Albuquerque voters face a fall election shaped by public safety, homelessness, and a sluggish business climate. City budgets set targets for police staffing that remain unmet, while neighborhoods and parks struggle with encampments and drug debris. Mayling Armijo, a Navy veteran and longtime public administrator, says that the fix begins with leadership, measurable goals, and a city culture that “works at the speed of business.”
Armijo grew up in Albuquerque in a large, multi-generational family. She is a former director of economic development for Bernalillo County, having worked across state, city, villages, developers, and neighborhood associations. “I put a team together and accomplished $1.4 billion in private investments,” she says. Her public service spans 15 years, including an early stint at the state under Governor Bill Richardson. “Right, wrong, or indifferent about Bill Richardson, he is the best when it comes to economic development,” she says. “He would go and pound pavement for the state and bring deals in.”
Armijo says her decision to run comes from frustration with status quo politics. “I decided this is something I have to do, and it is not just for me. It is for my family and my friends and my community, because I know I can affect that change.” Her platform centers on public safety, homelessness, and job growth, with safety as the “overarching issue.” “I want people to go to parks and not run into needles,” she says. “I want businesses to stop worrying about customers being infringed upon as they try to get to their business.”
According to Armijo, staffing budgets at APD mention goals in the thousands while actual sworn officers trail those numbers. “My perception is that it is a leadership issue,” she says. “APD is the highest paid police department in the region, so why aren’t they flocking? People say, ‘it is just not worth the money,’ or ‘I can actually be a cop and not be micromanaged elsewhere.’” She says the first thing that needs to be done is change the leadership. “I will hire a very qualified police chief who understands my objectives as mayor, and he will figure out how to get the desired end results. I am not in the business of micromanaging police.”
Management reforms extend to City Hall and the budget. “What you do not see in the budget is measured outcomes tied to each department,” she says. “What are you, as a citizen, getting for your money? When Parks has a budget, what are they doing with it? What do they hope to achieve this year? None of that is communicated.” Her private-sector lens guides the fix. “I present a budget and say, here is what we will achieve based on this budget,” she says. “There is no penalty in government when you do not achieve something. We need standards, expectations, and transparency.”
Homelessness, according to Armijo, requires clarity and urgency. “It is very multifaceted,” she says. “Some people do not want to be homeless and live paycheck to paycheck. Some face mental health challenges and addiction. Some want to be homeless. There is no reason there should be encampments on First Street, near businesses, or in parks. We are making it too comfortable.” She says she favors re-targeted spending to treatment. “What if the city, instead of cleaning hypodermic needles every day, focused on mental health? If you need lithium and it levels you so you can keep a job and pay rent, then let’s do that. We need a more active approach to treatment plans.”
Economic development, permitting, and inspections form her plan for growth. “We worked at the speed of business,” she says of her county tenure. “You need a permit? Let’s get you that permit in 30 days or less. When permits are issued, people work. Money moves. The economy turns. City government is the key to keeping businesses churning, and yet it is so slow. Why is that?” She ties the city’s tech potential to basics. “We just have to make it a business-friendly environment,” she says. “Businesses will tell you the gap between where they are and the next level. Fill that gap.”
Roads are important, according to Armijo, but infrastructure is about preparing Albuquerque for the future. “We need more west-side capacity, water lines, power, substations, and upgrades. Flooding still hits the same places. If we do not improve drainage now, anything else will not matter.”
Armijo says for politics, she lands in the middle. “I consider myself very moderate on the Democrat side,” she says. “When it comes to fiscal matters, you would probably put me on the conservative side. I am very liberal on social issues. Most people are in the middle—they want a balanced budget, they want to know how tax dollars are spent, and they want to be safe.”
