ALBUQUERQUE – Police officers on horseback surrounded people at Robinson Park on Sept. 25 and told them to leave, creating controversy on a key topic in Albuquerque: homelessness.
The city limited public access to Robinson Park, closing it from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and again from 2 p.m to 5 p.m. The City of Albuquerque sent neighbors living around the park a flyer with the change in schedule, stating that this was because crews needed to maintain the grounds, improve safety and coordinate outreach services for people experiencing homelessness.
Leah Epstein, an organizer with the Albuquerque Party for Socialism and Liberation, said while the restrictions target systemic issues, it risks moving unhoused people out of public spaces without providing them a place to go…