Mayoral Candidates Respond to Your Questions
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The Candidates for Albuquerque Mayor
A Note About the Questionnaire
Nob Hill News asked you, our readers, to submit questions to the candidates specifically focused on our coverage area—map here—which includes the UNM, Nob Hill, Highland, Altura Park and surrounding neighborhoods.
The Nob Hill News team looked for themes and then selected the questions we thought were most representative.
Reader questions may have been edited slightly for length and clarity. Candidate responses have not been edited. Candidate order was determined by computer randomization.
Eddie Varela did not respond to our survey.
Daniel Chavez will appear on the ballot, but has withdrawn from the race.
Nob Hill News Mayoral Candidate Questionnaire
Public Safety
Question 1
As a small business, we are increasingly finding human feces, drug paraphernalia, and garbage on our property and regularly have to clean these things up. It is disheartening to find this kind of treatment of our property that we are trying to keep safe and clean for our staff and customers. We do not want to fence off our property to keep people out, but we do want to feel safe and feel like this city is a great place to live and thrive. What do you think can be done to make our city feel like a better place to live overall?
Louie Sanchez
You shouldn’t have to come to work every day and clean up human waste, needles, and trash just to open your doors. That’s unacceptable, and it says a lot about where leadership has failed this city.
As Mayor, I’ll do three things:
Back up small businesses by making sure APD and city crews respond quickly when you report this kind of problem. You shouldn’t be left on your own.
Hold people accountable when they damage property or create unsafe conditions. Compassion doesn’t mean ignoring criminal behavior.
Expand treatment and shelter options so people struggling with addiction or mental health issues aren’t pushed onto your doorstep in the first place.
Albuquerque can be a city where families feel safe, businesses can thrive, and we’re proud of our neighborhoods again. But it takes leadership that isn’t afraid to set standards, enforce them, and invest in real solutions. That’s exactly the kind of Mayor I intend to be.
Alex Uballez
While poverty, addiction, and mental health have driven many of our neighbors to live on the streets, it is the responsibility of our city government to come up with solutions. No business owner should spend their day picking up needles, trash, or worse from their doorsteps. We are experiencing the symptoms of unaddressed challenges.
What we have now are crisis response shelters that do not provide a solution beyond the first night, and an administration that prioritizes pushing the problem from corner to corner or hiding people in hotels and shelters. What we need is to treat the medical conditions of mental health and addiction with the stability of housing.
To restore safety and pride in our city, I propose a layered approach. First, rapid response and sanitation from neighborhood-based sanitation crews so biohazards are safely removed within hours, not days. Second, improve public safety coordination through a county-wide unified 911 dispatch center staffed by first responders who will send officers, medics, or behavioral health teams as necessary. A component of this will be to fully staff Albuquerque Community Safety. Third, prioritize treatment and stability over displacement by investing in addiction recovery, mental health care, and housing pathways. Finally, partner with businesses to help them navigate safety concerns, access resources, and coordinate with enforcement and sanitation.
I have 15 years of experience in law enforcement, both locally and federally, I know that throwing the book at everyone or sweeping everyone from one area of the city to another will not solve the problem. We have to be smarter about enforcement, resource allocation, and front line services in order to support everyone in the city.
Tim Keller
I know small businesses and residents in Nob Hill and the University area face unique challenges with property crime, encampments, and quality-of-life issues like trash, needles, and waste. No one should have to deal with that just to run a business or enjoy their neighborhood.
That’s why we invested in the Clean & Safe Corridor program to boost trash pickup, graffiti removal, and lighting; expanded the Downtown/Nob Hill Safety District with dedicated APD bike and foot patrols; created a human waste cleanup team; launched Nob Hill ECHO; and started Duke City Ambassador patrols. Our Community Safety Department also responds to thousands of non-violent calls so APD can focus on violent crime.
But we’re also addressing root causes. The Gateway Center and shelter network now get 1,000 people off the streets nightly, and we’re expanding behavioral health and housing programs to tackle addiction and homelessness head-on.
My commitment is to keep Nob Hill vibrant and safe—so businesses can thrive, students and families feel secure, and the corridor remains one of Albuquerque’s cultural gems.
