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ABQ’s ‘Sidewalk Law;’ Safe Routes to School

This week on New Mexico in Focus, we home in on the City of Albuquerque’s controversial new “Enhanced Services and Safety Zone Ordinance,” more commonly known as the “sidewalk law.” Tiffany Leger, founder of the Albuquerque Homeless Union, tells Host Nash Jones it’s just another way to criminalize and punish unhoused people. Then, Nash sits between City Councilor Joaquín Baca, who sponsored the measure, and the New Mexico Stronger Together Coalition’s Lisa Christopherson, who opposes it, for a debate over the law’s merits, its intentions — and whether it’s the right tool to address the city’s chronic homelessness situation. 

We close the show with a back-to-school story — New Mexico in Focus style. Nash sits with Albuquerque City Councilor Nichole Rogers, Mayor’s Office Field Representative Angelica Archuleta-Romero and Natalie Vargas, president of the South San Pedro Neighborhood Association to learn about innovative new approaches to ensuring International District kids can walk safely to school. 


Host: Nash Jones 

Segments: 
Albuquerque Homeless Union President Decries New ‘Sidewalk Ordinance’ 
Correspondent: Nash Jones 
Guest: 
Tiffany Leger, founder, Albuquerque Homeless Union 

City Councilor, Community Advocate Debate City’s New ‘Sidewalk Law’ 
Correspondent: Nash Jones 
Guests: 
Joaquín Baca, Albuquerque City Councilor, District 2 
Dr. Lisa Christopherson, Ph.D., New Mexico Stronger Together Coalition 

New Approaches for a Safe Walk to School 
Correspondent: Nash Jones 
Guests: 
Nichole Rogers, Albuquerque City Councilor, District 6 
Natalie Vargas, President, South San Pedro Neighborhood Association 
Angelica Archuleta-Romero, Field Representative, Albuquerque Mayor’s Office 

Clean Alleyways, Student Murals Make Safer Paths to School 
Correspondent: Nash Jones 
Guests: 
Nichole Rogers, Albuquerque City Councilor, District 6 
Natalie Vargas, President, South San Pedro Neighborhood Association 
Angelica Archuleta-Romero, Field Representative, Albuquerque Mayor’s Office