ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – After a recent fire, the City of Albuquerque is detailing new claims against a business that has let a homeless camp stay on its property for well over a year. The city and Quirky Books have been battling since April over a homeless camp in the bookstore’s parking lot. In the latest court filing against the business, city lawyers are outlining a long list of drug-related arrests they claim are connected to the camp.
Fire at Albuquerque bookstore encampment has businesses and city seeking its closure
This month, a fire burned at least five tents at Quirky Used Books and More, just days before Christmas. Albuquerque Fire Rescue believes the fire started inside one of the tents, something city attorneys now note in a new court filing against the bookstore this week. The city wants Quirky Books declared a “public nuisance” in order to close its doors, and the city says beyond the fire, there’s other evidence against the business.
The city claims that the Albuquerque Police Department has “arrested dozens of people both on and near the property for drug trafficking,” adding that the arrests were made during two undercover operations on the encampment on October 1 and December 3.
The city is also accusing the bookstore owner, Gillam Kerley, of observing drug use on his property and not doing anything to stop it. KRQE News 13 spoke with Kerley over the phone on Wednesday, but he declined an interview on the city’s new allegations. Last week, Kerley told KRQE News 13 after the fire that it was important to keep the camp open…