This is an @ABQCityCouncil thread.

In a Very Fun zoning appeal, Jesus Apodaca, the owner of a lot at 1718 Broadway NE, would be keen on having a self-storage lot at the outskirts of a heavily industrial Martineztown area. Unanimous approval to have the zoning czar reconsider.

Weird procedural maneuvering to decide an appointment to the Open Space Advisory Board underway. Tasia Young, whose four-year tenure on the board has expired, was re-appointed by Councilor Gibson only to face a competing nomination of Kay Bounkeua submitted by Councilor Sena.

A staffer just went through the incredible whiteness of the Open Space Advisory Board, which is tasked with investment policy for the Open Space Trust Fund and maintenance of the open space system (very important!). Bounkeua is the NM state deputy director of @Wilderness Society.

Councilor Sena was under the impression that it was a vacant seat, so here we are. Young, the incumbent board member, was a lobbyist for New Mexico Association of Counties for over 30 years. Councilor Benton has what appears to be a good deal of encyclopedias on his bookshelf.

Bounkeua, whose parents immigrated from Laos in the 70s, hopes to “advance racial equity within the conservation movement with goal of improving overall community and population health.” Really strong pitch to the council touched on equity, mass transit and improving open space.

How long is one Open Space Advisory Board term? Four years? Two? Misinformation flying in the City Council Zoom, it’s actually three years Councilor Jones is displeased that nobody is addressing Young, who holds a PhD in a field unclear, as a doctor. Vote incoming.

Councilor Gibson’s bill to replace the city’s “Pawnbroker Ordinance” with updated language about permitting and keeping records of certain pawn shop sales (electronics, guns, etc.) passes unanimously.

Young is confirmed to the Open Space Advisory Board for three more years.

Just kidding on that last one, pawnbroker ordinance update deferred to Nov. 2 meeting. Vote to condemn property at 5609 Everitt NW deferred to Dec. 21 unanimously as a sale of the property is in the works. Doesn’t look so bad on Google, honestly.

Speed humps? Speed bumps? However you want to label the concrete hills in the road that spill your coffee on your lap if you’re not paying attention, a resolution that would adopt an updated traffic management plan to expedite hump construction has been deferred to Nov. 2.

Memorial from Councilors Borrego and Peña to recognize city’s Senior Corps Volunteers, who have delivered meals and conducted wellness checks for seniors alongside their regular services since the pandemic hit, passes unanimously. Ask yourself why food insecurity exists, folks.

Resolution from Councilors Peña and Sena to prioritize racial equity when considering capital improvements, especially projects in underserved areas, is up. Councilor Borrego, who represents NW ABQ near Rio Rancho, doesn’t believe councilors know racial makeup of their districts.

And Sena is not having it.

“This isn’t to prioritize a certain district, it’s just areas within the city,” she says.

Borrego wants to defer and have the resolution’s sponsors go home and reconsider their life choices. Councilor Pat Davis wants a fuller, more fleshed out bill.

Now we hear from Councilor Brook Bassan representing the NE Heights, who is “extremely uncomfortable” when specific races are named “when we don’t need to be pointing out skin color, but character. I’m not an expert on racial equality or inequality,” she says.

R-20-85, the resolution in question, recognizes how racist social engineering in communities of color has historically served to further marginalize those communities and proposes a “racial equity criterion” when considering funneling money into community improvements/services.

Motion to defer R-20-85 comes from Councilor Borrego, who would really, really like to know the racial makeup of different districts. Perhaps it crossed her mind that poor people deserve infrastructure and services the same as the lawyers and doctors who live in NW ABQ? Idk

Vote to defer until Dec. 21 passes 6-3. Dinner break, thank Christ. The intermission music on the stream is extraordinarily dull. See you in 30 minutes, folks.

Update: the elevator music continues to play, and finally we get some oboe representation in the mix. I feel so relaxed right now.

Here we go again. Municipal solid waste ordinances! City government! What a time to be alive!

Lena in total opposition to the proposed rate rise, and the mayor’s office has spoken with Benton at length about something, allegedly. No idea what though, since my stream just died.

Mr. Davis apologizes for stream issues, amendments forthcoming on municipal solid waste rate rise. Pleased to report that I won’t be personally affected, as all utilities at my new place are covered by my landlord. The elephant in the room, the budget for FY 2021, is upcoming.

Amendments stacked on top of amendments for the adjustment to the Municipal Solid Waste Ordinance. Your trash rates are very likely going up, folks.

While we’re talking about trash, I’d like to point out that the Atlanta Br*ves remain cursed in postseason play because they continue to tacitly encourage the disgraceful tomahawk chop decried by St. Louis Cardinals pitcher and Cherokee Nation member Ryan Helsley last year.

Closure coming soon on the municipal waste rate rise. On this day in 1926, the Russian Politburo expelled Leon Trotsky and his followers from the Soviet Union.

On to FY21 budget deliberations. Councilor Borrego’s dog is barking, and amendments are flying like wine in Ancient Greece. Last amendment, the ninth, is advocating for $400K in library funds.

Just kidding, more amendments.

FY21 budget passes, Council is adjourned. I need a snack.