Five Years of Neglected Safe Campgrounds in Albuquerque

Five Years of Neglected Safe Campgrounds in Albuquerque

Summary: For the past five years, the City of Albuquerque and the State of New Mexico have permitted homeless individuals to establish makeshift campgrounds, first at Coronado Park, and then under the I-40 bridge over 1st Street for three years. These people often refuse transportation via the yellow school bus to the West Side Shelter, leading to ongoing encampments.

The site lacks basic amenities, with no portable toilets, security guards, or trash cans provided for three years. Concerned citizens have stepped in daily, using brooms, shovels, rakes, and trash bags to clean up human and dog waste, highlighting the unsanitary conditions.

Now, officials are proposing additional safe campgrounds nearby, amid rampant drug trafficking. This example underscores that city and state leaders do not prioritize the safety of genuine homeless people, who are drawn into dangerous drug consumption and trafficking day and night.