Darren White
The city has spent hundreds of millions of dollars on the homeless problem with little to show for it. If I am elected, we will offer the homeless every opportunity to utilize the various programs and services. If they refuse, the laws will be enforced - period. It is unfair to the families and businesses that are forced to survive in these awful conditions. The tent cities will come down on day one. I will also implement a program called ABQ Clean. We will contact with small businesses to keep designated areas of the city clean. We need to remember that 2/3rds of all jobs are created by small businesses. As a small business owner, you will have a mayor that is your partner, not an adversary.
Mayling Armijo
I am a strong supporter of small businesses. My Dad owned and operated a small business in Albuquerque and all of my immediate family members participated in the operation of our small business during the course of my childhood and young adult years. Therefore, as your Mayor I will help small businesses with safety and cleanliness issues by utilizing a combination of community support, enhanced public services and enforcement actions. Overall, I believe our City can make a better, more effective effort to clean up and maintain our City. I want our tourists to get off of an airplane and travel through a beautiful, blight-free City. I will establish a Homelessness Management Information System which will include outreach teams and ambassadors who patrol in order to identify and collect data in all areas of the City. This will allow us to best identify the number of homeless and adequately provide resources needed by our homeless and transient population. I will review and prop-up laws banning public camping, review program budgets and outcomes and establish drug-free homeless service zones. I will work on passing resolutions that encourage reform to the US Department Housing and Urban Development’s homelessness program to give our City flexibility in implementing effective solutions. Further, I will ensure that the City Attorney’s Office is better staffed to address lawsuits that prevent us from moving forward. I will track money we spend on homeless issues to ensure our resources are working toward a long term goal to address the homeless issue we have in our City.
Question 2
UNM does an excellent job of addressing the unhoused on campus; however, the area south of campus, across Central Avenue, is a real problem. The number of mentally ill, substance abuse, and other individuals who are currently unhoused presents real threats to the students and the University community. Specifically, how will you address this situation if you are elected mayor? What specific metrics will you employ to demonstrate success or cause you to reassess the strategy? This comment also applies to Nob Hill.
Louie Sanchez
As Mayor, I’ll bring the same level of coordination to Nob Hill and south campus that UNM has on campus. That means:
Police presence that’s visible and consistent, so businesses and students feel safe walking those corridors.
Outreach teams paired with law enforcement, to connect people to treatment, shelter, and mental health care, not just push the problem from block to block.
Strict enforcement against open drug use and threatening behavior, because public safety comes first.
To measure progress, I’ll track:
Response times to 911 and 311 calls in those hotspots.
Reported incidents of crime and aggressive behavior in Nob Hill and south campus.
Number of individuals successfully placed into treatment or shelter, not just cited or moved along.
Business and resident satisfaction surveys, because success isn’t just about stats, it’s about whether people actually feel safer.
If those numbers don’t move in the right direction, we’ll reassess and adjust the approach, but the bottom line is this: Albuquerque deserves safe streets, and UNM students and Nob Hill families shouldn’t have to live with fear just walking outside.
Alex Uballez
As the former chief federal law enforcement officer for New Mexico, I am uniquely equipped to make our streets around UNM, Nob Hill, and across Albuquerque safer.
We’ll staff 911 with first responders so you get the right help fast, whether that’s police to respond to a dangerous situation, medics to address an overdose, or mental health teams to intervene with someone in crisis. We’ll put officers back on the street where they’re needed most, and we’ll investigate serious crimes with urgency to detain dangerous individuals and secure substantial sentences. From speaking to rank and file officers, I know that morale is low in the department because of the lack of leadership at the helm. Making sure that they’re doing the jobs they signed up to do is part of creating safer communities.
At the same time, we’ll fully fund Albuquerque Community Safety so that non-violent calls don’t tie up law enforcement. That means trained responders can address homelessness, behavioral health, and addiction with compassion and expertise, while freeing up officers to focus on violent crime and community safety. We’ll also work closely with the courts to implement the Sequential Intercept Model as funded by the state legislature. To hold ourselves accountable, we’ll track progress by measuring reductions in 911 response times, decreases in violent and property crime in the UNM and Nob Hill areas, and increases in successful placements of unhoused individuals into treatment and housing. Just as important, we’ll measure whether students, families, and businesses feel safer in their daily lives.
