Albuquerque voters face a pivotal choice as municipal elections approach. The city continues to struggle with violent crime, homelessness, and business flight—issues that have defined public debate for years.
Councilor Luis Sanchez, who has served since 2021 and is now running for mayor, says leadership failures have eroded public trust and safety. He promises to “bring back accountability, transparency, and a sense of purpose” to city government.
Sanchez was born and raised in Albuquerque. After graduating from the police academy in 1989, he served for 26 years in the Albuquerque Police Department, working in field services, narcotics, and the gang unit.
“I worked the hardest areas,” he says. “The International District, South Broadway—places people used to call the war zone or the sticks.”
He later opened two Allstate insurance agencies, which he continues to operate while serving on the city council. “It takes perseverance to do the right things,” he says. “I help people protect what’s most valuable to them.”
He says crime is the top issue for Albuquerque residents. “I watch 40 to 60 drug deals a day. I watch prostitution every day,” Sanchez says. “I’ve had my business vandalized numerous times. I’ve had to clean urine and feces off my office door so customers can come in.”
He draws a line between street crime, addiction, and homelessness. “Crime is directly tied to the homeless community because they’re under threat from addiction and from dealers,” he says. “We have to address both.”
According to Sanchez, morale and leadership at the Albuquerque Police Department have collapsed. “Right now, morale is in the toilet,” he says. “Officers don’t feel supported. They vet out the department before joining, and when they see poor leadership, they stay away.”
He recalls how, as a sergeant, he built teams who followed him from one command to another because “I treated everyone the same, had expectations, and held them accountable.” He wants to bring that culture citywide. “Every single person, from the top down, needs accountability and the same standard,” he says. “That’s how you rebuild pride and excellence.”
Sanchez also blames what he calls “a bloated top-heavy department” for misdirecting funds that should go to patrol officers. “We have 60 people above lieutenant making over $100,000 a year,” he says. “Cut that in half and you could fund 60 officer positions.”
He rejects excuses about federal oversight or COVID restrictions for low recruitment, noting that “for two years, the police department sat on 26 completed paragraphs of CASA reforms while the mayor told the public we weren’t moving forward.”
Sanchez says he will make city hall “operate at the speed of business.” As a small business owner, he says Albuquerque’s permitting and review process has become an obstacle to growth. “If it’s a small project, it should be quick,” he says. “If it’s large, it should have a predictable timeline. Time is money.”
He calls small business “the lifeblood of our community” and proposes a “small business office” to help existing businesses stay afloat. “If a business is struggling, we should send in help before they close their doors,” he says.
On homelessness, Sanchez says Albuquerque’s spending—hundreds of millions under the current administration—has not solved the problem. “We’re not auditing or vetting the service providers,” he says. “Some people are getting rich. I’ve heard, ‘My nonprofit just bought me a Corvette.’ That’s disgusting.”
He says he will track individuals through a case-based system that measures progress, including treatment, transitional housing, and accountability. “If someone keeps refusing help, we should document that and act accordingly. We have to stop attracting more people into a broken system.”
Sanchez’s public safety vision extends to youth crime and schools. “We have 11- to 14-year-olds committing carjackings,” he says. “That’s terrifying.” He supports greater cooperation between the city, police, and Albuquerque Public Schools, including programs that make students comfortable reporting what they see. “If your grandmother doesn’t feel safe, something’s wrong,” he says. “Now I’m a grandfather, and I don’t feel safe.”
He also calls for transparency in the courts. “Everything that happens after an arrest should be public record,” Sanchez says. “Let citizens see how the DA’s office and judges handle cases. Then voters can decide if they’re doing their jobs.”
Economic recovery, in his view, depends on public order. “When you drive down Central, you see boarded-up buildings, drugs, prostitution, trash,” he says. “That’s what kills investment.”
According to him, the ART bus project and free transit policy are responsible for worsening conditions. “You have drug dealers and users on free buses,” he says. “Bus drivers are threatened and exposed to disease. We need security and accountability.”
If elected, Sanchez says residents will see immediate change. “The first thing people will notice is we’re addressing drug dealing,” he says. “We’re putting more officers on the street, cutting bureaucracy, and restoring integrity.” He plans to open the mayor’s office to walk-ins. “People will be able to come in and talk to their mayor,” he says. “That’s how you rebuild trust.”
