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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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2025 AARP Tax Assistance
AARP Foundation Tax-Aide provides free tax preparation and is open to taxpayers of all ages. AARP membership is not required.
Information on AARP tax assistance is available below. Space is limited. Go to the location where you made an appointment and pick up a packet of forms at the front desk. Be sure to fill out the forms before your appointment begins. If you cannot pick up the forms ahead of time, please arrive at your appointment 30 minutes before your scheduled time. For married couples, both spouses must be present at the appointment. Please do not make an appointment at more than one location. If you cannot make it to your appointment, please cancel or reschedule.
For locations and registration details go to: https://www.cabq.gov/seniors/
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Updates from APD Foothills Command
APD Crime Prevention Unit Seeks Feedback on Proposed Dog Walker Watch Program
The Albuquerque Police Department’s (APD) Crime Prevention Unit is considering starting a Dog Walker Watch Program and seeks feedback from residents on this suggested idea. Dog Walker Watch is a crime prevention and awareness program, similar to Neighborhood Watch, that encourages neighbors out walking their dogs to be extra “eyes and ears” for law enforcement. Dog owners and walkers are trained on how to effectively observe and report suspicious behavior, while enhancing the partnership between the police and community. For more information on this proposed initiative, contact Laura Kuehn at: lkuehn@cabq.gov
APD…. 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.
Foothills APD Newsletter: January 2025 https://mailchi.mp/cabq/january-newsletter-hw15z8e31d
Bernalillo County Warns of Zoning Scams
Bernalillo County’s Planning and Development Services Department warns the public about an ongoing email scam in which residents have been directed to wire thousands of dollars to an off-site email address so that their zoning application before the county can go forward. Constituents receive an email pretending to be from the county’s Planning & Zoning Commission instructing applicants to sign an invoice that includes a copy of the county seal on each of three pages and to return it, “along with the wire payment receipt,” to email address planning.bernco@usa.com, which is not affiliated with Bernalillo County. Please be aware that any correspondence from Bernalillo County will come from a .gov email address. For more information, visit: www.bernco.gov.
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.
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.
Spring Landscape Cleanup: https://www.
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Teeniors Offers Free Tech Help
Teeniors is a non-profit organization that matches tech-savvy teens with senior citizens to help them navigate computers, cell phones, and smartphone apps. Teeniors offers several free help clinics that are open to all community members. If you or someone you know would like to learn more about how to better and more efficiently use technology, visit: www.teniors.com
Pollen Counts
The Air Quality Program uses PollenSense, an automated pollen monitoring system. Hourly pollen data is available by using the PollenWise mobile app, available for IOS and Android. Sign up to receive air alerts.
To check hourly Air Quality Index updates throughout the day, visit AirNow.govThe Daily Air Quality Update is posted on this website and emailed to individuals who have signed up to receive air quality alerts. The Air Quality Program issues health alerts if ambient air conditions may adversely affect individuals with respiratory conditions due to elevated levels of dust, smoke or ozone. Sign up to receive daily updates and other air alerts.
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 Newsletter March 2025
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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CABQ Solid Waste Dept.
For information regarding CABQ Solid Waste Dept, hazardous waste collection, green waste, trash pick up and recycling events, please call 311 or go to https://www.cabq.gov/solidwaste
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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 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) : https://www.cabq.gov/municipaldevelopment/frequently-asked-questions
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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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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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CABQ Office of Neighborhood Coordination: https://www.cabq.gov/office-of-neighborhood-coordination/
To subscribe to the weekly ONC e-news: https://cabq.us20.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=b697b563bdb0acc3e117a1409&id=8d891d34a8
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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/
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
City of Albuquerque Constructive Conversations Report
In Spring 2024, Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller and City Councilors met for “Constructive Conversations,” a series of community meetings fostering dialogue between residents and city leaders to shape the future of the built environment in Albuquerque. The series featured nine sessions in each Council district across Albuquerque. There was significant attendance and interaction between community members and the Mayor’s Office, City Councilors and City Department leaders including Planning, Parks and Recreation, Municipal Development, Community Safety and more. The below Constructive Conversations report summarizes key facts related to the Constructive Conversations as well as feedback received on community hopes and needs. View the report
You can make a direct difference in the lives of hungry children, adults, seniors and whole families by providing the nourishment they need. The Food Bank accepts monetary donations year round. A financial contribution extends your support allowing us to distribute up to five meals for every one dollar contributed. Please make your gift payable to Roadrunner Food Bank, 5840 Office Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109, or Donate online: https://www.rrfb.org/give/give-funds/
For more information, please call 505.349.8909 or 575.523.4390.