Albuquerque Moves to Close Alleyways to Deter Unhoused People

In the wake of a Supreme Court ruling that gave cities legal endorsement to criminalize homelessness, Albuquerque, New Mexico is barring people from sleeping in alleyways in the city’s International District.

As Marni Rose McFall reports in Newsweek, “The initiative, led by City Councilor Nichole Rogers, aims to reduce crime and improve safety in areas heavily affected by homelessness, drug use, and related issues.”

The city will close off three alleys that local first responders say are the locations of a high number of calls.

City Councilor Nichole Rogers, who spearheaded the initiative, acknowledges that other efforts are needed to reduce homelessness. “This is an all hands on deck crisis and we need to be thinking of it that way and we need to be thinking about it, how do we alleviate suffering?”

In Southern California, the city of San Marcos could also impose new restrictions on encampments, barring people from sleeping in public spaces even when shelter beds are not available.