Top Stories of 2019 #10-6, ABQ International District “Pop-up Park”, The Line

This week on New Mexico in Focus, we begin our annual countdown of the top stories of the year, with a special Line opinion panel of all journalists. Our look back at 2019 kicks off with topics ranging from President Trump’s visit to Rio Rancho this fall to groundwater contamination near New Mexico military installations and Governor Michelle Lujan’s first year in office.

NMiF also looks back at a story from August, when neighbors in Albuquerque’s International District worked with the Nature Conservancy and Rocky Mountain Youth Corps to turn an empty dirt lot into a pop-up public park. Among the goals for the project were to build community and help add greenery to one of the hottest parts of New Mexico’s biggest city that has few natural spaces.

Host:
Gene Grant

Field Guests:
Sarah Hurteau, The Nature Conservancy NM
Karen Cathey, International District Healthy Communities Coalition
Roberto Garcia, International District Resident & Volunteer
Kahdijah Bottom, South San Pedro Neighborhood Association
Curtis Maynard, Rocky Mountain Youth Corps
Valerie Martinez, Artful Life Community Group

Line Panelists:
Gwyneth Doland, adjunct professor, UNM Communication & Journalism
Andy Lyman, reporter, New Mexico Political Report
Jessica Onsurez, news director, Carlsbad Current Argus
Steve Terrell, retired reporter, Santa Fe New Mexican