King Keller Reverses Course and Allows Luminaria Tour in ABQ

ALBUQUERQUE —

Mayor Tim “Grinch” Keller has directed the City to continue Albuquerque’s annual Luminaria Bus Tour this Christmas Eve, preserving a longstanding holiday tradition while the City works with neighborhoods and community partners on a more sustainable model for future years.

A week ago, the City of Albuquerque announced in an e-mail the longstanding tour was done and cited rising costs. The title said it was transitioning away from the tradition. It cited under Federal Transit Administration rules, ABQ RIDE cannot charge more than its regular bus fare for the tour. Because ABQ RIDE is a zero-fare transit system, the tour does not generate fare revenue to offset those operating costs.

During last City Council meeting, Councilor Joaquín Baca pointed out that many people within the community were not consulted and even asked if the transit union was contacted. He pointed out that employees look forward to the holiday pay during this event and it helps pay for Christmas for the CABQ worker’s families. He even said the City of Albuquerque was acting like a Grinch.

In a span of 72 hours, Mayor Grinch Keller rode in on a sleigh in an email to save face and say the tour was back on.

“Some traditions are worth fighting for, and Albuquerque’s luminarias bus tour is one of them,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “The current tour costs about $341 per rider, so we know the model needs to change. But we’re not going to lose an Albuquerque tradition while we figure out a better way to keep it going.”

In an e-mail, the city said ten years ago, the bus tour was paired down to a shell of what it once was. Originally, it ran throughout the city and serviced over five thousand riders. The need for a refresh of this tradition is clear. According to the City of Albuquerque, they say current times, the route is simply not fiscally responsible nor is it well attended, only goes to one neighborhood, and is costing nearly $341 per person. 

The e-mail goes on to say the “transit department will also begin the process of conducting research, community meetings, surveys and gathering input on the route, walking options, additional areas and in general what would be the most festive for most Burquenos in years to come.“

Typically, these studies cost taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars with little savings or new ideas and they are presented to the City Council.

We are not sure why a prominent prison gang, Burquenos would have any interest in attending the tour as most are incarcerated around the state at New Mexico prisons. Area residents and visitors from out state were not mentioned in that e-mail paragraph.

“Our employees have made this tradition possible for decades, giving up time with their own families on Christmas Eve so Albuquerque families can experience something special,” said Transit Director Leslie Keener. “We look forward to working with our employees and the community on a model that honors both the tradition and the people who make it possible.”

In the last few years, an online ticket giveaway would happen and the tickets would sell out in a matter of minutes. When the event happened only 60% of the tickets were used and left 40% unused.

ABQ RAW can save the city of Albuquerque money on a study with our idea. Have a meetup time at a location the day of the event and where there is food trucks, food donations to local shelters, Santa photos, and other New Mexico traditions. People can be loaded onto the busses and make it a fair system for all to enjoy the tour.