Mayor Tim Keller and the city of Albuquerque are attacking crime again with a new plan called “Downtown TEAM.”The program asks business owners to contribute to a fund that would pay for more officers stationed downtown. Del Esparza is the CEO of Esparza Digital and Advertising. As of Thursday, he’s the only business owner contributing to the fund. Esparza donated $500.”I want a vibrant downtown. I want an exciting downtown. Right now, there’s a perception that it is not safe. There has to be something done, and I’m willing to invest some of my assets and money in securing that safety,” Esparza said. Other downtown businesses aren’t so sure. KOAT spoke to some business owners who say they should not have to pay the city for that extra support.Jessica Zubia represents Katrina’s Ice Cream Shop.”For us? I don’t really think it would benefit us,” Zubia said. “We can easily hire someone privately to protect our doors. For us to pay the government to protect us, I don’t think that it’s right.”Just around the corner is The Man’s Hat Shop. Stuart Dunlap is the President and CEO. “I think it’s very silly. We already pay taxes for police protection. We pay property taxes. We pay business tax. We buy a business license. Having additional money come in from business owners downtown is completely out of line, I think,” Dunlap said. Albuquerque currently has around $90,000 to fund the program, $15,000 of which came from PNM, and the rest was through donations from the One Albuquerque fund.
Mayor Tim Keller and the city of Albuquerque are attacking crime again with a new plan called “Downtown TEAM.”
The program asks business owners to contribute to a fund that would pay for more officers stationed downtown.
Del Esparza is the CEO of Esparza Digital and Advertising. As of Thursday, he’s the only business owner contributing to the fund. Esparza donated $500.
“I want a vibrant downtown. I want an exciting downtown. Right now, there’s a perception that it is not safe. There has to be something done, and I’m willing to invest some of my assets and money in securing that safety, “Esparza said.
Other downtown businesses aren’t so sure. KOAT spoke to some business owners who say they should not have to pay the city for that extra support.
Jessica Zubia represents Katrina’s Ice Cream Shop.
“For us? I don’t really think it would benefit us,” Zubia said. “We can easily hire someone privately to protect our doors. For us to pay the government to protect us, I don’t think that it’s right.”
Just around the corner is The Man’s Hat Shop. Stuart Dunlap is the President and CEO.
“I think it’s very silly. We already pay taxes for police protection. We pay property taxes. We pay business tax. We buy a business license. Having additional money come in from business owners downtown is completely out of line, I think,” Dunlap said.
Albuquerque currently has around $90,000 to fund the program, $15,000 of which came from PNM, and the rest was through donations from the One Albuquerque fund.
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