Albuquerque resident: City Council plan 'does not solve the problems that homeless people are facing'

Politics
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Albuquerque's mayor and City Council majority are in favor of setting up homeless tent encampments throughout the city. | Naomi August/Unsplash

Barbara Williamson is a concerned taxpayer and citizen of Albuquerque living in District 9, represented by Councilor Renée Grout. Williamson expressed skepticism and opposition to the City Council's plan to permit City-sanctioned homeless encampments around the city.

Proposals pending with City Council will alter zoning codes to enable government-sanctioned homeless tent encampments through the whole city of Albuquerque similar to those in Coronado Park. 

"I am not in favor of our government sponsoring homeless camps in the city," Williamson told the New Mexico Sun on May 11. "It does not solve the problems that homeless people are facing, and as one of them expressed to an interviewer, 'Putting us in 'small homes' or motels is just an attempt to hide the problem.'"

 Williamson continued with a message for the City Council by saying, "Vote 'no' to government subsidizing homeless encampments. Spend the money on programs to help with mental health and unemployment."

One proposal, sponsored by Councilor Brook Bassan, pitches tent encampments with a new-use “living lot.” This means people living in light vehicles, recreational vehicles or tents would be given an area of property — mixed-use zones and non-residential zones — to live on with not much regulation. Another proposal suggests up to 45 “Safe Outdoor Spaces” throughout the city with at least five tent encampments in every council district.

City Councilmember Dan Lewis took issue with council members sponsoring the proposals but proposing amendments that ban the tent encampments from sizeable areas of their own council districts while lobbying for more encampments in other districts such as his Northwest Albuquerque District 5, a recent email from Lewis said. 

A minimum of 745 people have sent emails objecting to the measures, but City Council support is 6-3 in favor. Mayor Timothy Keller also favors the measures. Those opposed include Lewis, Grout and Louie Sanchez. 

The final vote is anticipated on May 16.