Together, we can build a public safety system that responds faster, works smarter, and restores safety and pride in every neighborhood.
Tim Keller
I agree—UNM has made important strides on campus, but the areas just south across Central and into Nob Hill remain a serious concern. We’re tackling this with a layered approach: expanding APD’s bike and foot patrols in the corridor, targeting repeat offenders through the Metro Crime Initiative, and deploying our Community Safety Department to handle behavioral health, substance use, and encampment calls so police can stay focused on violent crime.
At the same time, we’ve built a full spectrum of housing and support. Albuquerque now has a 24/7 first-responder drop-off for the unhoused, transporting dozens directly from the street into care every night. Through the Gateway System, five specialized locations now serve 1,000 people daily—focused on addiction, medical recovery, teenagers, families, and seniors. With another year and the Gateway buildout complete, we can help another 1,000 people off the street.
To measure success, we’re tracking reductions in violent crime and calls for service in the UNM/Nob Hill corridor, ACS call volume and successful diversions from APD, the number of people housed or sheltered through Gateway and partners, and trends in repeat offenders. If those numbers don’t show sustained improvement, we’ll reassess and adjust.
Students, families, and small businesses in this area deserve to feel safe and supported—and my commitment is that we won’t stop until that’s the reality.
Darren White
Again, the city has invested significantly in programs and services. Unfortunately, most of the homeless population refuse to accept any help. Even the mayor has said over 80% have no desire to change their situation. We will continue to offer these services. But we can no longer tolerate the unchecked lawlessness that is destroying our city. We will enforce the law. Ignoring the small crimes only breeds more dangerous crimes. I will also work with the district attorney to ensure those committing crimes who are mentally ill, are not just put back on the streets to reoffend. I recognize that a jail cell will not shake someone’s addiction. But the current situation is madness.
Mayling Armijo
See my response to Question 1
Economic Development & Jobs
Question 3
How will your administration address chronically vacant commercial properties and prevent Nob Hill from experiencing the same kind of commercial decline seen in other areas along Central Avenue?
Louie Sanchez
Chronic vacancies along Central are a direct result of failed policies. The ART project hurt businesses up and down the corridor, and I’ve already asked the Legislature for amendments to address those mistakes. On top of that, high crime and lack of enforcement have driven customers away and left property owners with empty storefronts.
As Mayor, I’ll do three things to keep Nob Hill strong and prevent it from looking like other struggling parts of Central:
Make it safe – put more officers walking beats in Nob Hill, enforce against property crimes, and make sure customers feel comfortable shopping and dining there.
Support property owners – work with landlords to fill vacancies quickly, streamline permitting, and use code enforcement to keep properties from sitting empty and blighted.
Fix transportation policy – fight for changes to ART and improve access and parking so that businesses can actually succeed along Central again.
Nob Hill should be a showcase of Albuquerque’s culture, not another corridor in decline. By addressing crime head-on, repairing the damage of ART, and working directly with businesses and property owners, we can make sure it thrives.
Alex Uballez
Nob Hill is one of Albuquerque’s most unique and vibrant neighborhoods, and we can’t afford to let it go the way of other stretches of Central where too many storefronts sit empty. Part of the reason why we have seen decline in other parts of the city is because storeowners and customers don’t feel safe. This is why public safety is foundational to the success of our city.
We need to strengthen code enforcement and hold property owners accountable for long-term vacancies that drag down surrounding businesses. And we need to create clear incentives for owners to activate their properties through pop-up retail, temporary art or cultural uses, and short-term leases that give new entrepreneurs a chance to get started.
We should target City investment to make the area more attractive for both businesses and customers. That means improving safety and cleanliness on the street, supporting events and festivals that bring people to Nob Hill, and ensuring infrastructure like lighting, sidewalks, and parking is maintained and welcoming. But to get the vibrant corridor we want, the City should work directly with UNM, neighborhood associations, and local business groups to market Nob Hill as a destination for small businesses and startups.
Tim Keller
First, we’ve been aggressive in shutting down problem properties along Central—especially hotels—that have become havens for crime and illegal activity. Through that process, we’ve developed stronger tools to hold property owners accountable when they fail to follow the law.
