Albuquerque/Bernalillo County
LWV Public Policy Positions

(updated 7/28/2006)

 

DRUG POLICY

The League of Women Voters of Albuquerque/Bernalillo County supports drug court programs, treatment for drug-dependent persons, including jail-based treatment for drug-dependent prisoners and syringe exchange programs in Bernalillo County. These programs should be prudently and appropriately funded.

EDUCATION

Support of a requirement that functional competence in basic skills be demonstrated before a high school diploma is awarded by Albuquerque Public Schools (APS).

Emphasis on basic skills which should include the fine arts (including music, art, and drama) and ongoing technological developments. Identification of children at risk should begin early in the educational process and continue through high school. Remediation should be provided as early as possible.

An alternative path to a high school diploma should be available.

Support a community college in Albuquerque which should offer certificates and associates degrees for a variety of careers. Such degrees could be terminal or transferable toward a four-year program.

Support for the protection of the First Amendment rights of public school students and library patrons.

Support for a selection policy for APS school libraries and the Albuquerque Public Library which allows for access to a wide variety of materials.

Support for a purchase and distribution system of instructional materials for public schools that is timely and cost effective.

Support for the selection of basic instructional materials for the Albuquerque Public Schools by a committee which consists of administrators, teachers, and parents and which represents a cross section of the ethnic, geographic and economic population of the community. In addition, resource persons who have expertise in the subject under consideration will serve in an advisory capacity.

Support for a selection procedure which includes:

  1. A fair and thorough evaluation of materials;
  2. A method for public examination and input;
  3. A strong conflict of interest policy.

Support for a policy which allows for informal resolution of controversy and a systematic reconsideration procedure for textbook and library materials.

HEALTH CARE

LWV/ABC supports health care, mental health care, preventive and educational health programs, comprehensive reproductive health care (which includes abortion), and home health care.

LWV/ABC believes society has a responsibility to provide comprehensive health care for the indigent of Bernalillo County and supports a mill levy as a means of funding such health care.

HOUSING

The City has primary responsibility for making available, facilitating, and coordinating provision of affordable, decent, and safe housing using federal, state, county, or city funds. This may also be done by coordination with private builders, nonprofit organizations, and/or foundations. We support the following guidelines for City government assisted housing:

  1. City assistance for private affordable housing projects under the following conditions:
    1. The surrounding neighborhood has been involved early in the planning for the project;
    2. Regulatory variances which may be granted do not permit unsafe or unsightly conditions.
  2. Design review by a qualified panel.
  3. A variety of home ownership and rental opportunities in public or private affordable housing projects.
  4. An adequate maintenance system in all affordable housing projects. This system should include education and training for residents in maintenance skills.
  5. Encouragement of the formation of tenant organizations.
  6. Long Range planning, accountability, and neighborhood involvement in expenditure of federal Community Development Block Grant funds for housing rehabilitation.
  7. City leadership in assistance for homeless programs which provide both shelter and services for targeted populations, particularly families and the mentally ill.
  8. Boarding houses as a way of meeting housing needs.
  9. Community-based residential care for the mentally ill.

INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM

The LWV/ABC supports the Initiative & Referendum process. However, we have reached a consensus on the need for revision of four specific sections of the City Charter. We support the appointment of a Charter Revision Committee to study the process for qualifying Initiative and Referenda, with a view to revising Article 3, Sections & 3a of the Albuquerque City Charter that would:

  1. Increase the number of initiators needed to start the process;
  2. Increase the number of signatures required to compel an election:
  3. Refine the process of reviewing the petition title and summary; and
  4. Eliminate the requirement that the election must be held within 90 days after the date of filing the petition with appropriate signatures.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Support for the development by Albuquerque and Bernalillo County of budgets that provide for long-range planning and evaluation programs.

Support for the city and county officials providing the media and citizens' groups with simplified budget information. This should occur prior to public hearings as a means of preparing citizens for the budget process.

Support for assessing the cost and effectiveness of programs supported by federal funds in Albuquerque and Bernalillo County.

Support for the City of Albuquerque to share in the New Mexico personal income tax as the most effective and equitable source of revenue.

Support of combined form of government for the city and county.

Support for coordinating village, city, and county government with joint use of record.

Support for:

  1. The present Mayor/Council form of government;
  2. Nonpartisan city elections;
  3. A significant increase in the number of signatures required on a petition before a person can be placed on the ballot as a candidate for mayor. Preferably, the number of signatures should be based on either a percentage of voters having voted in the last mayoral election, or of registered voters, or of population of the city.

LAND USE

Land use decisions must be made with consideration to economic, environmental and social factors. We believe that it is possible to incorporate the principles of conservation of resources, to relate the use of land to its inherent characteristics and carrying capacities and still achieve an optimum balance between economic and social needs and environmental quality.

Support of development that protects natural resources and promotes the equal right of all to an environment beneficial to life. Support of land use policies and techniques which promote orderly growth of Albuquerque/Bernalillo County. These shall include:

  1. Infill, to include residential building in downtown and midcity areas;
  2. Acquisition appropriate use of open space;
  3. Preservation of agricultural lands as such,
  4. Utilization of cluster design in new development and in redevelopment:
  5. Revitalization of blighted sections of the community:
  6. Composition of neighborhoods to include a diversity of types of housing and of socioeconomic groups.

Support for coordinated city/county and regional planning and zoning.

Support for coordinated regional land use and transportation planning.

TRANSPORTATION

Support for coordinated regional land use and transportation planning. This planning shall include:

  1. Consideration of the impact of traffic congestion:
  2. The provision of viable transportation choices.

Support for a regional public transit system with a policy-making board which includes citizens with voting powers.

WATER

Support for coordinated regional water planning.

www.lwvabc.org

League of Women Voters, Albuquerque-Bernalillo County
2403 San Mateo NE, W-16C       Albuquerque, NM 87110       Phone: 505.884.8441       Fax: 505.884.8488
Email any comments or concerns to LWVABC at nmia dot com using @ for at and . for dot