New Mexico
Neighbors raise concerns about new development in Santa Barbara-Martineztown
When the City of Albuquerque announced new plans for a multi-story rehabilitation hospital in the neighborhood, neighbors were not happy.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Gilbert Speakman grew up going to San Ignacio church in Martineztown.
Speakman says he was born and raised in this neighborhood. But, over the years, what he calls gentrification pushed him and so many others out.
“It was sad that south of Lomas, a lot of the people that used to live there, they no longer live near here. You know, like me, I don’t live here anymore,” said Speakman.
So, when the City of Albuquerque announced new plans for a multi-story rehabilitation hospital in the neighborhood, neighbors were not happy.
“This area right here was our playground. We used to play here,” said Loretta Naranjo Lopez, president of the Santa Barbara-Martineztown Neighborhood Association.
The plans are to build the hospital in an empty lot behind the Embassy Suites on Lomas. But neighbors say the area is already too congested with traffic and speeding.
“This intersection here you see the cars coming off the freeway, still going above the 40 mph speed limit. There’s been so many accidents in that one corner there,” Lopez said.
They say the three schools in the area, including Albuquerque High, would be impacted – not to mention all the students.
“Very disgusted with the city even more now. I think that we’ve been sold out to just the highest bidder, and we’re not looking at the families here that have been here through generations,” she said.
Online city records show the required zone change was just approved by the city Environmental Planning Commission. But neighbors say they’ll keep working to preserve their neighborhood.
“We’re a historical neighborhood. We need the same respect Old Town gets,” Speakman said.
The neighborhood association has until March 1 to appeal the zone approval, which Lopez said they plan to.
Native Vote 2026
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A Laguna Pueblo woman is the front runner to be New Mexico’s next governor.
Shortly after polls closed Tuesday night, Deb Haaland was declared the winner over Bernalillo County district attorney Sam Bregman in the state’s semi-open Democratic Party primary. As of 11:00 p.m., Haaland carried support from 72% of the Democratic primary voters to Bregman’s 28%, according to unofficial results from the New Mexico Secretary of State.
“We’re showing everyone that a better future in New Mexico is possible,” she told supporters gathered in Albuquerque’s historic Old Town Plaza. “New Mexicans want a leader who will stand up for working people, and who is ready to take on Donald Trump. I proudly accept your nomination as a Democratic nominee.”
Haaland spoke for 13 minutes, at times through a scratchy throat that required her to pause for water breaks. “Excuse me, I’ve been talking with voters all day,” she said while grabbing a water bottle before hitting her campaign stump notes on affordability, health care and public safety.
She will face Republican Gregg Hull, a former mayor from suburban Rio Rancho that won his party’s three-way primary with 47% of the vote, according to unofficial results from the New Mexico Secretary of State.
Haaland will be the Democratic Party nominee in a state dominated at every level by Democrats, and is expected to be heavily favored in the general election. With that insight she said her campaign message does translate to Republicans and Independent voters.
“We want our kids to thrive. We want our kids to have a quality, public education. We want every New Mexican to have health care. Everybody wants to feel safe in their neighborhoods, and everybody wants to be able to afford to put a hot meal on their table every night and have a roof over their children’s heads,” she said. “Those issues transcend whatever political spectrum we’re trying to slice and dice people into.”
Shortly after the race was called, Haaland campaign staff, major donors, surrogates, and their families walked from a building on the west side of Albuquerque’s Old Town Plaza to the historic plaza core, where the Haaland campaign had set up a stage and reserved the entire plaza for its victory celebration.
“We are now witnessing history in the making,” New Mexico state Rep. Derrick Lente (Sandia Pueblo) said to supporters immediately after Haaland was declared the winner.
Denise Wilie (Dine) also joined the celebration of Haaland’s victory. Wilie said she worked on get-out-the-vote efforts with the Native American Voters Alliance in McKinley County.
“It just is so exhilarating to even think about, a woman and a Pueblo woman,” she said. “Indigenous all the way, is how I feel. I’m like, yes, let’s get more of our voices.”
Haaland was introduced by her two sisters and walked to the stage escorted by a mariachi band.
Speaking to reporters after the event Haaland reflected on voting for a Pueblo woman (herself) for governor.
“I got emotional, quite frankly, when I went to vote for myself because you do that when you’re a candidate,” she said. “We’ve never had a Native American governor in New Mexico. We’re a multicultural state. I think representation matters, especially in a political era such as this one. So, I’m really proud and honored to carry on the legacy of my ancestors, who worked so incredibly hard to make sure that I had a place here today.”
Related
When a famly unexpectedly loses a loved one, or has someone go missing, the details of what comes next can be overwhelming.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – When a famly unexpectedly loses a loved one, or has someone go missing, the details of what comes next can be overwhelming.
But they don’t have to do it alone thanks to an organization helping New Mexico families with some of those burdens.
Watch the video above for more.
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