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Track Championships Coming to Albuquerque
Good news for track fans and for our tourism economy. The USA Indoor Track & Field Championships will be held in Albuquerque for the next three years, starting Feb. 25-26, 2010.
Approximately 600 athletes will participate. Add in coaches, families, spectators and national TV and you have big money flowing into Albuquerque for the event. In light of today's tough economy, this is great news for our city.
Read more about the event in the Journal.
Cody Unser Introduces Mayor Chavez
Watch Albuquerque hero Cody Unser introduce Mayor Martin Chavez at his re-election announcement event. Cody is an inspiration to so many young people living with disabilities. Watch her touching introduction of the Mayor
I'm In
After much thought and careful consideration, I've made my decision.
I'm in.
I'm in this race because I love Albuquerque and am not ashamed to say it or show it. I am a proud native son and have been humbled by the confidence you have shown in me. The passion that brought me to public service burns as strong as ever. I ask for your support and your vote.
In these uncertain times, we need a strong, proven leader with a track record of delivering results and who has a vision for the future. Today, more than ever we need steady, proven leadership.
My number one priority is, and always has been, public safety. While we currently have the best trained, best equipped and largest police force in Albuquerque history I have committed to increasing our police force by 100 additional officers within eighteen months.
With the tough times facing our nation, state and city, I am committed to securing quality, safe, clean, good paying jobs for Albuquerque. While Albuquerque is not immune from the international economic crisis, we're doing what it takes to guide Albuquerque through these turbulent times. I'm pleased to report that unlike other state and municipal governments, I have balanced our budget without lay offs or service reductions. This is a testament to fiscally responsibility and an important reason why Albuquerque's credit ratings are the highest in our history.
I'm humbled by and deeply appreciative of your support.
He's In! Photos & Video from the Launch
Mayor Martin Chavez is in! Yesterday, he kicked off his re-election campaign. Our friends at Democracy for New Mexico were on hand and took a bunch of great photos and videos from the event. H/T to DFNM for the photos and video below.
Here's some video from the speech:
And an interview with DFNM:
And, here are some photos!
More Photos courtesy of ChivasFan:
Toward a Greener Albuquerque
Mayor Chavez is a leader in renewable energy and conservation. And, this Friday he proved why. He proposed a $5 million loan program to help make solar panels more affordable.
A proposed $5 million city-backed loan program would make solar panels affordable to home and business owners through a combination of federal and state tax credits and loans, Mayor Martin Chávez said Friday.
"The demand for this all across the country is enormous," Chávez said...
Chávez hopes the financial system will allow solar energy to be installed in up to 500 homes within a year.
The financing makes "these alternative technologies affordable for the public," he said.
This isn't just talk - this is real action to combat catastrophic climate change and bring more clean energy to Albuquerque.
Independent Analyst: Chavez "Prohibitive Favorite"
Top independent political analyst Joe Monahan calls Mayor Chavez a "prohibitive favorite" to win re-election in the Albuquerque mayoral election. Monahan's respected "veteran analysts" agree saying that Chavez is "positioned for another win."
We (a survey of my Alligators) are putting the "over-under" for Chavez's re-election at 43.5 percent. It takes 40 percent to avoid a run-0ff election which Chavez did in 2005...
What could be the defining moment of the campaign, if Chavez wins, may have come in late May when the labor union AFSCME for the first time endorsed Chavez for Mayor. The union represents 3,500 city workers. Not all union members were happy with the decision, but it will stand and be heavily promoted by the incumbent...
Longtime state political analyst and pollster Harry Pavlides who has worked for Chavez in the past, says right now he sees an electorate that is not so interested in change at City Hall, but more concerned about restoring the city to its previous economic health; he says they don't blame Chavez for the economy falling off the cliff...
Mayor Chavez will run a vigorous campaign focused on his vision for the city's future and his record of delivering results for all of Albuquerque.
Dukes in the Spotlight
Once again, Mayor Chavez's lovable pound puppy Dukes is in the spotlight. This time, he's in an Albuquerque Journal report that talks about the Mayor's commitment to animal welfare.
The Albuquerque Journal opines:
Dukes, a mixed-breed Chávez adopted from the city pound, is the city's poster animal for humane treatment of lost or abandoned pets, beefed up adoptions and spay and neuter efforts. Dukes recently “pawed” a letter to First Dog Bo in Washington, D.C., welcoming him to the rarefied world of celebrity dogdom.
You can always find Dukes at Chávez' side. His name is on the mayor's office door and he routinely makes the nearly daily news conferences, along with shelter pets up for adoption.
Such is the life of the chief dog...
Chávez's emphasis on animal rights has struck a chord with the city's many pet owners and pet lovers. And Albuquerque and its pets are the better for it.
In his next term, Mayor Chavez will continue his commitment to taking care of the people - and pets - of Albuquerque!
100 More Cops on the Street
Mayor Marty Chavez takes crime seriously. That's why he announced this week that he's recruiting 100 new police officers. And, given the economic downturn, he is confident that we will be able to fill those positions with qualified recruits.
The Albuquerque Journal reports:
Mayor Martin Chávez announced Tuesday that he is ordering the police department to increase its ranks by 100 officers within 18 months to battle crime that has put Albuquerque in the national spotlight lately...
The announcement marks the third time Chávez has ordered the police department to increase its ranks. But in years past, the department has had a hard time reaching the new goals because of a lack of qualified applicants...
In today's economic climate, interest has risen.
This is a win win for Albuquerque. It creates jobs and, it's more likely that the best qualified applicants can fill those jobs. It also helps APD fight crime. More police officers on the street is just part of the solution - it is certainly a step in the right direction.
Accomplished: 40 Miles of Medians Landscaped
Yesterday's Albuquerque Journal reports on yet another accomplishment of the Chavez administration: 40 miles of medians have been landscaped. These median projects not only improve our quality of life, they improve property values and create jobs.
Yesterday's Albuquerque Journal reports on yet another accomplishment of the Chavez administration: 40 miles of medians have been landscaped. These median projects not only improve our quality of life, they improve property values and create jobs. The Albuquerque Journal reports:
Mayor Martin Chávez announced this week that the city has added landscaping to more than half of Albuquerque's unadorned medians. Specifically, he said, the city has spent almost $20 million over the last six years to put landscaping on 40 miles of medians. About 35 miles of medians are left to do, he said.
"It's made a marked difference in the look and feel of Albuquerque," Chávez said. "It's like we bought this house and never put a yard in."
Median landscaping has changed over the years. The city no longer builds the grassy, park-like strips seen in Ridgecrest and the Country Club area. Lower-water-use plants are used now, and the city has templates that have quickened the design process for new median landscapes, officials say.
Improving our quality of life. Impacting property values. Creating jobs. And, they're environmentally sustainable. This project may not be glamorous, but, it's part of what it takes to build a better Albuquerque.