retail, convenience stores, gas stations and sell it to children ... that's exactly what this bill has to do with,\" Councilor Lewis said.

Why it mattered: The bill drew extensive public comment from the hemp and cannabis industries, medical and consumer groups, and industry professionals. Supporters and the bill sponsor argued the products create a public-health risk for youth and are unregulated locally; opponents said the ordinance would harm compliant local manufacturers, could push demand to unregulated markets outside the city, and that federal and state legislation (including changes to the 2018 Farm Bill under consideration) may render local prohibitions premature.

Public testimony: More than a dozen speakers addressed the council. Some industry speakers said manufacturers already use third-party ISO testing and that a city ban would shutter local small businesses and drive consumers to out-of-city or illicit sellers. Anani Das and other commenters favored regulation to reduce harm; others urged the council to wait for federal action. Several public commenters and industry representatives asked that the city instead adopt labeling, age restrictions or packaging rules rather than an outright retail ban.

Enforcement and procedure: Council members pressed administration staff on enforcement mechanics, testing and inspection capacity. City staff said Environmental Health would likely require outside laboratory testing to confirm whether a product exceeded regulated thresholds and that the department is assessing standard operating procedures for inspections; they also noted the council could need to provide additional appropriation if new inspection capacity were required.

Vote and roll call: The motion for a “do pass” to R-78 passed 7–2. The roll call was: Baca — Yes; Champagne — Yes; Fiebelcourt — No; Graub — Yes; Lewis — Yes; Vice President Pena — Yes; Rogers — Yes; Sanchez — Yes; President Hassan — No.

Next steps: The council’s vote advances R-78 for further consideration under the council process. Several councilors said they expect state or federal legislative activity later this year and discussed possible future amendments to align local rules with state or federal standards.

Ending: The council majority framed the ordinance as a public-safety and youth-protection measure targeted at retail channels outside the regulated cannabis market; opponents urged delay until federal or state changes are finalized.","The City Council voted 7–2 to give a ‘do pass’ recommendation to R-78, an ordinance that would prohibit retail sale of certain intoxicating hemp-derived products in Albuquerque; supporters cited youth exposure, opponents said federal and state changes make local prohibition premature.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_46":104,"_48":105,"_50":106,"_52":107,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":108,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":109,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6547433,"City and county present 2024 Public Art Census: 11,364 works catalogued across Bernalillo County",266,759000,1025000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3626735-1d086be618e8d66e6fe034f38945234d&start=759&end=1025","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3626735-1d086be618e8d66e6fe034f38945234d/thumbnail_759000.jpg","/articles/6547433/Albuquerque/Bernalillo-County/New-Mexico/City-and-county-present-2024-Public-Art-Census-11364-works-catalogued-across-Bernalillo-County","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6547433-440baa2788de5fcc2e134db1eb4ce3dc/orig.mp4?Expires=1775587778&Signature=ZFLlJZPSVegXdhUBEwEXQRKV8TDUJxklXzYENqVcBz6C9xMGS-CQax48RRLhQH-Pzt~8PaDd8rp7wRqb~2ayxInD-BwzUzkiE8MnfVuGNVFKY7dXYn8Gwf1tClzAsjiBGZrTaQqplALn73lVhd6wMnXB12ZS3iO8rsfEKN4zMZZTxTV0-ivJLFdWnkQEhs8vuLzQvmgdP947FpMiGMFt-3wPLowFq0fFfoqcntl8Objfke2XI61TfuS~uYH9sBsIgNGCwIQL9wlrSdjxFx~R4bqq5A6UP7vP~ocyRk0P5znKxAQyhGmjn8UTAvkPxfhX9PDMt2ZDo61lsJ1leIlhBA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Albuquerque’s Arts and Culture Department presented findings from the 2024 Albuquerque–Bernalillo County Public Art Census on June 2, reporting 11,364 works of public art catalogued across the county and identifying areas with little or no public art.

The study, led by the city and county percent-for-art programs with research partner Brook, treated public art census work like a point-in-time inventory similar to the U.S. Census. “Local canvassers then went out and photographed works in our public right of way,” Madeline (Mandolin) Sanchez, outreach coordinator, told the council; the canvass excluded works inside buildings and covered the county’s public right-of-way, she said.

Why it matters: The census is intended to guide future public-art investment and outreach. The department reported that many works were in “excellent to very good condition,” but that the county includes “public art deserts” where residents have limited everyday exposure to public artwork. The census paired artwork locations with spatial data on crime, housing, walkability and transit to inform placement decisions.

Key figures and next steps: The census canvassed roughly 20,000 linear miles of public right-of-way, the presenters said. The city’s official 1.5% for art program accounted for 342 works captured by the study; the department reported that more than $11 million has been invested through the city program over 46 years. The presentation also described action items to prioritize community-informed placement of artworks in underserved areas and to develop valuation methods for privately created or informal public art such as murals on garage doors and little libraries.

