City Issues Decision on Recovery Center Near Sunport, UNM Provost Search Begins, Letter to the Editor and More

A gate near Altura Park. (Photo of the day: Lindsay Wood)

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City Issues Decision on Recovery Center Near Sunport

Residents, businesses concerned since November

by Damon Scott

The former hotel was last a Ramada by Wyndham. (Photo: Damon Scott)

Those who testified last month before the city’s zoning hearing examiner about an addiction recovery center that opened its doors in a 115-room former hotel near the Albuquerque International Sunport last November were united about one thing: The operation has caused issues that led to neighborhood deterioration.

Concerns reported by those near the Empower Health Services center (2300 Yale SE)—which offers optional living accommodations to clients who are struggling with substance-use disorders and bills itself as an intensive outpatient substance use treatment program—include trespassing, loitering, excess litter, drug use and paraphernalia, human waste and increased calls to law enforcement and first responders. Empower officials, including its owner and executive director Dr. Karan Mahajan, said they’re not to blame for it all. He said there are other groups in the area, including those who provide homelessness services—something Empower does not do.

But those testifying said such neighborhood problems were rare prior to Empower moving in.