It takes six votes to overturn a mayoral veto. Three members of the Albuquerque City Council say they have the votes to do just that at their meeting Wednesday.
On Aug. 15, the council passed a moratorium bill on a 6-3 vote that would have slowed the growth of homeless encampments, also known as Safe Outdoor Spaces, in residential neighborhoods. But the legislation was vetoed by Mayor Tim Keller on Aug. 26.
Voting in favor of the moratorium were Republicans Brook Bassan (District 4), Renee Grout (District 9), Trudy Jones (District 8), and Dan Lewis (District 5) 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).
In mid-August, the city’s Planning Department approved the first sanctioned camp on Menaul near I-25. A newly formed nonprofit group, Dawn Legacy Pointe, said it wanted to provide a safe place for victims of sex trafficking and exploitation.
The City Council originally passed legislation in June to allow for homeless encampments, but after much public outcry reversed their decision. City Councilor Brook Bassan, who originally supported the Safe Outdoor Spaces changed her mind. Bassan was one of the six votes to pass the moratorium against the encampments.
“I absolutely did switch my opinion,” she told KOAT News. “I originally co-sponsored the legislation on ‘Safe Outdoor Spaces.’ I sure hope that the six councilors who voted to pass the moratorium are going to stay strong and vote to override the mayor’s veto.”
Bassan, who represents District 4, said while she changed her mind once on the homeless encampments, she has no plans to do so again.
“I plan to vote to override the mayor’s veto on Sept. 7 because I am the sponsor of the bill being vetoed, and I believe it is the right way to proceed for the majority of constituents in Albuquerque,” Bassan told The New Mexico Sun. “Homelessness in Albuquerque continues to be a top concern of residents. Although something needs to be done about this considerable problem, the public has made it clear that Safe Outdoor Spaces is not what they want to have.”
She admits it is a complex issue, which explains why she changed her mind on the idea.
“There are many details to this proposal, but some of the details seem to have changed since its original passing,” Bassan said. “I was under the impression laws would be enforced more effectively, but have since seen this is not the case. This is one of the reasons I decided to work towards a repeal of the ordinance and passing of the moratorium until this can be done.”
She is aware it has become a controversial and much-discussed matter. Are people fully and accurately informed?
“I am not sure if people are getting accurate facts because I am not sure what facts they are obtaining and from where,” Bassan said.
District 9 Councilor Renee Grout is standing her ground.
“My position on Safe Outdoor Spaces remains the same; I’m not going to change my vote,” Grout told the New Mexico Sun. “I’m listening to my constituents and the overwhelming majority of people living in Albuquerque — they don’t want sanctioned encampments. We need to provide shelter space with services so people can get help with the very real issues that contribute to their homelessness. Tent encampments don’t go far enough to offer people the help they need to be self-sustaining, contributing members of our community.”
She said there are options worth exploring.
“There are excellent working models in San Antonio, Las Vegas, San Diego and Boston,” Grout said. “I’m going to Arizona next week to visit shelters there and see how their models are working.”
District 5 Councilor Dan Lewis has proposed switching city funding for the encampments to other support services in the city. Lewis said his position on this issue has been firm and will not waver.
“I think you know where I stand by now,” he told the New Mexico Sun.
Lewis said he is confident there are six votes to overturn the mayor’s veto.
“I think so, yeah,” he said.
Lewis said this issue is foremost on the mind of city residents. He has lived in Albuquerque for about 25 years and said since Mayor Keller was elected, the homeless situation has turned into a major crisis.
“I’d say yes,” he said.
Councilors Jones, Peña and Sanchez, who voted for the moratorium, did not respond to repeated attempts by the New Mexico Sun to gain comments. Nor did Councilors Benton, Davis and Fiebelkorn, who opposed it.