Second, our Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency has been effective in buying and redeveloping long-neglected properties, while also supporting new businesses and housing projects like Hotel Zazz, PAH, the Carlisle, and the under-construction Highway House.
Unfortunately, Nob Hill is one of the few areas along Central not currently designated as a Metropolitan Redevelopment Area. I believe we should explore that designation further so Nob Hill neighbors can take advantage of the same tools to revitalize their corridor, attract investment, and strengthen the community.
Darren White
You’re absolutely right—crime, blight, and neglect have created a crisis that threatens not just Nob Hill, but the future of our entire city. We cannot celebrate Route 66’s 100th anniversary while storefronts sit empty, sidewalks are unsafe, and families and businesses lose confidence in Albuquerque.
On day one, we will launch ABQ Clean—shutting down homeless encampments, addressing public safety, and restoring dignity to our public spaces. Having the National Guard deployed due to out-of-control crime and city employees cleaning up human waste does not convey open for business.
Mayling Armijo
There are many vacant, abandoned and neglected business properties that contribute to the over-all poor condition of our City. I will work to obtain data on the locations of these properties and identify the owners of all such properties. I will establish and utilize financial incentives for developers with land banking strategies and regulatory measures and community-led revitalization programs. I will develop a municipal plan for adaptive reuse of these properties. Tax abatements and grants will be utilized to convert empty office and commercial buildings into much needed affordable housing and to create high-demand commercial spaces. Let’s not just talk about extending the Nob Hill area. My administration will proudly move forward with a strong plan to realize and celebrate this goal. Under my administration, permitting and zoning departments will work to ensure that properties are maintained and are not left to deteriorate. Out-of-state investors that buy properties to enjoy tax breaks will suffer fines, penalties and closure when necessary. We will have inspectors that routinely visit and inspect business properties to ensure buildings are not left vacant, mismanaged or operated in an unsafe and unsanitary condition. It is simply not acceptable to wait to deal with sub-standard business operations. Nob Hill has long been an example of what revitalization measures can do for our City. I will re-establish measures to extend the same revitalization to other areas of Albuquerque and work to protect the improvements we make along the way.
Question 4
Would you support the creation of a Nob Hill-specific economic development district or Business Improvement District (BID) to help fund neighborhood revitalization?
Louie Sanchez
I’m open to a Nob Hill-specific Business Improvement District if it truly benefits the neighborhood and doesn’t become just another tax on small businesses. What Nob Hill needs most right now is safety, clean streets, and a plan to fill empty storefronts. If a BID helps bring in extra resources for security, beautification, and marketing, while keeping costs fair. I won’t ask businesses to pay more without also fixing the crime and policy failures, like ART, that caused these vacancies in the first place.
Alex Uballez
Yes, I would support exploring a Nob Hill-specific economic development district or Business Improvement District if it is designed the right way. Creating a BID or another economic development tool could help prevent decline and continue to drive innovation in the area. That means residents, small business owners, and property owners must be at the table from the beginning, and there must be clear safeguards to make sure the funding benefits local businesses and does not push out the entrepreneurs and artists who make Nob Hill unique.
Tim Keller
Yes—we would absolutely support a Business Improvement District (BID) in Nob Hill. Across the country, BIDs have proven to be effective tools for generating local revenue and empowering districts to deliver the services and improvements they most need. They complement city services and give neighborhoods more control over their future.
The City has already partnered with BIDs in the University and Downtown areas, and we’d welcome the opportunity to do the same in Nob Hill. A BID would allow Nob Hill to take ownership of its sidewalks, events, and overall vitality—ensuring the corridor thrives for years to come.
Darren White
While I am not opposed to the BID program, I would need to see how it is intended to be implemented.
Mayling Armijo
I support the creation of economic development to fund neighborhood revitalization. However, my program will include City-wide revitalization program. My focus will be on areas surrounding Nob Hill along the Central Avenue corridor.
Question 5
We love the city’s support of artisan businesses. How do you see the work of artists fitting into the economy of the city, and do you plan to continue supporting this sector in economic development plans for the future?
