[Neighbors] Big changes to Zuni Rd, and updates on solar and gun violence prevention

Tue Jun 14 16:24:43 MDT 2016

Get Help From City Hall | Contact Me <http://www.cabq.gov/council/find-your-councilor/district-6>

Next steps to making ABQ a solar leader

Our bill to make Albuquerque a solar leader continues to move forward. R-16-36 was initially written to set a solar standard for City facilities of 25% solar energy by 2025.
Since initially filing this bill, we’ve received hundreds of comments with dozens of suggestions for how our city could achieve this solar generation goal, and many more requests to raise the proposed goal to match that of other Sun Belt cities like Austin which set an even more aggressive 55% goal by 2025.

Your input showed strong public support for this issue and also highlighted our need for real, Albuquerque-based data and cost estimates before we set our standard. 

Last week, I requested a fiscal impact analysis be conducted to identify our options and the costs.  This report will not only tell us how we get to 25% by 2025 but determine if we can set the bar even higher. 

Our staff is working to gather experts in city facilities and the solar industry now and we’ll be announcing a public forum soon to give you the chance to bring your own suggestions to the process. 

This type of public process for an agenda like this is unique, and it is possible thanks to the input we received from middle and high school students, homeowners and industry experts who all sent messages and appeared in person supporting our original plan and asking for more.  We’ll need you all to continue to help, so please stay tuned!

Let’s talk about Gun Violence (again)

 <http://www.twitter.com/patdavisnm>Last month, I was invited to the White House to explore options for addressing gun violence that don’t require us to wait on Congress or the State Legislature to act.

Before I could even get home and start working on this issue, another mass shooting hit home.

Albuquerque’s outpouring of support for victims and survivors in Orlando reminded me why I love our city.  

Then, last night, while I was chairing a council committee meeting, another incident disrupted our lives and brought the issues of gun violence home, again.

Quite frankly, I’m tired of this. And I’m tired of hopes and prayers and I’m ready for action.

Later this week, I’m convening a task force of community groups – including Moms Demand Action-NM, Everytown, Crime Stoppers, NM for Gun Safety, public health organizations, crime prevention groups and community organizers - working to address gun violence to find solutions we can enact right here in ABQ this summer.   

I want us to come away with a real plan to help us understand gun violence right here in ABQ and what we can do now, without waiting on Congress or Santa Fe to act.

If you are interested in following the progress of my Council Task Force on gun violence, be sure you follow me on Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/patforabq> where I’ll post updates from our meeting.

Big News for Zuni Road!

If you’ve driven down Zuni in the past week or so you’ve no doubt seen the orange cones and work trucks. Wondered why?

I have big news!  5 years after Councilor Garduno first began the process to restripe and redesign one of Albuquerque’s most dangerous urban roadways, we are finally getting started.

Zuni has seen more than two dozen pedestrian and bicycle accidents in the past few years – two fatal since I took office in December. 

No one would design a roadway like this today, but getting it fixed is a big undertaking.  Councilor Garduno began the process by setting aside a large part of his council-specific funding for design work and to serve as a match for federal road funds, but those would not be available until 2018.

After taking office, I asked city staff to take a new look at the roadway and find a way to use the money we have now to make the most important improvements today.  I’m happy to report that that is exactly what we are doing now.

I added more council-specific street funds -bringing your City Councilor-directed contributions to $900,000 for this major road project -  and County Commissioner Maggie Hart Stebbins helped with additional matching County roads money to fund the next phase of the project. 

Road crews are starting the process to add a center turn lane, curb-side bike lanes, crosswalks and mid-block crossing stations to provide better roadways for thru drivers and turn lanes for residents.  Pedestrians and bicyclists will see big improvements right away.

The next phase – in 2018 – will add sidewalk and intersection improvements to complete the project.

I’m very proud that we were able to find a solution to make this work now. Please be patient while road workers finish this project.  They’ll be done in July.  Give yourself – and them – some extra time and extra room in the construction zone until then.

Read more about this project on my website.: “Dangerous roadway to get major facelift with road improvements <https://www.cabq.gov/council/find-your-councilor/district-6/news/dangerous-albuquerque-road-to-get-major-facelift-with-road-improvements>”

Get involved
Events in the District

Water Authority Customer Conversations: Water Resources Management Strategy (our plans for our water)

Tonight: 6-8pm, Manzano Mesa Multigenerational Center, 501 Elizabeth St SE

Nob Hill Neighborhood Association: Community review of proposed ABC-Z Zoning and Development Ordinance process and changes

Thurs, June 16: 6-830, Monte Vista Christian Church, 3501 Campus Blvd NE

Fun Things Happening This Summer in District 6

 <https://www.cabq.gov/parksandrecreation/recreation/swimming/outdoor-pools/sunport-pool>Sunport and Wilson Pools are open!  Hours and fees (some just .25-cents!) available in the links

  - Sunport Pool <https://www.cabq.gov/parksandrecreation/recreation/swimming/outdoor-pools/sunport-pool>
  - Wilson Pool <http://www.cabq.gov/parksandrecreation/recreation/swimming/outdoor-pools/wilson-pool> – see the new slide installed just in time for this summer season!

Also, be sure to check out the cool splash pad <http://www.cabq.gov/family/facilities-centers/community-center-locations/southeast/cesar-chavez-community-center/> at the Cesar Chavez Community Center on Louisiana Dr SE. Call for hours and more information

PS - Do you have constituent questions? Need help from City Hall?  
Sean Foran is our policy analyst in District 6 and he is here to help you.  Contact him at 768-3152 or seanforan at cabq.gov <mailto:seanforan at cabq.gov>

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Patrick Davis for ABQ - 3926 Simms Ave SE, Albuquerque, NM 87108, United States 
This email was sent to neighbors_nobhill-nm at mailman.swcp.com.  To stop receiving emails: http://www.patforabq.com/unsubscribe
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