As many residents in District 6 are now aware, the mayor's office has been pushing- against its own established, acceptable parameters for this type of facility- for a new, 300-bed mega-shelter to potentially be placed in the old Lovelace Hospital, now known as the Gibson Medical Center.

This location is unacceptable for many reasons. Not only would it have to be leased by the city, but it abuts a densely-populated residential area of established neighborhoods, high-density apartments, townhomes, and senior centers in direct contrast to the City's claims that locations near neighborhoods were unfavorable.

District 6 has a long history of neglect and disenfranchisement at the hands of the City. What should be a vibrant, celebrated center of multi-ethnic residents, culturally diverse businesses, and historical value has instead been last on the radar for beautification projects, infrastructure, and safety. Somehow over the past decades, our area has become the unwilling home for numerous state and federal halfway houses, drug treatment facilities, methadone clinics, shelters, and most recently, the County pick for the pilot program of Tiny Home communities for the homeless, all despite neighborhood concerns of detrimental impact. As with all of these projects, the City has not come through with promises to monitor programs and has done little to nothing to ensure that these projects have not harmed our area. Instead, we have seen heightened crime, vandalism, neglect, and watched as businesses have closed and neighbors have fled. For the City to expect blind faith in their ability to run a successful shelter in the face of a dismal track record of maintaining District 6- instead funneling our tax dollars to more affluent areas while ignoring us- is a slap in the face. The City deserves no such faith.

The Mayor's office claims that opening a 300-bed shelter in our neighborhood will improve the homeless crisis here in Albuquerque. While this may be the case for some segments of the population, the office has failed to address what could happen if significantly more homeless than can be accommodated flow into the area. There are no contingency plans in place for excess numbers of people with nowhere to go when the shelter is full. There is also little consideration as to what will happen to these folks who are uninterested in the city's proposed daytime rehab and addiction therapy, job training, or betterment classes. Will they flow into neighborhood streets, local parks, or business lots? As it is, many parks in the areas between Gibson and Central are filled with trash, drug paraphernalia, and human waste, with police powerless to move the influx of people and taxpaying families driven out in frustration or fear. The City cannot even keep up summertime trash maintenance at Bullhead Park during the YAFL games...how are we to believe that the City can tackle the additional trash once the shelter is full and the homeless set up camps in nearby Bullhead as they do at the current city pickup at Coronado?

My name is Kristin "Raven" Greene, and I started this petition in order to let the City of Albuquerque know that we have taken more than our fair share of social services down here in District 6. As expected, they did not listen. After three years of involvement in the Gateway project, attending meetings, hearings, and fighting for have our voices heard, I have taken the fight to the next level, and I am running for City Council here in District 6. My top priority is to balance the vast economic disparities not only within our district, but to demand equitable treatment for all D6 constituents at the city level. I'm proud to have been a vocal proponent for the Southeast Albuquerque neighborhoods over the last few years as an elected board member of the Elder Homestead Neighborhood Association, as a representative for our neighborhood in the District 6 Coalition, and a consistent voice at City meetings. I’m committed to continuing my advocacy. It is my intention to make City Council my full-time job as I believe representation for District 6 needs to be a full-time priority.

Time is of the essence, as our qualifying period ends on July 10th. To help me get on the ballot, please add your name to my petition: https://petitions.cabq.gov/kristin-m--greene

And to donate $5 so I can qualify for public financing, you may click here: https://cleancampaign.cabq.gov/kristin-m--greene

I'd like to invite you to check out my website to learn more about my platforms by visiting Raven4D6.com

Let's work together to bring more opportunities and positive change to District 6, and thank you for your support!