Albuquerque mayor highlights public safety goal, residents express doubt
residents remain doubtful about whether his plans will lead to meaningful change.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —
Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller highlighted public safety as a key focus during his ninth State of the City address, aiming to improve safety and quality of life in his third term.
“Crime is going down in Albuquerque. It doesn’t mean we feel safer, but we know the statistics are going in the right direction,” Keller said during his address.
According to city data, there have been 37 homicides in Albuquerque this year as of August 15, which is 10 fewer than the same period last year. Auto theft and burglary rates have also declined.
Raul Bujanda, Albuquerque’s executive director of public safety, said the city is combining new strategies with previously successful ones to address safety concerns.
“We’re literally looking at all the new ordinances that are in place, but also looking at local and state laws that are already in place and seeing how we can layer that as an overall holistic approach,” Bujanda said.
He added that the city aims for residents to feel safe in everyday situations, such as grocery shopping, visiting parks and attending events like Balloon Fiesta.
“This is something that the mayor emphasizes and that I emphasize as well; if I don’t feel safe when I get out of the store, whether it’s my favorite Circle K, Walmart or Smith’s, if I have to look around because I’m just not feeling comfortable, then [we] fail, right?” Bujanda said.
But many residents still don’t feel comfortable.
“Even if you’re walking down like Tingley Beach, it just feels kind of sketchy,” resident Jackie Martinez said. “You have to be more alert instead of just enjoying nature. I wish it would be a little bit more safe to walk.”
Pointing to previous commitments that fell short, one resident, Celadon Cruz, said he has little faith in the plan.
“It’s a good approach if he does it, but the track record proves it,” Cruz said.
Overall, drugs and homelessness are the two major conditions residents say they want to see improve over this next term. Now it’s a waiting game to see if Keller’s proposed initiatives will lead to visible improvements in safety and quality of life across Albuquerque.
To learn more about other topics Mayor Tim Keller discussed during the State of the City Address, click this link.
