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Greetings Albuquerque,
This week, we observed Veterans Day differently than we normally would. Because of coronavirus, we were not able to gather at the memorial here in Albuquerque’s International District, but we did not let that stop us from honoring those who have made incredible sacrifices for our country. To all of the veterans and their families, thank you for your service.
With COVID-19 spiking unacceptably high and hospital capacity being stretched, we each need to make thoughtful, informed decisions for our families and our community. At the same time, the City is continuing our targeted enforcement effort all across Albuquerque.
This weekend, our cross-departmental team will focus on ensuring retailers are in compliance with our requirements to provide special hours to seniors and other high risk individuals and that stores must limit the purchase of certain items, so that all Albuquerque residents can access what they need.
No doubt, this is a challenging time for struggling local businesses, working families who don’t have the luxury of staying home, and vulnerable populations.
We are providing a safety net for our city and building resilience for the long haul. We can’t do it alone - we need everyone to step up and do their part.
Stay home anytime you can, wear a mask when you go out, and avoid gatherings.
In the spirit of One Albuquerque,
Mayor Tim Keller
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2021 BUDGET
Mayor Keller Signs 2021 Adjusted COVID-19 Budget
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On Monday, Nov. 8, Mayor Tim Keller signed the adjusted budget for fiscal year 2021 that was approved by City Council at the end of October.
In a year that forced cities nationwide to enact steep budget cuts and employee furloughs or layoffs, Albuquerque was able to keep its workers on the job and provide all major services and programs without interruption by identifying cost saving measures early on in the pandemic.
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The budget aims to navigate through Albuquerque’s COVID-19 challenges and prepares the City for more tough times. The budget also makes meaningful investments in youth and families, homelessness initiatives, and the administration’s commitment to public safety.
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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
City Receives 589 Applications for $10 Million in Small Business Support
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The City of Albuquerque Economic Development Department received 589 applications in the first round of the $10 million Small Business Economic Relief Grant Program that ended
Oct. 30.
Under the program, which launched Monday, Oct. 26, the City is issuing one-time grants up to $10,000 to small businesses and locally owned franchises within city limits who have been affected
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by the pandemic. “We are stepping up to help Albuquerque’s economy weather this pandemic and we want to get these funds to eligible businesses as soon as possible,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “More than 580 businesses have already completed their applications and others are encouraged to submit early in the next round.”
Upon successful completion of the application, grantees will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, unless the grants are oversubscribed. At that point, the City will employ a lottery system.
Check the website, here, if you would like more information on resources and grants available to qualifying businesses.
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CULTURAL SERVICES
Cultural Services Relaunched Public Access Television Channels
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On Friday, Oct. 23, Mayor Tim Keller and the
City of Albuquerque Cultural Services announced the relaunch of Public Access Television Channel operations at Studio 519.
Studio 519 Public Access (Channel 27) was designed to bring original content and studio/equipment rentals to the citizens of Albuquerque. Studio 519 is a space that supports free speech and gives a platform for the storytellers in our community to share their voices.
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Flu Shot Clinic Finder
Staying up to date on vaccinations is more important now than ever during the COVID-19 pandemic. We can help keep illness from spreading in our community by getting vaccinated. Information about immunizations in Albuquerque.
Visit our website to find locations, times, and even which locations are free or accept your insurance. Visit the website or call 311 for more information.
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COVID UPDATES
Volunteers Needed for PPE Packing
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The Emergency Operations Center has received 16 pallets of Personal Protective Equipment to provide to local businesses. We need volunteer assistance to process these pallets, which are to be prepared into kits for local businesses to help reduce operations costs during COVID-19. Shifts for this volunteer opportunity are available through November.
PPE prepared through this program will be distributed through our community partners.
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PARKS AND RECREATION
Columbus Park Tennis Courts Reopen with Improvements
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The City of Albuquerque Parks and Recreation Department celebrated the grand reopening of the tennis courts at Columbus Park with neighbors after a $157,000 upgrade.
The four courts located at the northwest Albuquerque park were recently resurfaced along with several other improvements requested by park users.
“Outdoor recreation at our City parks is more important than ever and as a
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relatively COVID-safe sport, tennis has been quite popular,” stated Dave Simon, Director of Parks and Recreation. “Columbus Park was the top neighborhood tennis court resurfacing project in the City. We are delighted to get this project completed and invite the public back onto these revitalized tennis courts.”
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OFFICE OF EQUITY AND INCLUSION
Community Conducts Intensive Dialogue Process Regarding Oñate Sculpture
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This summer, the City of Albuquerque launched the Race, History & Healing Project (RHHP) in response to community concerns about the Juan de Oñate statue on the grounds of the Albuquerque Museum.
The RHHP embarked on a months-long community-centered process to provide a space for difficult dialogues on our shared history and make recommendations for the future of the statue.
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The City supported the community through these challenging conversations using three methods including: Community Dialogue Sessions with the participation of 241 people, a public survey with more than 1,200 respondents, and more than 100 individual in-depth phone interviews. The preliminary summary can be found, here.
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Residents Resources
- If you are displaying symptoms, contact the New Mexico Department of Health at 1-855-600-3453.
- If you need assistance with childcare, food, diapers, and more, check the City's website for resources.
- If you are in an unsafe environment due to domestic violence, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or the Albuquerque Women's Resource Center at 505-242-7033.
- To get information on Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, click here, or contact 505-266-1900.
- The New Mexico Crisis and Access Line has counselors available 24/7 to speak at 855-662-7474.
- The Department of Senior Affairs can be reached at 505-764-6400. A full list of resources available for seniors can be found here.
- The Child Abuse Hotline can be reached at 505-841-6100.
- For Adult Protective Services, contact 505-476-4912.
- The Agora Center is available at 505-277-3013.
- For information on WiFi on Wheels locations, visit cabq.gov/wifi or call 311.
- The Environmental Health Department’s (EHD) will now release it’s weekly COVID-safe food safety report, the Red-Green Report. To view this report, click here. For more information about the report and inspections, click here.
- The Cultural Services Department (CSD) announced restricted access to the ABQ BioPark Zoo and Botanic Garden, Albuquerque Museum, and Anderson Abruzzo Albuquerque Balloon Museum to New Mexico residents, as an additional COVID-19 precaution. Reservations and tickets are available for through their online portal, here.
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Contact Mayor Keller
At the City of Albuquerque, we always want to know about the issues that matter most to our residents. To share your views, or request assistance with City related services, you may email Mayor Keller, here.
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