November happenings at the Albuquerque City Council table included a shout-out to the Rock Your Mocs movement, more closed captioning on public TVs and bucks for a public engagement campaign to attract young professionals.Can You Read Me?Businesses with television receptors will now have to activate closed captioning. Councilor Cynthia Borrego sponsored the measure. She said it was initiated by members of the hearing impaired community. Borrego said they looked at communities that have already done passed similar measures. Several residents spoke in favor of the measure, saying it is progressive, inclusive and is a public safety issue as this will allow emergency messages to reach everyone in public spaces. “We like to participate and be involved,” said one hearing-impaired speaker. Businesses found to not be in compliance will be given one warning then there will be a $500 fine. If there are multiple TVs on, then only one has to be closed captioned. As one speaker urged the Councilors “to do a lot right for no money”—everyone be kind, inclusive and pull out those remotes and find that button to show the words.HonorsThe new gymnasium, running track, climbing wall and amphitheater at North Domingo Baca Multigenerational Center will be named “The Brad Winter Gymnasium” for longtime City Councilor Brad Winter. Winter, who has served 20 years, did not seek re-election for his Northeast Heights District 4 seat. This is phase three of the center located north of Paseo del Norte at 7521 Carmel Ave. NE. Winter is a lifetime pole-vaulter who competes in the Senior Olympics and coaches the Pole Vault Lifestyle as a couple of speakers said. Winter abstained from the voting with what one councilor said was his “Braditude.” Councilor Klarissa Peña said Winter is deserving of the honor but will not vote in support of it because she does not like to name buildings after living people.Chipping Fidos and FluffiesInstead of getting a city pet license, Burqueños must microchip their companion animals such as dogs and cats. Microchips are inserted quickly under the skin and can be scanned to identify our pets if they get lost or subsequently recovered. You can get this done, with no appointment needed, at the two city animal shelters located on the Eastside at 8920 Lomas Blvd. NE or on the Westside at 11800 Sunset Gardens SW. If you go between Dec. 10 and 15 it will be free! Be over 18 years old, take your valid driver’s license to fill out the required paperwork. The city animal peeps said that this change to microchipping instead of traditional forms of licensing will save the city money and help reunite lost or recovered pets with their owners faster.Spiffy BucksThe Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce got a supplemental agreement of $350,000 to do a more specialized form of marketing and promotion to recruit and retain young professionals to stay in Albuquerque and to help attract more police officer candidates who are committed to serving and protecting our diverse communities. The money will allow the Hispano Chamber of Commerce to oversee a public engagement campaign that will showcase Albuquerque as one of the best places to live, work, visit and raise a family. It will support and extend the brand of One Albuquerque.Rock Your MocsNovember is Native American Heritage month and part of that month-long celebration is Rock Your Mocs, where folks are encouraged to wear moccasins in support of our Native American families and friends. “We should all remind ourselves that we are standing on ancestral land,” said Councilor Isaac Benton.Rock Your Mocs was started in 2011 by Jessica Atsye from Laguna Pueblo as a single day event. It now can span a whole week and is being produced by folks from Laguna and Acoma Pueblos. Atsye said moccasins have always been part of Native American culture. Albuquerque is not the only cool place rocking the mocs, there are events being held in Oregon, Minnesota, Oklahoma and Montana. This year’s local event was hosted by the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. Quick HitsTwo 7-Eleven convenience stores located along Central Avenue in Nob Hill and at San Mateo and Kathryn SE will have to come up with a plan to curb violence causing cops to respond hundreds of times to each location. Councilors sent up their wish list for the upcoming state Legislature when it convenes in January for a 30-day session. Some of the items the city is hoping for include money for the 24/7 emergency shelter; a new African American History Museum; road improvements; crime fighting technology; parks, golf course and other city facility improvements; and the list goes on for 71 pages. Hopefully there is plenty of pork in the state’s capital outlay budget.Stepping UpThese fine folks stepped up to take their spots on various boards and commissions: Thomas E. Borst to the Municipal Golf Advisory Board; Jessica H. Lopez to the Arts Board; Josue E. Rodriguez, Chris L. Crum and Paul W. Beck to the Metropolitan Parks & Recreation Advisory Board; Cailyn P. Kilcup to the Small Business Regulatory Advisory Committee; Mona Ghattas and Fred E. Mondragon to the Albuquerque Development Commission; Timothy P. Thackaberry to the Information Services Committee and Dr. Dorothy J. Habrat to the EMS Medical Control Board.
Send your comments about the City Council to carolyn@alibi.com.The next meetings of the Albuquerque City Council:Monday, Dec. 2 and Monday, Dec. 16, 5pmVincent E. Griego ChambersAlbuquerque Bernalillo County Government CenterView it on GOV TV 16 or at cabq.gov/govtv
