Tune in to a televised debate on Tax Increment Development Districts (TIDDs) in Greenfields on KNME’s Channel 5, "In Focus/The Line” on the following dates:

• Friday, November 30th at 7pm
• Sunday, December 2nd at 6:30am

The TIDD Reform efforts were initiated in response to Councilor Cadigan's serious concerns with Greenfield TIDDs.

• How will we take care of the existing community and the additional burden of new development on the fringes when most of the new tax revenue will be siphoned off to large out of state developers?
• What does the rest of Albuquerque get out of this diverted revenue stream?
• What happens if the diversion of up to 75% of the gross receipts tax revenue for 25 years reduces state capital outlay funding for other projects in Albuquerque? For example: The reconstruction of the Paseo del Norte/ I-25/Jefferson interchange.

The Westside Coalition of Neighborhood Associations held a special meeting on November 29, 2007 to discuss TIDD Reform. The Coalition voted to support Councilor Cadigan's TIDD Reform efforts. With an overwhelming vote of 9 to 3, the Westside Coalition voiced its opposition to TIDDs in Greenfields (undeveloped land) in Albuquerque.

URGENT-- Let your Councilor know your opinion on this crucial piece of legislation up for a vote on Monday, December 3, 2007. Please come to the Council meeting on Monday, Dec. 3, 2007 and voice your opinion for the 5pm meeting, or call/email your Councilor prior to 5pm on Monday.

City Councilor Brad Winter (District 4), introduced legislation today prohibiting the issuance of any STOP fines (red light and speeding cameras and vans) until the Council has had an opportunity to review the findings of the Mayor’s Task Force which is due to be reported to the Council on January 15, 2008. “I am not sure how much credibility or legitimacy this task force will have as it has been hand picked by the Mayor with no input from the Council,” said Councilor Winter. “The Council will also have to analyze and review other criteria of the program in order to make any decision about the future of STOP,” he stated.

“The problems with STOP have reached such a crisis level and the actual impact of STOP is so uncertain that the Mayor has appointed a task force that he claims will try and determine the impact of the program,” stated Councilor Winter. “The Mayor has also stated that the program may need to be terminated,” he said. Numerous reports of mismanagement of money collected from the STOP program as well as misinformation that have been given to the Council and to the public has Councilor Winter concerned. “I believe that the rights of our citizens have been violated and that due process has not been served,” said Councilor Winter, who held a Town Hall on the Red Light Camera issue last March. The Councilor also requested an audit of the STOP program and even though the Mayor and the Albuquerque Police Department have stated that the number of accidents at dangerous intersections have been reduced, the results of the audit did not determine whether the program had been successful in stopping accidents or whether more accidents were occurring as a result of the cameras.

“I think it is time the Council stepped up and took responsibility by temporarily suspending the program pending the task force reports by stopping the issuance of STOP fines,” said Councilor Winter.

Once the Council has reviewed and independently considered and analyzed any conclusions and recommendations by the Mayor’s task force, the Council may consider calling either for the continuation, modification or termination of the STOP program. Councilor Winter will request that the Council consider this bill for immediate action at its December 3, 2007 meeting.

The New Mexico Archeological Council commended Councilor Heinrich for preserving archeological sites in Albuquerque, with an annual award. Heinrich sponsored the Preservation of Archeological Sites Ordinance, which passed unanimously by the City Council in September, 2007. He was presented with the award at the New Mexico Archeological Council’s annual conference.

Archeologists were enthusiastic to honor Heinrich, because they say this type of protection has been needed for over 20 years.

“Albuquerque is a wonderful place to live and work. One of the reasons why the city is so special is because of our rich history and our varied culture. The ordinance will not stop development but strikes a balance between what we can learn about our past and how much it will cost to acquire this knowledge,” Dave Cushman, an archeologist and planner with the nonprofit group SRI Foundation.

Within the city’s limits, there are hundreds of archaeological sites spanning the last 10,000 years of human history. Earlier this year, the issue caught local media attention because crews adding new athletic fields at Bosque Preparatory School on Albuquerque’s northwest side uncovered a centuries-old Pueblo Indian site dating back to A.D. 1300 to 1400. Also, in August construction crews excavating rock for a waterline to the new northwest high school damaged many artifacts demonstrating proof of a Folsom culture presence in the Albuquerque area. Heinrich’s ordinance ensures that the City’s archaeologist will review and approve subdivision plats, site plans, and master plans in areas where significant archeological resources are present in order to ensure the preservation of those resources.

“Albuquerque is growing and new construction is a fact of life. However I believe we must protect our heritage as we grow. This ordinance prevents both inadvertent and willful destruction of priceless archeological resources,” said Heinrich.

Heinrich brought together a broad group of interests to craft the legislation, including local archaeological organizations, the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties, the Homebuilders Association of New Mexico, and the Public Service Company of New Mexico.

Heinrich is pictured with archeologists David Cushman and Carol Condie.

