A neighborhood association president is expressing concern about a possible city-sanctioned homeless encampment at 1250 Menaul in Albuquerque on land owned by the city.
"Seems like the city has known what they were going to do here for awhile," said Loretta Naranja Lopez, president of the Santa Barbara Martineztown Neighborhood Association. "The city also knows the impact of homeless encampments next to neighborhoods, and to not involve us from the beginning is incredibly discouraging. Failing to have us at the table, especially when they know how dangerous these encampments are, shows a complete lack of regard for the welfare and safety of our community. They can call it 'safe' all they want, but we’re not safe and experience has shown us that."
In her June 6 presentation to city council, Albuquerque Councilor Brooke Bassan highlighted the 1250 Menaul property for sanctioned homeless encampments.
Despite the council's planned vote on Monday to remove the “Safe Outdoor Space” zoning language from the Integrated Development Ordinance (IDU), Mayor Tim Keller wouldn’t consider a halting applications, the New Mexico Sun reported.
Within a day of receiving an application for a sanctioned homeless encampment at 1250 Menaul from Dawn Legacy Pointe, Family and Community Services Director Carol Pierce told the Albuquerque Journal the city plans to help cover the operating costs, the newspaper reported.
The property at 1250 Menaul was previously owned by Vulcan Lands Inc. until November of 2021 when the city took ownership, according to Bernalillo County records.
Entity searches with the New Mexico Secretary of State for Dawn Legacy Pointe, the newly formed organization reportedly behind the 1250 Menaul SOS application, show that an entity of that name does not currently exist.
Street Safe New Mexico, the nonprofit reported to be overseeing Dawn Legacy Pointe’s finances, is listed as “not in good standing,” according to New Mexico Secretary of State search results.