Albuquerque Council: one step forward, one step back

Albuquerque City Council recently voted on two policy changes that will have significant impacts on the local economy and development issues. One reduces the power of so-called “neighborhood associations” to veto development. This is a good thing. Albuquerque is overly bureaucratic in its approach to infill and land use in general. That could change in a positive way as a result of this action.

Sadly, the other is a “more of the same” approach which blames property owners for underutilized buildings. The plan is to fine property owners up to $500 a day if their building is vacant or “dilapidated.” Given the City’s massive issues with crime, homelessness, and an anemic economy outside of oil and gas it is hard to see how this move will improve downtown. While downtown has its share of vacant and dilapidated buildings, the rest of the City (especially along Central) has them too. Of course, it also has the same crime and homeless issues as well.

While the former policy is welcome, the latter is truly disturbing. Government mismanagement has created the problems. If Albuquerque’s mayor or council were serious about addressing them they would:

1. Fight crime and homelessness in a serious way.
2. Ask the State Legislature to reduce taxes on businesses (including the GRT, corporate tax, and personal income tax). This would generate economic growth statewide and (with a serious effort on crime/homeless) a reason for businesses to locate downtown.
3. IF downtown property owners faced with a growing private sector economy are unable or unwilling to fill or sell their buildings there MAY be a reason to penalize them, but we are a LONG way from that situation existing.