“Albuquerque has been my city for as long as I can remember. It’s where I’ve grown, learned, and built connections with people who care deeply about their community. It’s a city with a rich history, a unique cultural identity, and a passionate community that deserves better than the status quo. What keeps me inspired is knowing that Albuquerque has the capacity for change. Unlike other places where efforts can get lost in bureaucracy, here, small actions can make a real impact—whether in housing policy, transportation reform, or making our city’s finances more sustainable. I’ve seen firsthand how grassroots advocacy can shift conversations, influence city leaders, and rally people from all walks of life toward a more prosperous and connected future. This city has challenges, but it also has potential. That’s what keeps me here, working to make Albuquerque a place where people want to stay, build their lives, and thrive.” — Jordon McConnell, leader of the Strong Towns ABQ Local Conversation
A Strong Towns ABQ member found that a place on Central Avenue where students and staff frequently crossed to access the University of New Mexico was not safe. When she reached out, the city stated there was no data to improve this intersection. She decided to collect the data herself, doing a study that was presented to City officials, who recognized the need to improve this crossing for the hundreds who use it each day.
Interstate 25 is a major north-south corridor through Albuquerque, and a proposed reconstruction in the Downtown area threatens to bring faster traffic, wider freeways, and new frontage roads—further dividing neighborhoods that have already been fragmented by past highway projects. Strong Towns ABQ, the a Local Conversation in the area, has launched the Campaign to End Highway Expansion, rallying members and allies to push back against unnecessary road widening and instead prioritize investments that make our city safer and more connected.
Strong Towns ABQ’s advocacy has already influenced the debate, leading contractors to abandon some of the most damaging proposals that would have destroyed housing. As they approach the final public comment period, they are expanding their coalition, bringing together neighborhood activists, city councilors, BikeABQ, and other local transportation advocates. Their campaign leads have even had the opportunity to meet directly with the New Mexico Secretary of Transportation to discuss alternatives.
Locals are advocating for a no-build solution—one that enhances pedestrian and bike infrastructure to unite downtown neighborhoods rather than divide them further. To build momentum, Strong Towns ABQ has:
This work is changing the conversation in Albuquerque—not just about this highway expansion but about the true cost of prioritizing roads over transit and other infrastructure. The movement is growing, and we are prepared for the challenge. Shifting public perception on highways in a car-dependent state like New Mexico is difficult, but we are already seeing real results.
Strong Towns ABQ’s first major housing advocacy effort came in mid-2024 with the duplex amendment—a modest proposal to legalize duplex conversions in a small section of the city. The group turned out more voices in favor than against, including many people engaging with City Council for the first time. Ultimately, the amendment failed. Though disappointing, this loss provided local advocates with critical insights into council dynamics, key neighborhood players, and potential allies—lessons that will serve them well for the future.
Recognizing that Albuquerque, a sprawling desert city, is over 60% zoned for single-family housing, we knew that opposition to even minor zoning changes was real. Instead of stepping back, we pivoted to education and long-term engagement, helping residents connect issues of housing to the growth ponzi scheme, sustainability, and transit.
When a more ambitious version of the duplex amendment resurfaced at the end of 2024, a bill called O-24-69, we seized the opportunity. Over two weeks, we mobilized our members, organized a letter drive, and collected signatures and comments from nearly every zip code in Albuquerque, reflecting incredible demographic diversity. This bill didn’t just legalize duplexes—it expanded zoning to allow for multifamily homes and townhouses in key areas while also reducing parking minimums near transit corridors.
After hours of heated debate, the proposal passed 7-2, marking a significant shift in Albuquerque’s approach to housing. Local media and city councilors explicitly credited Strong Towns ABQ’s advocacy as a key factor in its success.
The passage of O-24-69 is not an endpoint but a turning point. Strong Towns ABQ will continue working to ensure that Albuquerque’s housing policies reflect a future of incremental, financially sustainable, and community-driven growth.
The Strong Towns ABQ research team works on an ad-hoc basis to explore the complexities of Albuquerque’s budget, bringing greater transparency to how the city manages infrastructure spending. Through the community’s efforts, they have uncovered critical facts about our city’s financial health, including that the city operates at a nearly $100 million annual deficit on road maintenance alone.
By using GIS mapping and tax data, locals have created a clearer picture of how the Growth Ponzi Scheme functions in Albuquerque. This has helped Strong Towns ABQ engage both city leaders and neighborhood groups, shifting the conversation toward more financially sustainable policies. Their work has also extended beyond city limits, identifying problems in New Mexico’s property assessment laws — one of the most outdated systems in the country.
At the city level, the Local Conversation has worked with the Albuquerque City Council to draft legislation tracking property value and vacancy in the downtown core, establishing the city’s first-ever inventory of vacant structures. This effort has led to the creation of a new fund to support bottom-up revitalization efforts.
Though Strong Towns ABQ has only been working on these issues for a short time, they have already helped shift the conversation, emphasizing the need to invest in the city’s core rather than in sprawling development on the periphery. This work has not only influenced policy but has also built a strong, engaged community advocating for sustainable, fiscally responsible development across Albuquerque and Bernalillo County.
Albuquerque is ranked as one of the most dangerous cities in the country for cyclists and pedestrians. This reality hit home recently when local cycling advocate Chuck Malagodi was killed while biking home. Locals refuse to accept this status quo.
Working with BikeABQ, Strong Towns ABQ adopted the Crash Analysis Model to better understand the systemic failures in our streets. But beyond research, members are taking direct action.
Local advocates have joined decision-making boards like the Greater Albuquerque Active Transportation Board to push for safer policies. Strong Towns ABQ mobilized members to lobby City Council, securing unanimous approval for the new Albuquerque Bike & Trails Plan, a bold initiative to connect the city’s bike lanes and trails. Local Conversation members, supported within our ever-growing community, are both learning and educating about Strong Towns principles at all levels of the city and effecting change along the way.
We also support city officials when they take steps in the right direction. When Albuquerque implemented its first separated bike lane on an arterial road, we rallied support, thanking engineers and city leaders, countering local opposition, and reinforcing their motivation to build safer streets. And these efforts are changing the conversation. City staff say that Strong Towns ABQ’s advocacy makes them feel like their work matters. And they’re just getting started.
Luckily, despite being a larger city, Albuquerque's public officials are largely responsive and accessible. Some have frequent town halls that make them even more easy to connect with, while most are still accessible through simple scheduling at City Hall. Strong Towns ABQ, has been happy to find common ground with councilors, and have had a professional relationship around making Albuquerque more resilient.
