Education Campaigns.
Educating the public on important issues is highly valued by NMSTC. Below are the ordinances NMSTC took positions on (for/against) and advocated appropriately.
City Council / Governing Body Public Comment Time
Many of the decisions that MOST directly impact our daily lives are shaped at the local level by our city councils, county commissions, school boards, and various committees empowered by local governance. Our engagement is CRUCIAL. Public comment not only creates an official record but also significantly influences decision-making, fosters accountability, and ensures ongoing civic participation for future generations.
Santa Fe City Council Meetings
ABQ Public Schools Board of Education
Santa Fe Public School Board of Education
Albuquerque City Council
Enhanced Safety Zones
Highlighted transparency & data regarding “Enhanced Safety Zones” ordinance that criminalizes people for standing, stopping, or sitting down on the public sidewalk.
NMSTC STANCE: Against
(Peña – passed 5-4)
PBS NM in Focus features an interview with Tiffany Leger, founder of the Albuquerque Homeless Union. Nash then hosts a debate between City Councilor Joaquín Baca, who supports the measure, and Lisa Christopherson from the New Mexico Stronger Together Coalition, who opposes it, discussing the law’s purpose and its effectiveness in addressing homelessness in the city.
Safety and Privacy in Community Spaces
NMSTC STANCE: For
(Baca – passed 5-4)
The ordinance aligns Albuquerque with the New Mexico Immigrant Safety Act, prohibiting the use of City-owned properties for federal immigration enforcement and designating certain facilities as “Safer Community Places,” limiting access without a warrant.
Unit Habitability Enforcement Ordinance
NMSTC Stance: For
(Feibelkorn – passed 6-3)
Rental Unit Habitability Enforcement Ordinance (O-26-24) establishes a faster and stronger way to enforce rules against landlords who do not keep rental units livable. The related Code Enforcement Priorities Resolution (R-26-20) tells the City’s Code Enforcement Division to focus on tenant health and safety complaints over other types of issues.
Ranked Choice Voting Ordinance
NMSTC Stance: For
(Feibelkorn – failed 6-3)
Adopting a Ranked Choice Voting System, which encourages voter participation and provides a fairer representation of public opinion, is essential for modernizing our electoral process. This initiative also entails repealing and replacing Article II, Sections 7 and 8 of the City Charter to remove outdated procedures that could hinder the effectiveness of our voting system. This effort, spearheaded by Rogers, Fiebelkorn, and Telles, aims to foster a more informed electorate, enhance participation in elections, and ultimately strengthen the foundations of our local democracy.
Public Camping Ordinance
NMSTC Stance: Against
(Grout – Passed 5-4)
Adopting a New Article 25 of Chapter 9 of the Revised Ordinances of Albuquerque: Public Camping.