District 2 Newsletter

Hello Neighbors,

The next City Council meeting is Monday, May 7 at 5:00 pm in the Vincent Griego Chambers, basement level of City Hall:  Agenda.

Legislation of Interest

• R-18-21 Medical Aid in Dying (Gibson, Benton) is on the agenda for Monday’s Council meeting.  This resolution urges the state legislature to support and enact “Medical Aid in Dying,” also known as End of Life Options Act.  This allows terminally ill, mentally capable adults to request and receive medication they can self-administer to bring about a peaceful death should their suffering become unbearable.  Every person should be able to make end-of-life decisions that are consistent with their values and best for them and their families. Medical aid in dying has majority bipartisan support among American voters, with a 2017 Gallup poll showing support at 73%.  This has been practiced for 20 years in Oregon without a single instance of abuse, coercion or disciplinary action of a provider.  In states where medical aid in dying is authorized, studies show that end-of-life care improves overall, even for people who don’t seek it.  It is entirely optional.  No individual, including doctors or other healthcare professionals, has to participate.
• FY 19 Operating Budget R-18-24 (Jones, by request):  The Mayor has submitted his proposed budget to City Council. The City Council will formally introduce the budget at Monday’s meeting.  The first Committee of the Whole (COW or “the budget committee”) hearing was this week.  Additional hearings are scheduled for Thursday, May 10 and Thursday, May 17.  Councilor Trudy Jones is the Chair, and COW hearings are held in the Vincent Griego Chambers at 5:00 pm. I plan to be very active in reviewing (and amending as necessary) this first budget from the Keller administration. Please review it yourself and let me know your thoughts!
• R-18-18 Intent to Adopt 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (Benton, Davis) will be heard at the Finance & Government Operations (FGO) Committee meeting on May 14.  This is a resolution to take the first steps toward adopting the 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) for the City.  I previously was the sponsor of the very advanced and easy to use Albuquerque Energy Conservation Code, along with now-US Senator Martin Heinrich.  The AECC was unfortunately repealed in 2010 after a change of Administration and Council, at which time the City reverted to the now-outdated 2009 IECC.  My intention is that the much more up-to-date 2018 code will help Albuquerque once again be a leader in energy efficiency for the benefit of all building owners, businesses, residents and other occupants. 

Upcoming Events

• Constituent Town Hall for State Senate District 12:  Sen. Jerry Ortiz y Pino | Sunday, May 6 | 3 – 5 pm | Sawmill Lofts
• Rail Yards Market: 2018 Season opens May 6 | Sundays 10 am – 2 pm | May – October
• Downtown Neighborhoods Association's Mother's Day Historic Home Tour: May 13 | 11 am – 3 pm
• National Bike to Work Day:  May 18 | Enjoy the ride!
• Downtown Growers Market: Saturdays 8 am – noon | April 14 – November 3
• BioParks Summer Concert Series:  Artists and dates have been announced and tickets are available!
• Valley Area Command Community Policing Council:  Meets every 4th Thursday from 6:00 to 7:30 pm at the Wells Park Community Center.  Community policing is a two-way street; get involved!
• Open Space Visitor Center Events:  We have the best open space system in the country – check it out!
• Explora Calendar: Great events for kids of all ages.
• ABQ365 Events:  Year-round events in Albuquerque.

Projects

• Project List
• Rio Grande Boulevard Restriping:  Repaving is scheduled to begin the week of May 14, followed by permanent striping of a three-lane configuration. 
• Rio Grande and Candelaria Roundabout:  The final agreement with NM Dept. of Transportation has been signed. I am cautiously optimistic that the project will go out for construction bids late this year.
• Santa Barbara Martineztown Pedestrian Improvements:  The study is complete and the report and recommendations have been finalized and posted online.  I am planning a “participatory budgeting” process to get input from the neighborhood to help the City prioritize the first actual projects.

Community Announcements / Resources

• Bike Share Expansion:  More bikes, more stations!
• Behavioral Health Initiative: Stay updated on the progress of this important initiative the City is taking in conjunction with Bernalillo County.  NEWSLETTERS
• Rail Runner Seniors Ride Free: Wednesdays thru September.
• City Traffic Construction Reports Available Online along with the Department of Municipal Development’s (DMD) Interactive Map!
• Downtown Arts & Cultural District Interactive Map: Explore galleries, coffee shops, museums, theaters, restaurants, and more. 
• Air Quality Awareness:  The Environment Health Department has announced an awareness campaign.  Sign up to get Air Quality alerts.
• Free ABQ Images Library hits 5,000 downloads. This is an online collection of professional photos and videos of the Albuquerque area that can be downloaded and used by anyone for free.  

Sincerely,
Isaac Benton
City Councilor, District 2