November 22, 2023
Press Release
Vetoes Mean Mountain View Coalition’s Cumulative Impacts Regulation Can Proceed to Dec. 4th Public Hearing
ALBUQUERQUE, NM—Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller vetoed two controversial bills today that would have purged the Albuquerque-Bernalillo County Joint Air Quality Control Board and established a moratorium on action until February.
The Mayor cited a lack of cooperation with Bernalillo County, a lack of consultation with the Office of the Mayor, and that the bills were premature and an attempt to pre-empt the Air Quality Control Board’s upcoming public hearing on the Mountain View Coalition’s community-driven and historic Health, Environment & Equity Impacts regulation scheduled to begin in 12 days.
The mayor’s vetoes (see attached) also noted that the bills sponsored by City Councilor Dan Lewis inappropriately “denigrated” current Air Board members who were duly appointed and approved by this City Council.
Mayor Keller stated the importance of environmental justice principles to current and future generations for whom we have a responsibility: “Environmental justice is core to preserving and protecting our community for generations to come. Rules should work to reduce the decades-long institutional practice of consolidating air quality-detracting industries in certain sections of the metro area, particularly in the South Valley. It is imperative that cumulative effects of pollution be considered and that any discrimination against the same low-income historic neighborhoods of color be reversed. These issues should also be addressed through the City and County zoning procedures.” …
Read the entire press release here.