Rio Grande Valley Broadband • Entered by Linda Starr on April 7, 2021
Letter to Mayor Keller of Albuquerque re Poole Property
January 12, 2021
Participants and Hours
| Pre Planning hours | 1 |
| Post Admin hours | 1 |
| Activity Hours | 3 |
| Participants | 2 |
| Total Hours | 8 |
Key Issue: Public Lands Health & Protection
Activity Type: Advocacy (rallies, lobbying, meeting decision makers, letters/calls/emails)
Key Partners: Neighborhood Associations near the Poole Property, Audubon Society
Measurable Outcomes
Outcome 1: Advocacy actions (1 letters/postcards)
Short Description of Activity
Following our RGVBB meeting with a special speaker familiar with the Poole Property and the development intended for it (that my co-leader Susan covered in her report from Jan. 11 (but she didn’t mention our special speaker and the fact that our attendees thought a visit to the Mayor’s office via Zoom or with his staff would be appropriate), I took action on crafting a letter to our Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller asking him for a possible Zoom meeting to discuss why this matter is important to the Broads and, we felt, to people all around our city, that it is vital to preserve this beloved place for the benefit of educating the populace about this wetland location, the diverse wildlife that uses it, and as a place for opportunities to get Albuquerqueans outdoors. I offered suggestions for how the property could be used and why it was necessary to act quickly, especially since there was funding from the state available for the purchase of the land. My co-leader Susan was invited to review the letter as a google doc and comment before I sent the e-mailed letter to the Mayor’s office with copies to city council reps, U.S. Senator M. Heinrich and US. House Rep. Deb Haaland.
Reflection/Evaluation
The goal was to get attention to the seemingly lacidasical attitude of the mayor on this matter, so that he would know that members of the community (our Broads, and anyone else we could get to attend our Zoom) want this land protected as an Open Space for future generations, not just us. I received a letter from the Mayor’s staff assuring us (as a Broadband) that this is a priority of his and that he is taking action by meeting with the City Council and investigating ways to procure funding for purchasing the land. The City Council met later and funding has been approved for the purchase of the land. I was at the Webcast of this Council Meeting (a later report). I don’t know if it was our BB letter that was a kick to do something fast, or that action was planned anyway. I think it was our letter!