Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
This week on New Mexico in Focus, we home in on the City of Albuquerque's controversial new "Enhanced Services and Safety Zone Ordinance," more commonly known as the "sidewalk law." Tiffany Leger, founder of the Albuquerque Homeless Union, tells Host Nash Jones it's just another way to criminalize and punish unhoused people. Then, Nash sits between City Councilor Joaquín Baca, who sponsored the measure, and the New Mexico Stronger Together Coalition's Lisa Christopherson, who opposes it, for a debate over the law's merits, its intentions — and whether it's the right tool to address the city's chronic homelessness situation.
We close the show with a back-to-school story — New Mexico in Focus style. Nash sits with Albuquerque City Councilor Nichole Rogers, Mayor's Office Field Representative Angelica Archuleta-Romero and Natalie Vargas, president of the South San Pedro Neighborhood Association to learn about innovative new approaches to ensuring International District kids can walk safely to school.
Host:
Nash Jones
Segments:
Albuquerque Homeless Union Founder Decries New ‘Sidewalk Ordinance’
Correspondent:
Nash Jones
Guest:
Tiffany Leger, founder, Albuquerque Homeless Union
City Councilor, Community Advocate Debate City's New 'Sidewalk Law'
Correspondent:
Nash Jones
Guests:
Joaquín Baca, Albuquerque City Councilor, District 2
Dr. Lisa Christopherson, Ph.D., New Mexico Stronger Together Coalition
New Approaches for a Safe Walk to School
Correspondent:
Nash Jones
Guests:
Nichole Rogers, Albuquerque City Councilor, District 6
Natalie Vargas, President, South San Pedro Neighborhood Association
Angelica Archuleta-Romero, Field Representative, Albuquerque Mayor's Office
Clean Alleyways, Student Murals Make Safer Paths to School
Correspondent:
Nash Jones
Guests:
Nichole Rogers, Albuquerque City Councilor, District 6
Natalie Vargas, President, South San Pedro Neighborhood Association
Angelica Archuleta-Romero, Field Representative, Albuquerque Mayor's Office
--
0:00 Intro
02:22 Albuquerque Homeless Union Founder Decries New ‘Sidewalk Ordinance’
14:32 City Councilor, Community Advocate Debate City's New 'Sidewalk Law'
37:00 New Approaches for a Safe Walk to School
48:35 lean Alleyways, Student Murals Make Safer Paths to School
This program is made possible by viewers like you. Support NMPBS: bit.ly/donatetonmpbs
Subscribe to the NMPBS channel for more clips: youtube.com/@NMPBS
Enjoy full episodes of your favorite NMPBS shows anytime, anywhere with the free PBS App. Learn how: newmexicopbs.org/what-we-do/how-to-watch-us
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FOLLOW NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS
Instagram: instagram.com/nm_in_focus
This week on New Mexico in Focus, we home in on the City of Albuquerque's controversial new "Enhanced Services and Safety Zone Ordinance," more commonly known as the "sidewalk law." Tiffany Leger, founder of the Albuquerque Homeless Union, tells Host Nash Jones it's just another way to criminalize and punish unhoused people. Then, Nash sits between City Councilor Joaquín Baca, who sponsored the measure, and the New Mexico Stronger Together Coalition's Lisa Christopherson, who opposes it, for a debate over the law's merits, its intentions — and whether it's the right tool to address the city's chronic homelessness situation.
We close the show with a back-to-school story — New Mexico in Focus style. Nash sits with Albuquerque City Councilor Nichole Rogers, Mayor's Office Field Representative Angelica Archuleta-Romero and Natalie Vargas, president of the South San Pedro Neighborhood Association to learn about innovative new approaches to ensuring International District kids can walk safely to school.
Host:
Nash Jones
Segments:
Albuquerque Homeless Union Founder Decries New ‘Sidewalk Ordinance’
Correspondent:
Nash Jones
Guest:
Tiffany Leger, founder, Albuquerque Homeless Union
City Councilor, Community Advocate Debate City's New 'Sidewalk Law'
Correspondent:
Nash Jones
Guests:
Joaquín Baca, Albuquerque City Councilor, District 2
Dr. Lisa Christopherson, Ph.D., New Mexico Stronger Together Coalition
New Approaches for a Safe Walk to School
Correspondent:
Nash Jones
Guests:
Nichole Rogers, Albuquerque City Councilor, District 6
Natalie Vargas, President, South San Pedro Neighborhood Association
Angelica Archuleta-Romero, Field Representative, Albuquerque Mayor's Office
Clean Alleyways, Student Murals Make Safer Paths to School
Correspondent:
Nash Jones
Guests:
Nichole Rogers, Albuquerque City Councilor, District 6
Natalie Vargas, President, South San Pedro Neighborhood Association
Angelica Archuleta-Romero, Field Representative, Albuquerque Mayor's Office
--
0:00 Intro
02:22 Albuquerque Homeless Union Founder Decries New ‘Sidewalk Ordinance’
14:32 City Councilor, Community Advocate Debate City's New 'Sidewalk Law'
37:00 New Approaches for a Safe Walk to School
48:35 lean Alleyways, Student Murals Make Safer Paths to School
This program is made possible by viewers like you. Support NMPBS: bit.ly/donatetonmpbs
Subscribe to the NMPBS channel for more clips: youtube.com/@NMPBS
Enjoy full episodes of your favorite NMPBS shows anytime, anywhere with the free PBS App. Learn how: newmexicopbs.org/what-we-do/how-to-watch-us
FOLLOW NMPBS
Instagram: instagram.com/nmpbs
Facebook: facebook.com/NewMexicoPBS
Linkedin: linkedin.com/company/knme-tv-new-mexico-pbs
Website: nmpbs.org
FOLLOW NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS
Instagram: instagram.com/nm_in_focus
