Discoveries

Fact 1 - One of the more interesting learned is that the current U.S. Secretary of the Interior, Deb Haaland is a citizen of the Pueblo of Laguna and has Jeminez heritage. Secretary Haaland served as chair of the New Mexico Democratic Party from 2015 to 2017 and as the U.S. representative for New Mexico's 1st congressional district from 2019 to 2021. She is the first Indigenous U.S. cabinet member in the history of the United States.

U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland wore this traditional Pueblo dress during her swearing-in ceremony for the House of Representatives in 2019. Photograph courtesy of U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland's Office

Fact 2 – A significant moment was hearing directly from two of the women who are a part of the OEI team. Nichole and Dawn were very open about the issue of homelessness and affordable housing the city is facing. Hearing the heart of these issues, by two people who have their own compelling personal stories, was very captivating.

On day 2 while at Site #1, we walked the grounds and then stopped for a moment to have a side bar. Keep in mind, it was freezing cold, but there was a moment of transparency, which made the moment worth enduring the cold.

Nichole stated “When I bought a house four years ago, rent was ridiculous! I don’t know if I

would be able to purchase a home today, if I hadn’t done it when I did… and it completely changed my financial trajectory, like 100 percent!”

Dawn weighed in and shared “Because I did it (purchase a home v. rent) when I did… the

income that would have gone towards housing and rent, I can now help with my family’s cost.”

From left to right, Nichole Rodgers, Dawn Begay (OEI), Linda Fowler (Regionerate), Elana Baranes (MASS), and Michelle Melendez (Director, OEI)

Fact 3 - At one point while at Site #1, we walked on Old Mill Pond, which is an old drainage pathway that will need to be repurposed if any development happens there. Shawn from MASS pointed out one of the ways the old Spanish colonies engineered the moving of water from one place to another, was by using man-made drainage canals called an “acequia.” In simple terms, it is a community-operated waterway used for irrigation and snow runoff of river water to distant fields. A system similar to this could potentially be incorporated into a new development.

Michelle Melendez walking along the Old Mill Pond, part of an old acequia waterway

Fact 4 – Near the north side of Site #1, there is a stretch of the historic Albuquerque Rail Yards, which leads to the heart of Downtown, the Sawmill District, and Old Town. Recently it was thought that a new proposed Albuquerque Rail Trail was DOA, but recently, a pair of new investments means there is enough funding to complete phase one of the trail. The new investments include $10 million from a $100 million infrastructure bond package the City Council approved in June of 2022, and a $10 million state contribution that Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced in July of 2022. Including money, the city already had for the redevelopment project, officials say they now have $25 million in total available funding.

A section of the historic Albuquerque Rail Yards, leading to the heart of Downtown, the Sawmill District, and Old Town

Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller, left is joined by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and former Mayor Martin Chavez in announcing the state’s $10 million investment in the planned Albuquerque Rail Trail. (Adolphe Pierre-Louis/Albuquerque Journal) | CLICK HERE

Fact 5 – While at Site #2 in the Skyview District, it was shared with us that Mayor Keller and the city, are creating a new public safety department that would send trained professionals to respond to certain non-violent calls for help in place of armed officers. In essence, this would be a third arm of the Public Safety Department, complimenting police and fire.

Once formed, the Albuquerque Community Safety Department would have social workers, housing and homelessness specialists and violence prevention and diversion program experts who would be dispatched to homelessness and “down-and-out” calls as well as behavioral health crises. There is talk that the office for this division of public safety would be built on a portion of Site #2, which presents an interesting scenario for a potential planned development incorporating affordable residential units and retail space, as well as commercial office space. The public safety branch could be housed as one of the commercial office anchors if a deal can be struck with a suitable developer and the city.

The south portion of Site #2 in the Skyview District, where the Community Safety Dept. could be located

In November of 2022, over 12,000 calls were diverted from the Police Dept. to the Community Safety Dept. | CLICK HERE

Fact 6 – During our meeting with Mayor Keller and staff, he brought up a question regarding the Justice40 Initiative, which seemed to be a real point of interest for him. At the 2022 State of the Union, President Biden stated “We’ll create good jobs for millions of Americans…and we’ll do it

all to withstand the devastating effects of climate change and promote environmental justice.”

Here are some facts about Justice40.

What is the Justice40 Initiative? For the first time in our nation’s history, the Federal Government has made it a goal that 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain Federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized, underserved, and overburdened by pollution. President Biden made this historic commitment when he signed Executive Order 14008 within days of taking office.

What kinds of investments fall within the Justice40 Initiative? The categories of investment are: 1) climate change, 2) clean energy and energy efficiency, 3) clean transit, 4) affordable and sustainable housing, 5) training and workforce development, 6) remediation and reduction of legacy pollution, and 7) the development of critical clean water and wastewater infrastructure.

For the full list of Justice40 covered programs, CLICK HERE. For the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool, CLICK HERE.

Fact 7 – There is a strong desire on the part of the 19 Pueblos of New Mexico, to engage in a deal structure that goes beyond the boundaries of what they have engaged in, to this point. Specifically, Michael Canfield, CEO of IPCC stated there is another non-Pueblo track of land approximately 13 acres, privately owned by a local Albuquerque resident, that could be a possible acquisition / development opportunity.

We also to a look at the property, which is not to far from Site #1. Although it was fenced in, we were able to have a good look at it from the street. It has potential but would require better access for a more thorough analysis. It sits right on a major thoroughfare and highway.

The privately owned, 13-acre track of land, next to a major thoroughfare and highway corridor in Albuquerque

THE ALBUQUERQUE REPORT