On Aug. 23, Tim Keller hosted the 25th Annual State of the City address at the Albuquerque BioPark Botanic Garden. The State of the City is a time for the mayor to reflect on the city’s progress and goals.
Keller, Albuquerque's 31st mayor, has served since 2017 and was reelected in 2021.
Keller’s speech focused on Albuquerque’s struggles with issues such as addiction, homelessness, and city protections for immigrants, and the work that’s been done to resolve them.
“If there were easy solutions to these long term problems, I promise you, I would have fixed them in a heartbeat. I assure you, the challenge is that it takes lots of hard work. But now, alongside those challenges are signs of progress and of resilience, and they remind us that we can actually hold our community together, and we can lift up Albuquerque,” Keller said in the address.
On immigration, Keller discussed the executive order he signed “in defiance of illegal ICE raids,” he said, that banned federal agents entering city buildings without warrants, the prohibition of city employees asking about immigration status, and the prevention of using tax information for immigration “round ups.”
The mayor also discussed the “Gateway Network,” which provides housing navigation, medical and addiction care, and support for teenagers, seniors and families struggling with homelessness.
“We now have an around the clock support system for the unhoused. It has a long way to go, I know that, but (Albuquerque Community Safety) transports dozens directly from the streets into care at the Gateway, every night. And in the Gateway, we provide pathways from the street to treatment, to housing,” Keller said. “And now, we’re doing that for a thousand people, everyday.”
Albuquerque Community Safety is dedicated to ensuring the right response is sent to incidents that do not require police or fire departments, freeing up the departments to respond to emergencies and connecting residents to resources, according to their website.
“Safety is not just about policing. Here in Albuquerque, we have led the way with something no other city in America had the courage to try: The Albuquerque Community Safety Department is the nation’s first, 24/7 alternative 911 response department,” Keller said.
Keller also announced his administration’s intention to make Albuquerque a leader in quantum computing, bringing more jobs and revenue to the state. Quantum computing is “our chance to move from chasing technologies to creating source technology by becoming a global leader in quantum computing,” he said.
Mayor Keller also announced a city-wide freeze of fees for all citizens of Albuquerque.
“For everyone, literally everyone, we are freezing fees city-wide,” Keller said. “That means from pre-school, to the zoo, swim lessons, restaurant permits, pet care, and we’re going to offer free gym memberships at all our city facilities. And we’re going to keep the buses free.”
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The State of the City address was the first announcement of the plan, coming as a surprise to constituents and officials alike, Keller said.
“By the way, the staff at the city didn’t even know I was going to say that, so I know we’re going to have to work on that, folks,” Keller said.
The event was attended by local residents including Albuquerque resident Mel Lucero.
“(Keller) sounded enthusiastic and it looks like he wants to continue what he’s been doing for the last eight years. So I wish him well and I hope he gets that chance to do another four years. It seems like he’s interested in helping Albuquerque. I was born and raised here, so we need someone like him,” Lucero said.
Addison Fulton is the culture editor for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at culture@dailylobo.com or on X @dailylobo