Louie Sanchez
Albuquerque’s artists and artisans are a big part of what makes this city unique. They’re not just creating culture, they’re creating jobs, bringing in tourists, and helping small businesses thrive. From Nob Hill to Old Town to local markets, art drives foot traffic and gives our city an identity you can’t find anywhere else.
As Mayor, I will host more arts and culture events throughout Albuquerque. These won’t just be Downtown, they’ll be in Nob Hill, the Westside, the South Valley, and every neighborhood. By showcasing local artists and celebrating our culture citywide, we’ll support small businesses, attract visitors, and build pride in our community. Arts and culture will be a core part of my economic development plan, and my administration will lead in making these events happen.
Alex Uballez
Our artists are the voice of Albuquerque’s deep history and unique culture. My wife, Gabrielle, is a studio art major and we both began our professional careers here serving youth—myself as a crimes against children prosecutor and her as the executive director of a youth-centered arts education non-profit. Through that organization, I painted murals alongside Albuquerque-based professional artists and youth who are now professional artists themselves. Our creative community often cites the lack of local opportunity and city support for their work, and I am committed to expanding our support of a diverse selection of our local artists with affordable workspaces, microgrants, and streamlined permitting for markets and events. The City also needs to integrate artists into larger economic development plans like corridor revitalization projects and placemaking in new developments.
Tim Keller
The City has been working with a national nonprofit, Artspace, to design affordable housing and studio space in our Downtown area. If your organization is interested in pursuing a similar effort, we’d be glad to connect you with our Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency, which is leading that work.
We’ve already shown what’s possible—doubling the size of the Railyards Market and bringing dozens of local artisan and craft entrepreneurs into the Sunport for the first time ever. These kinds of initiatives prove that when we invest in creative spaces, we lift up both artists and the community.
Darren White
I believe artisan businesses contribute greatly to the heart of what Albuquerque is all about. They not only preserve our culture and identity, but they also create jobs, attract tourism, and generate millions of dollars for our local economy. I will continue to support this important sector by making sure artists and artisan businesses are part of our broader economic development plans, through marketing, events, grants, and opportunities to showcase their work. Supporting artists is both an investment in our culture and in our economy, and I will make sure they remain a vibrant part of Albuquerque’s future.
Mayling Armijo
I will support and and encourage use of art projects in our revitalization programs. I would support creation of dedicated hubs for artists. I want to establish affordable live-work spaces for artists and community exhibition centers. We can work to combine these centers with with breweries, restaurants, upscale shopping areas and areas for suitable for growers markets. We must rely on artists and art projects to assist with meaningful revitalization throughout our City.
Transportation & Infrastructure
Question 6
Given that Albuquerque has some of the most dangerous roadways in the nation, what will you do to make Nob Hill neighborhood streets and business areas safe, comfortable, and accessible for people — including children — who prefer to walk, bike, bus or roll around our community? Be specific about your understanding of the issue and the actions you intend to take to address it.
Louie Sanchez
Central Avenue through Nob Hill should be one of the safest, most vibrant streets in our city. Instead, ART has created chaos. Narrow lanes, confusing signals, and dangerous crossings that put drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, and bus riders at risk. Add in crime and poor lighting, and families don’t feel safe walking or biking here.
As Mayor, I’ll fix this by:
Pushing for amendments to ART so we can redesign problem areas and make Central safer and more usable for businesses and families.
Stepping up enforcement against speeding, reckless driving, and DWI in the Nob Hill corridor.
Making streets family-friendly again with safer crosswalks, lighting, and sidewalks so parents are comfortable letting kids walk or bike.
Improving bus stops and transit access so riding the bus isn’t dangerous or intimidating.
The goal is simple: Nob Hill should be a place where people want to walk, bike, shop, and dine, not a corridor they avoid. Fixing ART and restoring safety are critical to getting us there.
Alex Uballez
I have walked Central, talked with parents who will not let their kids bike to school, and heard from small business owners who see unsafe streets keeping customers away.
I would propose we fix dangerous corridors through redesigns that include traffic calming, better lighting, and protected bike lanes. In Nob Hill, that means addressing Central and the side streets where speeding puts people in danger. We need to continue to invest in safe crossings, expanding raised crosswalks, pedestrian beacons, and curb extensions that make crossings visible and safe.
