The Santa Barbara Martineztown Neighborhood Association (SBMTNA) is "outraged" after a city-sanctioned homeless encampment is proposed for their neighborhood.
According to the Albuquerque Journal, days after the city of Albuquerque began accepting applications for safe outdoor spaces, the newly formed Dawn Legacy Pointe has submitted the first one, proposing an encampment at 1250 Menaul NE, a parcel just west of Interstate 25. It proposes accommodating up to 50 residents, which is the maximum number allowed under current law.
The Santa Barbara Martineztown Neighborhood has faced many safety issues with homeless persons in their neighborhood, including monthly burglaries and auto thefts, and their park has been destroyed multiple times. Following the news of the proposed encampment, the Santa Barbara Martineztown Neighborhood Association sent a letter to Family and Community Services Director Carol Pierce expressing outrage as the proposal was not discussed with them.
According to the letter, the Santa Barbara Martineztown Neighborhood Association has been discriminated against by the city when it comes to providing the single-family dwellings with the correct R-1 zoning, preserving their historical residential single-family dwellings, and programs and services for the youth and elderly in the neighborhood.
"The Santa Barbara Martineztown Neighborhood Association is outraged to read in the newspaper about the first Safe Outdoor Spaces for the homeless located in Martineztown Santa Barbara Neighborhood boundaries," SBMTNA President Loretta Lopez said. "The City Councilor, the Mayor, Carol Pierce Director of Family and Community Services never bothered to inform the residents of Martineztown Santa Barbara. The association is tired of the discrimination and racism towards the neighborhood. The city has imposed on the residents' Methadone clinics, crime, property destruction, and filthiness throughout the neighborhood. The residents and their properties have been under threat for a long time. This needs to stop now."
It will cost an estimated $120,000 to $180,000 to operate safe outdoor spaces in its first year, which will fall on Albuquerque taxpayers, local attorney Pete Dinelli wrote in his blog.
“Though the project’s budget is not final, the city of Albuquerque is planning to help cover the operating costs, according to Family and Community Services Director Carol Pierce,” Dinelli said.
According to Dinelli, there is a vacant building and at least three large vacant lots located at 1250 Menaul, NE. A recent article in the Albuquerque Journal reported the address of the homeless encampment, however, it did not report the surrounding businesses nor the school in the area, which is less than a half mile from the location and holds 6th to 12th graders.