City Councilor Martin Heinrich has funded a study to determine library use and the need for improved and expanded facilities in District 6 and Southeast Albuquerque. As a follow-up to the October 11th meeting, this public event will focus on the results of a library user survey, analyze current and possible future site locations, and address costs and funding strategies. The meeting will take place from 7 to 9 pm at the San Pedro Library on Thursday, November 15, 2007. All public input is encouraged and appreciated.

Architectural Research Consultants has been contracted through the Albuquerque/ Bernalillo County Library System to perform an assessment of the area that addresses design and capacity requirements for libraries based on survey data and public input. Along with the input of library management and staff, public discussion during the meeting will create a better understanding of future needs for the area.

Councilor Heinrich feels this study will provide the necessary tools to advocate for funding in the future that will provide quality facilities to meet a growing demand for accessible libraries.

Martin Heinrich was awarded 2007 Conservationist of the Year for his work preserving open space lands, establishing an important wildlife corridor, protecting important archeological sites, and establishing green building standards, among other efforts. The New Mexico Wilderness Alliance (NMWA) presented Heinrich with the award at their 2007 Annual Wilderness Conference.

In addition to bills listed below, Heinrich was also instrumental in advocating for the passage of the Ojito Wilderness Act in 2005, one of only 2 wilderness areas signed by the President of the United States that year, and the first stand-alone Wilderness area established in New Mexico in over 17 years.

Heinrich is pictured with NMWA Executive Director Steve Capra and Lieutenant Governor Diane Denish. Denish served as keynote speaker for the event.

2007 Heinrich Sponsored Bills Related to Land & Environment
Establish Open Space: R-07-260 – (adopted on September 5th, 2007) - providing City funding ($500,000) for the purchase of four hundred and twenty acres of land adjacent to existing city open space at a fraction of its actual cost and providing easy public access (a new trailhead) from the Turquoise Trail (NM 14) to the forested side canyons and high rim rock outcrops of the Gutierrez Canyon. Since its purchase in 1963, access to the 300-acre Gutierrez Canyon Open Space has been limited to an area through a nearby residential neighborhood.

Protect Hawkwatch Property: R-06-129 – (published on Nov. 21st, 2006) – providing City of Albuquerque funding ($650,000) for purchase of the "Hawkwatch" property, a vulnerable 67-acre area in the Sandia Mountain Wilderness adjacent to the existing Tres Pistolas Open Space, recognized as one of North America's five most important wildlife linkages. The purchase helps ensure the safe movement of wildlife between the Sandia and Manzano Mountains, provides safer travel to motorists in the canyon, protects the scenic view-shed for the gateway to the City and provides extensive recreational opportunities."

Green Building Ordinance: O-07-73 – (approved on September 17th, 2007) – creates the "Albuquerque High Performance Building Ordinance" and puts Albuquerque in the lead nationally for sustainability and addressing global warming. The ordinance requires new commercial and residential buildings to meet higher standards of energy efficiency (without significantly increasing building costs), reducing Albuquerque's greenhouse gas emissions.

Preserve Archaeological Sites: O-07-72 – (approved on September 5th, 2007) – the "Preservation of Archaeological Sites" ordinance establishes a City Archaeologist and a process by which development plans are reviewed for potential impacts to archaeological sites before the development is approved. There are hundreds of archaeological sites spanning the last 10,000+ years of human history in Albuquerque.

Protect Local Farmland: OC-07-11 – (approved on February 5, 2007) – this legislation establishes a contract with the Trust for Public Land to create a tool for prioritizing the protection of conservation sites in Albuquerque. The GIS modeling tool will allow for prioritizing lands for conservation, recreation and farmland goals – and in general, lands that are critical to meeting community-based goals, from enhancing existing public owned open space, to developing new parks, to creating better connectivity with existing parks.

Support Grower's Markets: Councilor Heinrich has been an ally of local grower's markets and recently helped pave the way for the Alcazar Street Grower's Market at Central and Alcazar, alongside the Talin International Marketplace, to operate on Saturday and Tuesday mornings. Locally-grown items do not have to travel as far to get to your table, thereby allowing farmers to pick produce at the peak of flavor, which also preserves produce nutritional content. Support of grower's markets is demonstration of his support for preserving local agricultural lands.

Albuquerque Ranked 1st Place for Open Space: This year, the Trust for Public Land ranked the City of Albuquerque first place nationally for its percentage of land devoted to open space. According to the study, Albuquerque devotes the most land area by percentage to parks and preserves of any large city in the country. During his tenure as an elected official, City Councilor Martin Heinrich has seen through numerous measures adding to that standing, bringing Albuquerque's total amount of open space to one quarter of our City's total land acreage. "We're really proud of our open space heritage – it's such an important component of our quality of life and is why people choose to live here. Not to mention, it sets us apart from other cities throughout the nation and around the world," says Heinrich.