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The City of Albuquerque is attempting to divert millions of dollars from pocket of poverty
communities (San Jose, S. Broadway, Barelas, Martinez Town, Wells Park, Sawmill, and
Los Griegos) for projects related to the proposed Albuquerque Rapid Transit
History:
In the 1980s, the City of Albuquerque received several Urban Development Action Grants (UDAG) from the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development. In 1987, the city passed an ordinace creating the Housing and
Neighbhorhood Economic Development Fund, otherwise known as the UDAG funds. In addition, the ordinance created the
Housing and Neighborhood Economic Development Fund Committee (HNEDFC) responsible for development of the plan as
to how these federal moneys should be spent. The HNEDFC is responsible for making recommendations on the use of these
funds that are consistent with the HNEDF two-year and ten-year strategic plans regarding economic and housing
development in the pocket of poverty district and ensuring active community involvement in the plan development.
Fast Forward to 2016:
On February 18, 2016, the Housing and Neighborhood Ecnoomic Development Fund Committee held a public meeting to
share their plan regarding the use of $5 million in Housing and Neighborhood Economic Development Funds (formerly
known as UDAG funds). There was very low attendance, minimal public notification (if any beyond a required notification on
the city website with the incorrect time) or outreach to impacted communities. At this first public meeting there was no
section on the agenda for public comment or questions and there were no official minutes being recorded. The city
representatives and consultants shared the plan and explained that this was an expedited process because they had to
meet a TOD grant deadline and that this plan needed to be presented to the City Council by the last week of March. The city
consultants explained that the HNEDF funds were the only funds that they could use because they did not violate the
Anti-Donation Clause. The city staff and city consultants stated that the $5 Million of HNEDF had not been used since 2007
due to staff capcity. Thus, the pocket of poverty communities may or may not be aware that these funds even exist except
for those on the HNEDF Committee.
A few days later another public meeting was announced for February 25. There were 3 break out sessions that occurred at
the same time, one of those being a public comment period. During the public comment session, participants provided
public comment and asked for the dates and minutes of the HNEDF Commmittee meetings for 2015 & 2016. City staff
informed participants that they could acquire those documents at the City Clerks office. At this meeting it was announced,
verbally, in the economic development breakout group, that changes had been made to first plan presented at the public
meeting held February 18.
On March 2, participants of the first two public meetings received an email that the TOD grant deadline had been extended
and that the city staff, city consultants, and HNEDF Committee members would not take their plan to the City Council until
May and that they would set up more public meetings.
On March 2, a community member went to the City of Albuquerques Office of the City Clerk to attain minutes from the
Housing and Neighbhood Economic Fund Committee meetings for 2015 and 2016. The community member was informed
that there was nothing on file for 2015 and 2016 for the Housing and Neighbhoorhood Economic Development Fund
Committee meetings or public notificaiton. On March 4, participants received an email informing them that their public
comments given at the HNEDF public meeting held on February 25 had been lost. Those participants were invited to
resubmit their comments via email and asked to help locate other community members who provided public comment on
February 25.
HNEDF Committee Project Proposals for Unused $5 Million
The HNEDF Committee is proposing that City Council approve using these funds outside of the originally intended pocket of
poverty district as well as within the current pocket of poverty district. They are asking the City Council to extend the pocket
of poverty boundary to Lousiana Blvd. and West of the River. (Sources: HNEDF Public Meeting Held on February 18 and
February 25, HNEDF Proposed Plan Elements as of February 22, 2016)
Community Conern: Why and on what research and strategic plan is this proposal being based on? Why is this fund
being used for A.R.T. related projects rather than the original pocket of poverty communities? Do all of the communities in the
original pocket know of this proposal to change the original district?
Economic Development Proposal: $2 Million for Small Business Prepartion in the Central Corridor Fund. Eligibility for this
fund would extend the original pocket of povert district, west of the river and east of Yale to encompass the full
construction zone. Phase 1: $1 Million. Phase 2: $450,000. Phase 3: $450,000. If needed for staffing the Biz Advancement
Teams Door to Door Outreach July 2016 to June 17, $100,000. Phase 1 and 2 eligibility for Central Ave. addresses only.
Phase 3 extend eligibilty 1 block North and South of Central Ave. (Source: HNEDF Proposed Plan Elements as of 2/22/16)
Community Concern: This leaves out small businesses in S. Broadway, San Jose, Barelas, Martinez Town, Wells Park,
Sawmill, and Los Griegos. Second, was there a public call for proposals for the organizations that would carry out this work?
Economic Development: $450,000.00 TOD Building Repositioning Fund. This would provide loans to assist with buildings
that are underutilized within 5/8 of a mile of A.R.T. transit stops. (Sources: HNEDF Proposed Plan Elements as of
February 22, 2016, Changes of Original HNEDF Proposed Plan Elements Discussed at HNEDF Public Meeting Held on
February 25, 2016, email for city consultants on February 29)
Community Concern: The 5/8 of a mile for the A.R.T. elgibility requirements would exclude S. Broadway, San Jose, and
Los Grigeos. Does Martinez Town, Wells Park, Sawmill, and Barelas fall within the 5/8 requirement of the A.R.T transit stops?
Economic Development: $50,000.00 Job Linkage Program. Talent ABQ will work with partners in pocket of poverty to
conduct an estimated 900 assessments, 750 skill up enrollees, 25 partner employers who will interview 300 for jobs based
on their skills. (Sources: HNEDF Proposed Plan Elements as of February 22, 2016 FAQ)
Community Concern: Why and how did Talent ABQ get selected? What sort of public process was there? According to
the HNEDF Ten Strategic Plan from 1993 to 2003, the last known ten year strategic plan, states that projects should
not duplicate work that already exists. Rather than Talent ABQ getting this money why not look at existing organizations
in the original pocket of povety district that have a history of accomplishing this work?
For
Community Recommendations for Plan of Action:
Stop the current proposed HNEDF plan. Start a new and transparent process to develop a community-based plan.
Decisions on the use of the Housing and Neighborhood Economic Development Fund should be: 1.) Based on an updated
ten year strategic plan, 2.) Based on an updated audit of the current funds available in the HNEDF in addiiton to outlining
how the funds have been used over the life of the project, and 3.) Based on a transparent decision-making process in
accordance with the City of Albuquerques Open Meetings Act and the community participation and leadership requirements
outlined in the 1993-2003 Housing and Economic Development in the Pocket of Poverty Ten-Year Comprehensive
Neighborhood Plan.
What you can do? Call Councilor Isaac Benton (505) 768-3186 and the other City Councilors. Voice your opposition
to the HNEDF being spent down for the proposed Albuquerque Rapid Transit.
What you can do? Call Senator Martin Heinrich (505) 346-6601 & Representative Michelle Lujan Grisham (505) 346-6781
(For More Information on Community Perspectives & To Get Involved Send an email to burqueworkingtogether@gmail.com)
