Bernalillo County Commissioners approved a half million dollars to improve westside fiber optics, bought a couple of pieces of property for parks and recreation maintenance use and postponed the allocation of a controversial million dollar appropriation at their regular meeting Tuesday, Feb. 6.
Money for clean air? Another time
Commissioner Steven Michael Quezada and Albuquerque City Councilor Klarissa Peña announced earlier this week that they were intending to present legislation to their respective government bodies in an effort to help mitigate air pollution in the far South Valley.
The county’s resolution asks for a $1 million appropriation from each entity to be used for community engagement and the development of pollution abatement measures for the Mountain View Neighborhood. At Tuesday’s meeting, county commissioners postponed this item until a future unspecified date.
Mountain View is a community of about 6,000 residents and is situated south of Rio Bravo along Broadway and Second Street on the east side of the Rio Grande bordering on the Pueblo of Isleta. The area has the bulk of the heavy industrial zoning in the County and has been disproportionately overburdened with toxic and hazardous contamination. A coalition that includes the neighborhood and other partners is at the center of the dispute over the air quality board.
A few people from the Mountain View neighborhood spoke during public comment about how they were not contacted by either of the elected officials.
“It’s a big surprise and not a pleasant one that Commissioner Quezada is proposing a very expensive Initiative without consulting any of us in Mountain View about his proposal,” said Marla Painter from Mountain View Community Action. She went on to say that they could have sat down with community stakeholders and had a serious and earnest discussion about solutions.
Diane Reese, chair of the Rio Grande Chapter of the Sierra Club and a South Valley resident said that pollution is a problem all over Albuquerque. She encouraged the commission to support and look to the city county joint air quality board and look towards the solutions put forth in the board’s health, environment and equity impacts resolution. The Albuquerque city council has not set an agenda date for their version of this resolution.
Fiber optic improvements
Commissioners approved the allocation of $500,000 of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to complete the expansion and installation of approximately 8.4 miles of single mode fiber optic cable on the west side. Fiber optics are capable of transmitting more data over longer distances than other types of cables. It also can provide internet, phone and TV services.
The new cable will be installed along Central Ave. from Atrisco Vista Blvd. to Bridge Blvd.; Coors Ave. to Tower Road; Atrisco Vista Blvd. from Central Ave. to Ladera Drive; and Ladera Drive from Atrisco Vista Blvd. to Tempur-Pedic Parkway/Comfort Way.
County officials said that this new fiber optic cable will benefit west side residents and businesses and allow for future connections of nearby county facilities and traffic signals.
New digs
Needing some more storage for the county’s parks and recreation department equipment, commissioners approved buying two pieces of adjoining property. The property is located at 6060 Isleta Blvd SW and includes the property adjoining to the east at 6072 Appleton Rd. SW for a total .94 of an acre costing $775,000. County documents say that the department has outgrown its storage at the Hubble House property and needs more room.
Shout out To some selfless high school seniors
For 16 years, Frank Frost photography has been working with Albuquerque Public Schools to highlight seniors each year who serve important causes and assist those in need in our community. County Commissioners gave a shout out to this year’s selfless seniors and to Frank Frost for taking their photos to be shown at schools, businesses and other places to encourage residents to selflessly serve. The honorees are:
- Sinahí Oaxaca, Albuquerque High School
- Angelina Olivas, Atrisco Heritage Academy High School
- Annabella Beck, Cibola High School
- Josiah Herrera, Del Norte High School
- Iris Eisenman, Eldorado High School
- Grysell Huizar, Highland High School
- Kendall King, La Cueva High School
- Connor McCammon, Manzano High School
- Laura Burianek, Nex+Gen Academy High School
- Miranda Castañeda, Rio Grande High School
- Taylor Trussell, Sandia High School
- Brooklyn Upton, Valley High School
- Kalily Garcia, Volcano Vista High School
- Angel Perez, West Mesa High School
Bernalillo County meetings are conducted at 5pm on the first and third Tuesday of the month in the Ken Sanchez Commission Chambers at 415 Silver Ave SW or via a hybrid manner through GOV-TV or online at Bernco.gov/live or on Bernalillo County’s YouTube channel. The next meeting is Feb. 20.