June 30, 2021 Community Hall Newsletter

Albuquerque,

As we head into this holiday weekend, I am thankful for each and every Burqueño for doing their part to beat this virus and help us reopen safely. We are seeing more of our friends and neighbors out in the community. At growers’ markets, ball games, and neighborhood gatherings. And while we still have more work to do, that is no small victory.

As more of us receive the vaccine, the outlook for a summer of recovery and reunion keeps getting brighter. We are opening more of our civic facilities like Isotopes Park, the Aquarium, and our swimming pools. With updated CDC and State of New Mexico mask guidance, vaccinated individuals are able to enjoy most indoor and outdoor public spaces without wearing a mask. Every week, we get closer to an open Albuquerque. But we must continue to look out for one another and keep each other safe. Encourage your friends and family members to schedule an appointment to get the COVID vaccine.

This week also marked a painful memorial, a year since the murder of George Floyd. As we gathered in memorial on Tuesday, Burqueños listened and spoke about the anti-blackness and injustice that is still so present in our nation and institutions. In our city, we don’t turn away from difficult conversations. We listen and we act. We reflect on the change that the people’s voice has brought to our city in one year and re-commit to continuing the movement for justice across our varied work. From the Black Investment Fund to the establishment of the nation’s first cabinet-level unarmed civilian first responder department, the Albuquerque Community Safety Department. ACS builds on our work together to decriminalize poverty, mental health challenges, and homelessness, and shift non-violent emergency response away from armed officers.

I hope you and yours have a safe Memorial Day weekend. I look forward to a summer of being together and of community building on the road to a more equitable Albuquerque.

-Mayor Tim Keller

This week, Mayor Tim Mayor Keller announced:

• Reopening July 1, 2021
• Visit One of Many Public Facilities to Cool Down
• Fourth of July Events
• Summer Adventure Camps at Balloon Fiesta Park are Back!
• City of Albuquerque Ribbon Cutting on 18 New Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
• Fourth of July Closures
• Black Community Investment Fund
• City of Albuquerque launches Nob Hill-University Public Safety ECHO
• THRIVE 21 Recovery Plan Outlines Six Strategies for Prosperity