The Albuquerque City Council has voted 6-3 to pass a moratorium on the City Planning Department from accepting or approving any more applications for city-sanctioned homeless encampments referred to as ‘safe outdoor spaces.’
At the Aug. 15, Albuquerque City Council Meeting, the resolution establishing a moratorium for ‘safe outdoor spaces’ as regulated in the city’s zoning codes passed by a bipartisan vote. Voting in favor of the moratorium where Republicans Brook Bassan (District 4), Renee Grout (District 9), Trudy Jones (District 8), and Dan Lewis (District 5) were joined by Democrats Klarissa Peña (District 3) and Louie Sanchez (District 1). Voting against were Democrats Isaac Benton (District 2), Pat Davis (District 6), and Tammy Fiebelkorn (District 7).
"I think the biggest issue we’re dealing with is the overwhelming majority of our constituents saying they don’t want it," Sanchez of District 1 said. "When I talk to anybody and everybody I’ve run into about 95% of the people that don’t want safe outdoor spaces next to their house or business. They don’t want that. And I think it’s important that we listen to our constituents more than anything."
Earlier in the meeting, the council heard from members of the community both in favor of the moratorium and opposed.
Tony Watkins, program director with the New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness, spoke in opposition to the moratorium.
“We need many strategies to address homelessness and sanctioned encampments are one of them," Watkins said.
Speaking on behalf of the New Mexico Business Coalition, Larry Sonntag was in favor of putting an end to further ‘safe outdoor space’ applications in Albuquerque. Acknowledging the “tough situation” the city finds itself in, Sonntag drew the councilor’s attention to over 2,000 emails and petitions delivered to city council members from concerned residents opposed to the sanctioned encampment process.
Upon the resolution’s passage, the city charter states that the Council will forward the legislation to the Mayor, who will either sign it, veto it or allow it to pass into lay after 10 days.