Mayor’s vetoes should be sustained to continue city-county collaboration on air quality board
As a Bernalillo county commissioner and an Albuquerque city councilor, we work together with our community to create a better future for the next generation of New Mexicans. It is through collaboration that we make real progress on complex issues for our families.
Unfortunately, recent political rhetoric has wrongly pitted green economic development and job creation against environmental justice and sought to create a rift in our community. We must transcend the eitheror mindset that has plagued our state for decades and embrace a forward-looking vision. We can protect clean air and bring good-paying jobs to our community.
Two recent proposals to stop an upcoming hearing of the Air Quality Control Board (AQCB) have alarmed the community. Both the Bernalillo County Commission and Mayor Keller had urged the City Council to defer action on the bills until proper vetting and collaboration with Bernalillo County could occur. Those pleas were regrettably unmet, so we are thankful to Mayor Keller for using his veto power to stop these harmful proposals.
The proposed changes would have interfered with our ability to comply with state and federal regulations for clean, breathable air. They would lead to costly litigation that could drag on for years and ultimately the city and county losing local control of our air quality to the state. The vetoes ensure the board can continue their work and the public has a forum to discuss air quality.
A week-long AQCB hearing with extensive opportunity for public input is scheduled for Dec. 4-8. We are aware of the pros, cons, and concerns with air quality regulations, but there is no way of knowing what actions the board will take after hearing all the evidence presented in the case. It is inappropriate and unfair to repeal or replace the board or delay our regular processes because of actions the board “may” take in the future.
It is also incorrect to suggest that by prioritizing efforts to minimize environmental pollution, we are shunning economic growth. We can promote both economic development and sustainability, and we will.
The city and county work closely on important issues in our community. From housing to addiction treatment to public safety, everyone benefits when we partner on our priorities. It is in that spirit of collaboration that we call upon the City Council to sustain the vetoes and allow the public, democratic process to continue.
We are proposing mirror resolutions in the city and the county to create a joint city-county working group to review board operations and joint funding processes. This is the type of partnership we need. For this working group to move forward in good faith, both vetoes must be sustained.
It has never been more important to preserve clean air, fresh water, and healthy soil for our children, while at the same time creating good-paying jobs, enhancing career pathways, and bringing new foreign direct investment to the region.
Air quality rules can be tailored to account for the broad community benefit that critical business, nonprofits, and key government operations bring residents. Projects that center sustainable economic development and carbon-reducing technologies should be prioritized for our future.
Let’s continue to work together to deliver on the promises we’ve made to our constituents, our children, and our planet.