I will also support transit, making sure ABQ Ride is more frequent and reliable and ensuring that bus shelters are protected and comfortable for riders. I’d prioritize partnering with businesses, neighbors, City engineers and planners through a neighborhood-based safety audit program so that residents and business owners themselves help shape improvements block by block.
Tim Keller
Albuquerque has had some of the most dangerous roads in the country for decades, and Nob Hill sees this firsthand along Central and surrounding neighborhood streets. That’s why we’ve made safer, walkable, bikeable streets a top priority. We launched Vision Zero, lowered speed limits on key arterials, and completed 20+ traffic-calming projects across neighborhoods. In Nob Hill, we’ve invested in ART station safety, improved sidewalks, and piloted automated speed enforcement—cutting speeding by nearly 40% at key sites. Next, we’ll add 15 new pedestrian lighting projects, build 10 more protected crosswalks along Central and Lead/Coal, and expand safe routes to UNM and area schools, and expand safe routes to UNM and local schools—because families, kids, and small businesses deserve safe streets.
Darren White
Let’s start with a robust traffic enforcement program. Unfortunately, the city has relied too heavily on speed cameras as a substitute for real enforcement. I believe we must invest in a strong, visible traffic unit throughout our city, including Nob Hill, to crack down on reckless driving, speeding, and street racing.
In addition, I will invest in street design improvements: better lighting, safer crosswalks, protected bike lanes, and traffic measures that slow vehicles and protect pedestrians. Together, enforcement and smart design will make Nob Hill’s streets safe, comfortable, and accessible for families, children, and businesses alike.
Mayling Armijo
I intend to strengthen traffic control throughout the City. We need to re-establish a strong traffic control unit at the Albuquerque Police Department to include additional motorcycle, horse and bike patrols in high density areas of the City such as Nob Hill. We must use data to identify and transform the most dangerous streets and intersections in our City.
Question 7
Our neighborhoods are cut off from each other by roads plagued by distracted, speeding drivers. Albuquerque continues to be a top-five most dangerous city for pedestrians and cyclists. The Vision Zero program continues to be underfunded and under-prioritized. What will you do to get us out of the top 10 most dangerous cities in the next four years (not by 2040, the current goal for having zero traffic deaths in ABQ)?
Louie Sanchez
A lot of these crashes aren’t just bad driving, they’re the result of people struggling with addiction or mental illness blindly stepping into traffic. That’s not safe for them, and it’s not safe for anyone else. The City has failed both the community and those individuals by looking the other way.
As Mayor, I’ll do two things at once: enforce the law so streets are safe, and build the infrastructure that makes it harder for these tragedies to happen. That means fixing ART’s broken design, adding barriers on high-speed corridors, more protected crosswalks, better lighting, and signals that give pedestrians a head start. We’ll also expand detox and treatment so people aren’t left on the street to repeat the same dangerous behavior.
Success looks like this: fewer pedestrian deaths, fewer emergency calls for people in traffic, and streets where families feel safe to walk, bike, and shop again. Albuquerque doesn’t need promises for 2040, we need results in the next four years.
Alex Uballez
Albuquerque cannot wait until 2040 to make our streets safe. For a program like Vision Zero to work it must be invested in, and it must have clear goals, accountability, and results. That means providing funding to departments and allowing city experts to move their work along in order to accelerate traffic-calming redesigns on high-injury corridors, installing better lighting, and building real pedestrian and bike infrastructure that protects people rather than just painting stripes on the pavement.
Enforcement will focus on the most dangerous behaviors, such as reckless speeding and repeat impaired driving, while education and outreach can help build a culture of shared responsibility on the road.
For accountability and transparency, I want the city to have a public facing dashboard that outlines projects and their completion status.
Tim Keller
You’re right—our neighborhoods have long been divided by high-speed corridors, and Albuquerque still ranks among the most dangerous cities in the country for pedestrians and cyclists. I take this seriously. That’s why we adopted the city’s first Vision Zero plan, lowered speed limits on key arterials, and launched automated speed enforcement—already reducing dangerous speeding by nearly 40% where cameras are deployed.
