City/Community News


City/Community News  is a community service feature of our OGNA website.  We will post timely news and information here to keep residents informed and promote activities in the greater Albuquerque community.

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Our City Councilor — Dan Champine

City Councilor Dan Champine represents District 8, Albuquerque’s Far Northeast Heights and Foothills (includes the Oso Grande area) and was elected to the City Council in 2023.

Need help?  Contact Councilor Champine.  Send us an online request or call his office at 505-768-3100.

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Announcing the 2025 Oso Grande Neighborhood Association (OGNA) Annual Meeting

The Oso Grande Neighborhood Association will have its Annual meeting  Thursday, October 16 at 6:30 pm at the Bear Canyon Senior Center, 4645 Pitt, NE.  in accordance with the City of Albuquerque Neighborhood Association Recognition Ordinance [0-22-15].    Below are the Meeting Agenda highlights: 

Updates from the OGNA Board will include a Treasurer’s Report, El Oso Grande Park and Pollinator Garden Upgrades

OGNA Board Elections:   At this meeting the registered members in attendance will be electing OGNA Board Officers and At Large members.   Note:  Any adult OGNA member (whether homeowner or renter) of the Association is eligible to serve on the OGNA Board of Directors.  These OGNA Board positions are open for nominations and self-nominations:   Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, At Large Members.  Applications for Board positions are due by September 25, 2025 and can be submitted to OGNA, PO Box 21927, Albuquerque, 87154 or submit to info@osograndena.org.  A copy of the Board Application is available for download at   https://osograndena.org/ogna-board/

Speakers include:

Catherine Nicolaou, Manager, City of Albuquerque Broadband Office,   https://www.cabq.gov/technology-innovation/innovation-community/catherine-nicolaou-broadband-program-manager;

Marianne Matthews, NM State Representative District 27, https://www.nmlegis.gov/members/Legislator?SponCode=HMATT

City Councilor, Dan Champine,  https://www.cabq.gov/council/find-your-councilor/district-8

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The following Applications for positions on the OGNA Board were received by September 25, 2025 for the OGNA Board terms October 2025 – September 2027:

Position:  Treasurer         Applicant:  Lorraine Kubik

Position:  Secretary          Applicant:  David Hollis

Position:  Member at Large     Applicant:  Theresa Ozuna

Position:  Member at Large      Applicant:  Victor Clark

Position:  Member at Large       Applicant:  Liz Maruyama

Position:  Vice President          No Applicants

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Local Elections Matter 

Historically, the turnout for Local Elections is low.   Our elected officials make decisions that affect our lives every single day. Sometimes these elections are won by only 100 or two hundred votes.

Early Voting  begins October 7, 2025 and election day is Tuesday, November 4, 2025.  There are school board elections, city councilperson elections and more!

To Register to Vote, check your Voter Registration and find out who is on the Ballot for this year’s Elections — go to the Vote411 website at  https://www.vote411.org/

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Installation and Expansion of Fiber Optic Cable in Albuquerque

OGNA is aware of the installation of fiber optic cable that is going on in our Oso Grande area and all across the City.  There are actually 3 different fiber companies that will be installing fiber cables:  Ezee, Vexus and Gigapower.  Each of these fiber optic companies have already received right of way permits and permission to install fiber optic cable in the right of way across private properties from the City Planning Dept and City Broadband Office.  The City owns/oversees all right of ways within the City limits, so you as a homeowner are not able to refuse the installation of fiber optic cable across your property – even if you choose not to use the internet and fiber optic services/products.  As an example, Comcast Cable TV, CenturyLink, etc. have right of way permits and installed cable for TV and Internet access in most neighborhoods many years ago.

Right-of-way work to install fiber optic cable can occur along roads, sidewalks, property lines, and telephone poles. Each of the 3 fiber companies are required to notify residents in advance of construction via street signage and/or door flyers.     Please be assured that these companies are responsible for completing the work and required by the City to restore any impacted areas to their original condition.  

Additionally be assured that the City’s Broadband Office is coordinating and meeting on a regular basis with all 3 ISPs to ensure the installation is as smooth a process as possible.  For more information, see this info page.

https://www.cabq.gov/technology-innovation/broadband-office/high-speed-fiber

The City of Albuquerque has also recently implemented new rules for construction of fiber internet infrastructurehttps://www.cabq.gov/clerk/news/notice-of-final-rulemaking-regulations-governing-public-right-of-way-excavation-and-barricading-for-fiber-infrastructure-purposes

Completed, current, and future construction locations can be found on this map https://www.cabq.gov/municipaldevelopment/maps/traffic-report#fiber-company-public-right-of-way-permit-map

For questions or concerns regarding construction, contact the internet service provider/company directly using the phone number that is on the notification you received to ensure personalized service from the provider working in your area.

Ezee Fiber 505-539-4848  support.nm@ezeefiber.com
Gigapower 505-420-5195  contactus@circetusa.com
Vexus Fiber 844-512-5022

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Updates from Albuquerque Police Dept Foothills Command

Ensuring safety and security

There several ongoing operations in the Northeast Area Command designed to enhance safety and security in our community. First, we are actively addressing issues related to speeding and racing activity in our area. Our officers are conducting targeted operations to curb these dangerous behaviors and ensure that our roads remain safe for all users.  Additionally there is an increased presence of our bike officers on local trails, such as the Embudo Trail and along the diversion channels. These officers are dedicated to patrolling these areas to ensure the safety and enjoyment of all who use them.

