{"id":2123890,"date":"2025-10-30T01:41:20","date_gmt":"2025-10-30T01:41:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2123890"},"modified":"2025-10-30T01:41:20","modified_gmt":"2025-10-30T01:41:20","slug":"city-of-albuquerque-forgets-to-put-entertainment-venue-question-on-the-ballot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/city-of-albuquerque-forgets-to-put-entertainment-venue-question-on-the-ballot\/","title":{"rendered":"City of Albuquerque forgets to put entertainment venue question on the ballot"},"content":{"rendered":"

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A proposal for a major entertainment development in downtown Albuquerque was forgotten from the ballot. So when will voters have a chance to have a say on it?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. \u2014 Less than a week before Election Day, city officials in Albuquerque are acknowledging a major ballot mistake \u2013 one that left an entire proposition off this year\u2019s ballot.<\/p>\n

The Albuquerque City Clerk\u2019s Office says it \u201ctakes responsibility for a clerical error that omitted a proposition from the upcoming ballot,\u201d according to a statement provided to KOB 4.<\/p>\n

The missing proposition would have asked voters to remove a long-standing provision in the city charter that prevents the construction of a downtown performing arts center without voter approval \u2013 a move supporters say is key to unlocking new economic and cultural development downtown.<\/p>\n

City Councilor Joaquin Baca, who helped lead the effort to get the question before voters, said he was stunned by the oversight.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was extremely disappointed. I don\u2019t think this should have happened at all,\u201d Baca said. \u201cThey just missed it. Oversight.\u201d<\/p>\n

The City Clerk\u2019s Office said it is \u201creviewing procedures to prevent future errors and exploring all options to ensure voters can weigh in on this matter as soon as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n

Baca called it \u201ca bit of a snafu,\u201d noting that months of committee meetings, public hearings, and community input went into getting the measure ready in time for the election.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust a big mistake on the part of the city clerk,\u201d Baca said. \u201cI\u2019ve calmed down for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n

When will voters decide on it?<\/h2>\n

Now, city leaders are trying to determine when voters will finally have a chance to weigh in. One option, Baca said, could be adding the question to a possible mayoral runoff ballot later this year \u2013 though he acknowledged turnout for runoff elections tends to be much lower.<\/p>\n

If not, the proposition could be delayed until next year\u2019s regular election, forcing the city to restart the entire process.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will make sure this never happens again,\u201d Baca said.<\/p>\n

He added that the proposed performing arts center would help attract new talent and investment to Albuquerque.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you want to attract doctors, if you want to attract businesses, you have to have the same type of cultural and civic amenities that any other city has,\u201d Baca said. \u201cThis is something Albuquerque is missing.\u201d<\/p>\n

City Council members are expected to discuss the ballot error at their next meeting. Despite his frustration, Baca said he\u2019s grateful the mistake didn\u2019t involve a measure with legal or financial consequences for the city.<\/p>\n