But we must go further. Over the next four years, I will triple funding for Vision Zero, install 50+ new protected crosswalks and pedestrian signals, add 20 miles of protected bike lanes, and expand traffic-calming projects into every council district. My commitment is clear: Albuquerque will get out of the “top 10 most dangerous” list for pedestrian and cyclist safety—not in 2040, but in my next term.
Darren White
Same as above. Let’s start with a robust traffic enforcement program. Unfortunately, the city has relied too heavily on speed cameras as a substitute for real enforcement. I believe we must invest in a strong, visible traffic unit throughout our city, including Nob Hill, to crack down on reckless driving, speeding, and street racing.
In addition, I will invest in street design improvements: better lighting, safer crosswalks, protected bike lanes, and traffic measures that slow vehicles and protect pedestrians. Together, enforcement and smart design will make Nob Hill’s streets safe, comfortable, and accessible for families, children, and businesses alike.
Mayling Armijo
I believe that traffic enforcement is the key to dealing with distracted and speeding drivers. As I mentioned in my answer to Question 6, we need to re-establish a strong and effective traffic control unit at the Albuquerque Police Department. Our efforts should not only be directed at drivers, but also at pedestrians who avoid crosswalks and j-walk on busy streets. We need to create additional cross-walks along busy thoroughfares to make it easier for pedestrians to cross and slow traffic where bike paths exist.
Question 8
The new bus line has brought many positive changes to the Central corridor—most importantly, providing accessible and free public transportation. However, some buses have become unsafe, and stations at night are being abused, particularly in the Nob Hill area. Would you consider increasing patrols of stations during the day and night, requiring ID with free fare, or implementing other measures to ensure the system is safe and treated as a privilege rather than something that can be misused?
Louie Sanchez
The ART bus system was supposed to improve life along Central, and free, accessible transit is a real benefit for many families and students. But when those stations turn into hangouts for drugs, violence, and vandalism, especially in Nob Hill, that benefit disappears. Riders deserve safety, and businesses shouldn’t be left with the mess.
As Mayor, I’ll make sure transit is safe and reliable. Public transportation is a right, people deserve access to affordable, accessible ways to get around. But it’s also a responsibility. If someone uses the system to commit crimes, harass riders, or vandalize property, they should lose that privilege. That means:
Increased patrols: APD and transit security at stations during the day and night, especially in problem spots like Nob Hill.
Accountability for riders: Explore requiring ID for free fare or a city-issued transit pass so we know who’s using the system.
Zero tolerance for crime: If someone uses the system to deal drugs, harass riders, or vandalize property, they lose the privilege of riding.
Better station design & upkeep: Improved lighting, cameras, and quicker cleanup so stations stay safe and welcoming.
If we don’t enforce standards, ART will keep failing. My goal is a system that’s safe, clean, and reliable so people actually want to ride it and businesses along Central see it as an asset, not a liability.
Alex Uballez
Bus rapid transit is a vital transit feature for a city of our size, and free fares increase ridership and accessibility. However, over the past decade we have learned that it is not enough to build the system, it has to be safe and welcoming for everyone who relies on it. I have heard the concerns about unsafe conditions on buses and at stations, especially at night, and I take them seriously.
I’d explore deploying transit teams that include transit officers and Albuquerque Community Safety to different transit stations day and night. And we need better lighting, cleaner facilities, and the use of cameras to deter crime and hold people accountable.
I do not support requiring ID for free fare because public transit must remain accessible to everyone, including people who may not have government identification. Instead, we should invest in the staffing, technology, and maintenance that keep the system safe without creating new barriers to ridership. Public transportation should never feel like a privilege for some and off-limits to others. It should feel like a reliable, safe, and affordable option for all of us.
Much like our storefronts and street corners, treating the medical and economic drivers of homelessness are the only meaningful responses to the unhoused occupying our public spaces.
Tim Keller
The ART bus line has improved mobility along Central—especially for students, workers, and families who rely on safe, affordable transportation. But I know safety at Nob Hill stations remains a real concern. That’s why we’ve created “APD transit officers” and deployed security ambassadors at high-use stations, installed better lighting and cameras, and partnered with social service teams to respond when issues arise. Now crime incidents are coming down, and with continued use of the new ‘see say’ app for confidential instant problem reporting, we can make sure that trend continues.