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The 311 Community Contact Center provides our community with speedy and easy access to City of Albuquerque information and services with exceptional customer care.  City agents answer your questions and respond to your requests for service from any department or division at the City.  Typical city related issues include:  non-functioning Traffic signs and lights, abandoned vehicles, l

Click here for more information    https://www.cabq.gov/311/abq311/

For 311 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) :  https://www.cabq.gov/municipaldevelopment/frequently-asked-questions

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ABQ RIDE Connect Microtransit Service Makes Getting Around Easier
Get a free ride in electric vans to your errands, appointments, activities, and more by using ABQ RIDE’s microtransit service in the Rio Grande and Southwest Mesa areas of Albuquerque. Get started and hail free rides by downloading the ABQ RIDE Connect app, which easily integrates with the Transit app. This is a pilot program that provides convenient community resources to connect riders with fixed-route bus service across the city. To learn more, visit: https://www.cabq.gov/transit/services/abq-ride-connect

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505 Outside Water Authority Newsletter

These warm days have us dreaming about our spring gardens. Did you know we will give you $3 for every square foot of grass you remove and replace with desert friendly landscape? Perhaps this is the year you refresh your yard! We’re here to help and we’re sharing a fun landscape design template you can use to get started.  The official start of spring is later this month. Prep now by clearing up around the plants you tucked in for the winter, aerating your lawns, and cleaning up your outdoor living spaces. Then after the last chance of freezing temperatures has passed (typically late March), it’s time to turn on your irrigation system.

Learn how here: https://www.505outside.com/2019/03/05/spring-irrigation-startup/
Monthly Service Tips and Watering Recommendations
By following the Water Authority’s helpful tips, you can keep your water use down, your irrigation system running smoothly and your landscape looking great. https://www.505outside.com/

Spring Landscape Cleanup:  https://www.505outside.com/2019/03/05/spring-landscape-cleanup/

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Senior Services Information

Bear Canyon Senior Center, 4645 Pitt NE, Albuquerque, NM 87111 :  https://www.cabq.gov/seniors/senior-multigenerational-centers/bear-canyon-senior-center

Center Activities List   Spring 2025

Bear Canyon Senior Center Spring 2024 Senior Activities     https://www.cabq.gov/seniors/documents/bcsc-april-2024-activity-list.pdf

Free Senior Lunch Options

The City of Albuquerque Dept of Senior Affairs continues to serve Senior lunches for persons 60 yrs and older. Lunches are distributed between 11:30 am – 1 pm, Monday – Friday and are available at local Senior and Multigenerational Centers — including Bear Canyon Sr Center.  Seniors must make reservations for their free lunch with the Senior Center 24 hours in advance.  Contact https://www.cabq.gov/seniors/senior-services/senior-meals.

Senior Services in Bernalillo County

Transportation Assistance:    Learn about curb-to-curb van transportation within Bernalillo County provided to individuals age 60 and older.

Home Services and Assistance:   Home Services   are available to seniors ages 60 and older to promote safe, independent living. Services include chores, repairs, and retrofit.

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Albuquerque Community Safety (ACS) Dept

If you or someone you know needs help with a behavioral health crisis, call 9-1-1 for an ACS response.

ACS Second Anniversary Report      https://www.cabq.gov/mayor/documents/redefining-public-safety_acs-2-year-anniversary.pdf

The mission of ACS is to  provide Albuquerque with a holistic, empathetic, and informed response to behavioral and mental health-related 911 calls. Responses are personalized to the needs of the individual, family, and community so that ACS can bring the right response at the right time.  ACS allows 911 dispatch to send trained professionals with backgrounds in behavioral and mental health and social services to non-violent and non-medical calls.

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Yard Watering Restrictions in Effect for April 1 – October 31, 2025  

Time-of-day watering restrictions start April 1 and are in effect through Oct. 31.   Please water plants and trees in your yard in the early morning or the evening to reduce water loss to evaporation and wind!

June 18, 2025 Update:    New Mexico and Albuquerque is in the grip of extreme drought. The dry conditions are a reminder to do all we can to save water. You can do your part by following the Three Steps to Landscape Success:

For more information about efficient watering and native plant recommentations see:  https://www.505outside.com/

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Apply to Serve on a CABQ Board or Commission

If you are interested in serving on a City of Albuquerque Board or Commission, apply via the online application. The application works for all boards and commissions and will remain active for one calendar year from the date submitted.  For a list of opportunities see: https://www.cabq.gov/clerk/boards-commissions

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City of Albuquerque Comprehensive Plan Update:

The City of Albuquerque committed to updating the Comprehensive Plan to bring in current data, policies and actions that have been created since 2017. The 2024 Comprehensive Plan Update will take place on January 18, 2024 @ 8:40am via Zoom: https://cabq.zoom.us/j/2269592859 The Agenda/meeting materials can be found at http://www.cabq.gov/planning/boards-commissions To contact staff, email devhelp@cabq.gov or call the Planning Department at 505-924-3860. For more information about the project: https://compplan.abq-zone.com/comp-plan-update-2023

Newsletter: Comp Plan Update, Central ABQ CPA Assessment & NW Mesa Escarpment VPO @ EPC (mailchi.mp)

The Oso Grande area is in the Foothills Community Planning Assessment area that is scheduled to begin March 2026.

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