
Headed home from church
An Iraqi man who has sought refuge in an Albuquerque church for two years to resist deportation proceedings has returned to his home in the Duke City, now that he's out of imminent danger of removal. Kadhim Albumohammed, 66, came to the United States in 1994, but in 1996 was convicted of two misdemeanor domestic violence charges. He was ordered deported in 2010, however, officials didn't do deportations to Iraq again until 2017. That's when Albumohammed moved into the church basement. The Albuquerque Journal also has the story, including what transpired between 1996 and 2017.
Casita victory
The citywide conversation about housing isn't over, but another chapter has come to an end: Last night, City Council approved 8-1 a rule that allows landlords to rent out both a main house and an accessory dwelling unit (aka a casita) on the same property. Next up for the council in this discussion is likely short-term rentals, which were also a hot topic at the meeting last night. And, in a surprising shift, Mayor Alan Webber admitted that housing is our city's biggest problem ($ TNM); perhaps because almost all the potholes are now filled in.
One step closer
The US House of Representatives has passed a one-year moratorium on resource extraction within 10 miles of Chaco Canyon; the vote now moves to the US Senate. In the meantime, Rep. Ben Ray Luján is working with the rest of the New Mexico delegation to pass the Chaco Cultural Heritage Area Protection Act, which would make that 10-mile buffer zone permanent.
Busted
Police in Albuquerque say what they thought was small-time drug trafficking was actually a much larger operation, selling illicit substances and sex workers. The Best Choice Inn on East Central had become a bit of a "one-stop shop" for heroin, meth, cocaine, pills and enslaved women, officials say.
Coppers
Why are cops leaving Santa Fe? Many can find better-paying jobs with the Albuquerque Police Department. Does Santa Fe have a cop shortage? According to the chief, yes. What's being done about it? A hike in pay is one thing; SFR has more details on the whole shebang.
Give ’em more
Speaking of police officers, that possible pay raise that SFR mentioned in the story above was indeed approved by City Council last night ($ TNM). It comes along with raises for city workers, some of whom will see nearly 10% more money next month. Among city workers, more than 680 union members will get a 2% raise next month, and 305 of those members will get an additional 7.7% raise.
Find Tess’ family
A restaurant owner in Albuquerque is trying to find the family that owns a sentimental photo album found in the business' parking lot. From information inside, the folks at Cheese & Coffee have determined that a baby in the album is a girl named Tess who died just shy of two years old in 1989. KRQE is trying to help find the family that lost the photos.
Put them out!
You know folks at the Forest Service must be frustrated; the powers that be over there put out a press release simply titled, "Come on, Folks – Please Put Out Your Campfires." What else is there to say? Rangers found 45 abandoned campfires in Santa Fe National Forest last weekend alone, and that's just stupid. KOB offers tips on how to make a safe fire, and remember that you should be able to stick your hand right into the ashes in the fire pit at the end; that's how you know it's out for real, and no longer poses a danger.
Thanks for reading! The Word went to a dress rehearsal at the Santa Fe Opera last night, and it may have been even better than the aforementioned banana bread extravaganza.