What's the most important message in this mailer in support of the ballot questions for the ABQ Public Schools that face metro area voters in the Nov. 5 election? Is it "safer schools" or "no new taxes?;"

Both are equally vital to passage after APS was spanked by voters in February when a trio of ballot measures that would have raised property taxes 4.7 percent to finance school improvements were soundly rejected--57 to 43 percent.

APS is nothing if not a good student and has learned its lesson. They are back before voters asking for a second chance and with a scaled down plan that asks voters to continue the current mill levy for the schools and a $100 million bond package--neither of which would raise taxes a penny.

In February voters simply could not buy the APS argument that it needed a batch of new schools and major construction money when APS enrollment has actually been falling. Throw in what has been an anemic metro economy and property owners in particular turned sour on APS.

This time--with considerable community support--the election outcome should not be another failing grade for APS.

ADDRESS FOR HOMELESS

The controversial question of where to place a 300 person capacity ABQ homeless shelter--if a $14 million bond issue is approved by voters Nov. 5--has revealed growing frustration with the seemingly intractable homeless problem. Reader Joel Gay chimes in with this:

I'm sure I'm not the first to suggest it, but why not put the new shelter in the Rail Yards lot?

A $5 million bond issue to be used to spruce up the historic but decayed Rail Yards is also on the ballot, even though the city hasn't been able to do much with previous bond money since it purchased the Yards in 2007. In that context, Joel's suggestion to place the homeless shelter there doesn't seem too far fetched, plus the city would not have to buy any land.

Reader Brian Fejer comes with this:

Since the Public Library downtown already acts as a de facto homeless shelter, why not redesign the library for the 21st Century. Why not add restrooms, showers, and computers for the homeless in the basement, along with counseling and referrals. The first floor could be a library again, and put the kids space and a community theater on the third floor. 

Like we said, there's a lot of frustration in this community and others around the nation as the homeless problem shows no signs of abating.

CAMPAIGN MODE

Keller

Mayor Keller is in campaign mode--not for himself but for the $128 million in city bonds on the ballot, including those for a homeless shelter and Rail Yards. His pitch:

These bonds are more than bricks and mortar. Without raising taxes, they invest in solving our biggest challenges: funding police substations, railyards redevelopment, repairing our roads, and finally building a homeless shelter to address a huge need. The business community is one hundred percent behind these efforts, and we are coming together to ask the community, with one voice, to help us invest in building Albuquerque by voting and passing this bond.

The capital investment package will support approximately 1,084 jobs over the life of the projects and have an estimated economic impact of $1.5 billion. If voters say yes at the ballot box, bonds will fund projects that span across every Albuquerque district:

· $30 million in road improvements,
· $14 million for a 24/7 homeless shelter,
· $7.25 million for a police station in the SE Area Command,
· $13.3 million for parks including Balloon Fiesta Park and Daniel Webster Children’s Park,
· $5.5 million for a new International District community library,
· $5 million for Railyard cleanup, and more.

Keller is also urging voters to approve a 10-year renewal of a 20-year-old quarter cent gross receipts transit tax that funds additional road repairs, bicycle infrastructure and trails and transit. Taxes will not increase if the renewal passes.

One worrisome trend is the scaling back of the size of our bond issues because of past financial decisions. $128 million is not much considering the aging of the city. Back in 2009 the bond issue for that cycle was $160 million.

THE BOTTOM LINES

The League of Women Voters of Central NM is out with its in-depth guide on the candidates and issues of Election '19. It is here.