This week on New Mexico in Focus, senior producer Lou DiVizio sits down with Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller for part two of the NMPBS exclusive, in-depth interview. The mayor lays out his plans for several new projects including the Rail Trail and the installation of high-speed internet fiber across the city.
DiVizio asks Keller about a report from the city’s inspector general accusing city officials of misusing tax dollars to prop up the Duke City Gladiators indoor football stadium in Rio Rancho. And the mayor explains the benefits he sees in the city’s current government structure while revealing he’s considering running for a third term.
Gene Grant and The Line Opinion Panel react to the Keller interview by grading his work through six years in office and assessing the feasibility and affordability of the projects he’s planning. The panelists discuss the mayor’s response to the Gladiators turf situation and question whether he intentionally misused city dollars. Plus, The Line looks ahead to a City Council vote that could restructure power at the top of city government.
This June flows on the Rio Grande through Albuquerque are almost 10 times what they were last year. Snowmelt is coming down the river and into the ditches and canals of the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District. Our Land’s Laura Paskus talks with MRGCD’s chief engineer and CEO, Jason Casuga, about irrigation, infrastructure and the Rio Grande Compact.
New Mexico in Focus airs on NMPBS 5.1 (KNME HD) Friday, June 2 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, June 4 at 7 a.m., and streaming on the PBS video app.
NMiF Segments
Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller: Economic Development & Stadiums
Correspondent
Lou DiVizio
Guest
Tim Keller, (D) Mayor of Albuquerque
Irrigation, Infrastructure, and the Rio Grande Compact
Correspondent
Laura Paskus
Guest
Jason Casuga, Chief Engineer & CEO, Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District
Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller: City Council’s Looming Vote to Restructure Leadership
Correspondent
Lou DiVizio
Guest
Tim Keller, (D) Mayor of Albuquerque
The Line Opinion Panel
Serge Martinez, professor, UNM School of Law
Lan Sena, former Albuquerque city councilor
Tom Grover, attorney, former Albuquerque police sergeant
Host
Gene Grant
New Mexico in Focus is the New Mexico PBS prime-time news magazine show covering the events, issues, and people that are shaping life in New Mexico and the Southwest. NMiF takes a multi-layered look at social, political, economic health, education, and art issues, and explores them in-depth with a critical eye to give them context beyond the "news of the moment."
NMPBS Executive Producer, Public Affairs, is Jeff Proctor. New Mexico in Focus Senior Producer for Public Affairs is Lou DiVizio. “Our Land” Senior Producer is Laura Paskus. The producer of New Mexico in Focus is Antonio Sanchez and Co-producer is Kathy Wimmer.
Funding for New Mexico in Focus is provided by the McCune Charitable Foundation and Viewers Like You.
Funding for the Your New Mexico Government Project comes from the Thornburg Foundation and New Mexico Local News Fund.
Funding for Our Land: New Mexico’s Environmental Past, Present & Future, is provided in part by the Neeper Natural History Programming Fund for KNME-TV.