Council questions focused on implementation: Vice President Pena asked for the list of identified art deserts and requested that staff share that information with council. The department agreed to provide additional detail on how the census will guide future site selection and outreach and noted that valuation of informal and privately funded pieces remains a work in progress.

Ending: The Arts and Culture Department said it will distribute the full census report and work with council offices to translate the data into outreach and investment plans for areas lacking visible public art.","The Arts and Culture Department and partners released a point-in-time audit identifying 11,364 public artworks in Bernalillo County and proposed actions to address ‘public art deserts.’",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_46":116,"_48":117,"_50":118,"_52":119,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":120,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":121,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6547438,"Albuquerque Police Department details expansion of language access program",428,144000,572000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3626735-1d086be618e8d66e6fe034f38945234d&start=144&end=572","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3626735-1d086be618e8d66e6fe034f38945234d/thumbnail_144000.jpg","/articles/6547438/Albuquerque/Bernalillo-County/New-Mexico/Albuquerque-Police-Department-details-expansion-of-language-access-program","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6547438-b0df3bedb0a5f79c2ad54571fdf515ff/orig.mp4?Expires=1775587778&Signature=ZK2US-EOUf4bzxfrhYW6SA5NhUvzHmh1Dxp-rtXFomcUwwaE06bNqwYKon55OrRXdgXu7qJUmH5f~8S6o0CZrFqkozb4trz6XbDtbIuz~2hJ3UXGXCgJsRqcXWL7cr4qz3Sk4CvVT7SvH06DBJjRLkvbfws4kkbJnGT8hUFCROkjZ-bknYrOVl7xigNFAyg-zPg9J8tjAk3aRbDyLjQ2N-8cQ3q8i2M~ErSZmWM8aDW4IK~6QyVzxkyMRfAEljJcj1kk7fKLZyTw8PW2uah-4z6SouHw0v54QQWvPvyfurIrFgEES8cL3~fr~RqoEg7gJiGtJ95T2ydFzMhUJMPHQg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Deputy Chief JJ Griego of the Albuquerque Police Department told the City Council on June 2 that the department has formalized a language access program and hired a dedicated language access coordinator, Jocelyn Segovia, to manage data collection, training and interpretation services.

The presentation described the program as intended to institutionalize language access across APD. \"Language access is not a political issue. This is a human rights issue,\" Griego said, and noted that a single staff coordinator role was required to do the work. Segovia told the council the department has begun labeling police reports and body-worn camera notes to identify interactions involving communication barriers and has added telephonic-interpretation logging in the emergency communications center to quantify need.

Why it matters: Council members and APD said better data is intended to shift the department from an informal practice model to a system that can allocate interpreters and training where needs are greatest. Segovia presented counts collected since the new measures were implemented: APD identified 671 police reports in 2024 that referenced a communication barrier; 89% of those involved spoken-language barriers and about 10% involved deaf or hard-of-hearing interactions. The Emergency Communications Center logged 10,717 calls requiring telephonic interpretation in 2023 and 12,556 in 2024, Segovia said.

APD described operational steps already taken. The department has installed a visual-ASL station on an iPad at the Northeast Substation to serve deaf and hard-of-hearing residents and has worked with the state to print traffic tickets in multiple languages. Griego and council members discussed staffing and training: Councilor Rogers emphasized the need for ongoing training for new cadets and periodic refresher training, and asked APD to preserve institutional knowledge beyond current retirements.

Councilor Champine asked how many calls APD receives annually; Griego said APD receives about 1,100,000 phone calls that result in roughly 500,000 calls for service. Champine also asked about use of artificial intelligence; Griego and Segovia said APD is avoiding machine translation for operational use, relying instead on professional translation and interpretation, although limited machine translation may be used to triage report content before professional review.

The presentation repeatedly returned to data gaps: the 12,556 telephonic-interpretation calls in 2024 likely undercount true need because not all systems or documents are labeled, Segovia said. Councilors asked APD to provide follow-up material on staffing implications and to continue work with community groups to shape the program.

APD did not propose an ordinance or request a specific appropriation during the presentation; councilors requested additional information on staffing needs and metrics for future briefings.

Deputy Chief Griego said the department will continue to refine data labels, expand training examples from body-worn camera footage, and coordinate with community groups to improve access and trust.

Ending: Councilors thanked Griego and Segovia for the presentation and asked for follow-up materials on staffing and data sources to guide potential future resource requests.","APD updated the City Council on a language access program that tracks interpreter needs, added an ASL station at a substation and is collecting data to guide staffing and resources.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Transit drivers describe escalating assaults, sanitation problems and fentanyl exposure; council seeks better data and security options

Council questions National Guard role in support of APD after training and town-hall rollout

Council advances intoxicating hemp-products ordinance after weeks of debate; 7-2 vote moves it forward

City and county present 2024 Public Art Census: 11,364 works catalogued across Bernalillo County

Albuquerque Police Department details expansion of language access program