Latest news with #TammyFiebelkorn
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
$4.5M from opioid settlement will be used to bolster Gateway Center resources
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Millions of dollars in opioid settlement funds will be used for services throughout the Gateway Center in Albuquerque. $4.5 million has been allocated to boost recovery housing, the gateway's medical sobering center, and the first responder receiving area. This money is part of a larger $20 million package to bolster access to treatment and housing. To date, nearly $6 million in opioid settlement funding has been allocated to gateway recovery for both construction and operations. City of Albuquerque looks to catch up on backlog of needed trash bins 'This is such an important thing for the community, and I think that it's been a long time coming, and it hasn't been an easy road. But I think we're going to see payoff and see the ability to help people in this building,' said Albuquerque City Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn. Over the last several years, billions of dollars have been awarded to cities, states, and counties around the country. It comes from drug manufacturers and distributors, settling lawsuits for their role in the opioid epidemic. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Yahoo
Albuquerque City Council looks to crack down on problematic motels
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Albuquerque City Councilors are cracking down on problematic motels and hotels, but some councilors are warning that the changes could hurt the homeless. 'We continually say that we don't like seeing unhoused people on our streets, but now we're saying if they somehow scrape up enough money to stay in a hotel for a night or two… We don't want them to be there either, and I think that's a large problem with this bill,' said City Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn. Albuquerque City Council votes to offer more services at Gateway Center Changes to the city's Hotel and Motel Accountability Ordinance would require motels to collect photo IDs and current addresses from all guests if the motel or hotel continues to violate city code. Under the new rules, hotels and motels that repeatedly violate the Nuisance Abatement Ordinance will need to start logging guest stays. Failure to comply can result in a fine of $500 per day. Councilors in favor said the goal is to crack down on crime and hold owners accountable, but others worry the rules unfairly impact the homeless. 'We need to help the victims, and with the victims not coming forward, they're probably being threatened, which is also an issue. So those are the kinds of things that we need to have IDs for, those are the things police need to be talked to about,' said Councilor Louie Sanchez. The city passed the new law on a 5-4 vote, with multiple councilors changing their votes last minute. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
City highlights ordinance requiring cooling systems in Albuquerque rental properties
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – With temperatures heating up in New Mexico, city leaders are reminding community members about a recently passed ordinance that requires all rental properties in Albuquerque to have functioning cooling systems. Ordinance O-59 was passed by the Albuquerque City Council in December and requires all properties in the city to have functioning cooling systems, such as swamp coolers, central HVAC, mini splits, and window units. Story continues below Podcast: What Will Voters Do With $1.5 Million? Entertainment: These movies were filmed in Las Cruces. Have you seen them? Crime: ABQ man charged federally for arson attacks at Tesla, Republican Party headquarters Weird: Peacocks spotted in Albuquerque neighborhoods. Where did they come from? According to the city, this new law strengthens tenant protections and ensures safer, more livable housing during increasingly hot summers. 'Urban heat impacts, climate change have made it to where you cannot live in a home in the city of Albuquerque without a cooling system. You will be sick, you will have days off work, you will not be a productive member of society, and you will be miserable,' said City Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn, who sponsored the ordinance. Cooling devices like fans or portable air conditioners do not meet the requirements. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Albuquerque City Council passes bill aimed at protecting renters
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Albuquerque City Councilors unanimously passed a resolution aimed at protecting renters by connecting them with affordable legal services ensuring landlords comply with housing regulations. 'When I talk to folks in the community they feel alone. They want to do things like take this through the court system, but they have no idea how to do so and quite frankly they do not have the money to start that because something as simple and straight forward as, you haven't provided me with running water for three months, costs money to start in the court system,' said City Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn. Bill could make 'magic mushrooms' a legal treatment option in New Mexico The initiative will establish a designated code enforcement officer tasked with holding landlords accountable for neglecting basic living conditions. Councilor fiebelkorn sponsored the legislation and said the effort is designed to reduce the burden on tenants who might otherwise have to go through the court system, which can get expensive quick. The assigned officer will be responsible for fielding calls, issuing citations, and ensuring renters know their rights. Common complaints include: a lack of locks on doors, no heating, unresolved plumbing. These are problems that already fall under city code but often go unaddressed. Recent data from the city's 311 system shows that in just three months, more than 5,000 calls have been related to housing concerns. 'So R-25-120 is proof that this council does understand that people are more valuable than property. That property are things that are temporary and human beings are eternal,' said Lisa Christopherson, PhD, concerned citizen. The city now needs to find a qualified person to fill the roll. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Albuquerque lawmaker wants to enforce habitable living condition laws in rental properties
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Renters across Albuquerque have complained that they're living in unsafe conditions and the city has laws on the books requiring landlords to fix the problems, but one city councilor says, those laws aren't being enforced. Story continues below Don't Miss: Family reunited with lost cat who was missing in desert for nearly a month Crime: Former APD officer used MVD info as tool to bring more clients into DWI scandal National: Former Disney Channel actress 'shot in the face' at birthday event for husband The resolution was introduced by Albuquerque City Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn who said issues like no heating, no water, and even black mold aren't getting resolved quickly enough. 'We should make sure that every single person has heating, cooling, running water, hot water, locks that work, be mold-free, rodent free,' said Councilor Fiebelkorn. Those are all the basic functions of a home that property owners under Albuquerque's Uniform Housing Code and state law (UORRA) are supposed to maintain and fix. But Fielbelkorn said that's not stopping landlords from neglecting their properties. 'The enforcement part is missing and so we hear from folks all the time, that you know, it's winter and I've been without heat two or three weeks and it hasn't been fixed and that's not okay,' said Councilor Fiebelkorn. The Peoples Housing Project, which tries to help tenants in those situations, said it's far too common. 'It does take a toll on you because oftentimes when these landlords aren't addressing these issues people don't want to live in these conditions so they're using their own money to address it or they're forced to sleep on their friend's couches or find other places to live,' said Lila Nezar, an organizer with the Peoples Housing Project. Councilor Fiebelkorn is introducing a resolution that would require the city's Planning Department to enhance their code enforcement to hold landlords more accountable. 'Landlords in general do a great job of providing for their tenants but we do have some bad actors and we need to make sure that they are aware that the city of Albuquerque will ensure that you do correct things when they go wrong,' said Fiebelkorn. If her proposal passes council, there will need to be a full-time code enforcement officer focused solely on these tenant complaints and handle them promptly, prioritizing calls based on the severity. If passed, the resolution would also require a dedicated process outside of 311 for people to report violations. KRQE News 13 asked the city's planning and zoning department what the proposal would mean for the department. They sent us this statement: We support and help protect tenants' rights by enforcing the Uniform Housing Code. As far as process, our Code Enforcement Division is driven by complaints received through 311. Once received, calls are prioritized by severity with complaints of threats to life and safety usually being responded to the same day. Currently, our Code Enforcement Inspector team is 90% staffed, and we encourage job seekers to apply. We currently have 19 Code Enforcement Inspectors and 2 vacancies. Tim Walsh, PIO, CABQ Planning Department Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
