City Councilor Stephanie Telles Calls on Mayor Keller to Veto Enhanced Services and Safety Zone Ordinance

Albuquerque, NM – Albuquerque City Councilor Stephanie Telles is publicly calling on Mayor Tim Keller to veto O-26-14, the so-called “Enhanced Services and Safety Zone” ordinance, warning that the legislation will criminalize poverty, increase harm to vulnerable residents, and create additional burdens on taxpayers without addressing the root causes of public safety concerns.

This morning, Councilor Telles hand-delivered copies of the growing public petition urging a veto of the ordinance, along with emails from Albuquerque residents expressing outrage and concern about the bill, directly to Mayor Keller. The petition can be viewed at: https://www.change.org/p/mayor-keller-veto-o-26-14 | Change.org Petition Opposing O-26-14"

“I explicitly asked the Mayor to veto this harmful ordinance,” said Councilor Telles. “Residents across Albuquerque are making it clear that they do not want poverty criminalized in our city. They do not want policies that rely on citations, warrants, and punishment to address homelessness, behavioral health crises, and economic instability.”

According to Councilor Telles, Mayor Keller expressed concern that because six Councilors voted in favor of the ordinance, a Mayoral veto could potentially be overridden by the City Council. 

“That is exactly why residents must continue speaking out,” Councilor Telles said. “I encourage every Albuquerque resident who opposes this dangerous ordinance to contact the Mayor and every City Councilor immediately. Ask the Mayor to veto this bill and ask Councilors not to vote to override that veto.”

Councilor Telles emphasized that Albuquerque can support local businesses, improve public safety, and address community concerns without creating policies that disproportionately target homeless, poor, disabled, and other vulnerable residents.

“We are a compassionate city,” Councilor Telles said. “There are better ways to support businesses, enhance services, improve downtown conditions, and strengthen public safety without resorting to policies that deepen cycles of poverty and instability. We should be investing in prevention, behavioral health services, raising the minimum wage, housing, economic opportunity, and collaborative solutions — not expanding systems of punishment that are grossly unjust, expensive, and wasteful. 

Councilor Telles also warned that the ordinance risks increasing long-term costs for the City through additional enforcement, court involvement, incarceration, and administrative burdens while doing little to meaningfully resolve underlying issues.

“Public safety and economic vitality are important goals,” the Councilor added. “But the measure of a city is whether we are willing to protect human dignity with the same urgency that we protect commerce and comfort. Albuquerque can do both — and we should demand solutions that reflect the humanity of every person in our community.”