Going forward, I support expanding dedicated transit patrols during both day and night and seven days a week; and we’ll continue evaluating measures like rider accountability—without creating barriers for those who truly need the service. Safe, reliable transit is a right for our community, not something anyone should fear.
Darren White
One of my top priorities will be restoring safety to our transit system. Right now, buses and bus stops have become unsafe, and that will end. I will put every option on the table, including ending free fares.
Yes, I would increase police patrols at stations day and night, particularly in high-traffic areas like Nob Hill. I will also explore measures such as requiring ID for free fares, improving lighting and security cameras, and enforcing a zero-tolerance policy for criminal behavior on buses and at stops.
Public transit should be a safe, reliable service that connects people to jobs, schools, and businesses. It must be treated as a privilege to be respected, not a hangout for crime and disorder.
Mayling Armijo
I am not in favor of continuing with free public transportation. Our City can use funds generated by fares on our bus system to improve and provide safety patrols at stations and bus stops. Our buses should not be plagued with drug users and criminals. We must ensure that our buses as safe for everyone, including bus drivers that endure the current dangerous conditions every day. We will offer discounted bus passes for low-income commuters, but everyone that utilizes our bus system will participate in the cost of ensuring safety on our busses and at our bus stations and bus stops.
Question 9
Noise pollution from modified muffler systems on cars and motorcycles has become a persistent and disruptive issue in Nob Hill, UNM and surrounding neighborhoods—especially during nighttime/early morning hours. What specific policies or enforcement strategies would you implement to reduce excessive vehicle noise and illegally modified mufflers on city streets?
Louie Sanchez
Excessive vehicle noise is a real problem in Nob Hill, UNM, and nearby neighborhoods. As Mayor, I’ll put more police on patrol at night, enforce the laws already on the books against illegal mufflers and racing, and explore new technologies like noise-detecting cameras to hold offenders accountable. Our neighborhoods deserve peace and quiet.
Alex Uballez
I will direct APD and Albuquerque Community Safety to coordinate targeted enforcement in the corridors most affected, especially during late-night and early-morning hours to crack down on illegally modified mufflers and reckless street racing with citations and consequences for repeat offenders.
Tim Keller
Excessive vehicle noise from illegally modified mufflers is one of the top quality-of-life complaints we hear in Nob Hill and around UNM. That’s why my administration launched Automated Noise Enforcement—like speed cameras, but for mufflers—to identify and fine violators. As soon as the technology is upheld in court, we’ll expand it citywide. In the meantime, APD’s traffic unit is prioritizing muffler violations along Central and other corridors, where noise is worst at night. Now, APD cites modified mufflers dozens of times a month.
But to truly solve this problem, we need state laws that hold the mechanics who install illegal mufflers accountable—just like we did with catalytic converter theft. If re-elected, I’ll expand noise cameras, increase penalties for repeat violators, and publish quarterly enforcement data so neighbors see real results. Everyone deserves quiet, safe streets—day and night.
Darren White
It can’t be overstated: the lack of police enforcement has fueled these quality-of-life issues. When laws go unenforced, the lawless take over. That’s exactly what we’ve seen with the rise in noise pollution from modified mufflers and reckless driving. I have heard this same complaint from every part of our city.
I will increase police enforcement citywide, with targeted patrols in Nob Hill, UNM, and surrounding neighborhoods to crack down on illegally modified vehicles and street racing. Officers will be directed to cite and impound vehicles that violate the law, not just issue warnings. By restoring real traffic enforcement, not relying on speed cameras and noise monitors, we will take back our streets from those who are disrupting our neighborhoods at all hours of the night.
Mayling Armijo
We can use noise cameras and sound-activated enforcement to detect and address vehicles with excessively loud and modified exhaust systems. I will increase penalties for violations and work with the Motor Vehicle Department to assist with measures to discourage drivers from engaging in disruptive activities.
Thanks to our readers for submitting their thoughtful questions, and thanks to the mayoral candidates for their answers. Remember to vote, starting Tuesday, Oct. 7th!
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