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Residents urge library funding, privacy safeguards for license‑plate readers and tree protections during Bernalillo County public comment
Summary
During public comment the commission heard appeals for a $2.5 million library materials allocation, calls to rethink the county's contract with Flock Safety license‑plate cameras, concerns about tree removal along Isleta Boulevard, and requests to fund the North Domingo Baca Aquatic Center.
At the June 23 meeting, thirteen in‑person speakers and several online participants addressed the Bernalillo County Commission during the public‑comment period. Comments clustered around libraries, surveillance privacy, neighborhood street projects and affordable‑housing updates.
Library funding: Multiple speakers — including Janet Sayers (chair, Library Advisory Board), Julia Clark and Mary Ann Presser — urged support for a proposed increase in the general‑obligation library materials allocation from $2.0 million to $2.5 million on the November bond package. Speakers cited heavy circulation (more than 3.7 million checkouts reported by library staff) and rising costs for print and digital materials.
Privacy and surveillance: Grace Dukes asked the commission to "rethink your contract with Flock Safety or end it all together for our safety," arguing that networked license‑plate readers create persistent location records shared across jurisdictions and reported past misuse in Texas that flagged people visiting abortion clinics. Dukes urged stronger guardrails on retention and cross‑agency access.
Trees and local projects: Mary Ingham and neighborhood representatives raised concerns about the Isleta Boulevard renovation plan that would remove two cottonwoods in the Los Padillas Community Center play area; speakers submitted petitions and asked the board to consider alternatives to preserve shade trees and play areas.
Other appeals: Teddy Decker asked the board to dedicate $10 million from the bond package to complete the North Domingo Baca Aquatic Center; Roger Valdez thanked county staff for moving $1.96 million in capital outlay funds for 20 cottage‑style affordable housing units in the International District and said construction will begin soon.
What happened next: The commission heard the public comment and moved on to staff presentations and agenda business. No formal action on these public‑comment requests was taken at the meeting; several items (library ask and bond package) will be considered in the broader ICIP/bond discussion and in August meetings.
