This press release is also available as a PDF.
ALBUQUERQUE, NM—The Southwest Public Policy Institute (SPPI) denounces the City of Albuquerque’s recent attempt to quash a valid subpoena aimed at obtaining crucial public records. Mayor Tim Keller and City Clerk Ethan Watson’s ongoing efforts to obstruct the release of a public records database—owned by the City but housed with a third-party vendor—mark a bold escalation in the City’s campaign against transparency.
Ethan Watson has chosen to fight tooth and nail to keep the public in the dark.
Nearly two years ago, SPPI requested access to the CivicPlus NextRequest database under the New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA). This database could reveal whether City officials subject certain public records requests to unnecessary delays or denials. Rather than comply, the City has repeatedly claimed it does not have the requested information or cannot provide it. In response, SPPI issued a subpoena to CivicPlus, the platform’s custodian, which immediately revealed a key fact: the database is indeed City property, and CivicPlus stands ready to provide it if the City consents or is ordered by the Court.
“Instead of coming clean, the City of Albuquerque, through its representative Ethan Watson, has chosen to fight tooth and nail to keep the public in the dark,” said Patrick M. Brenner, President of SPPI. “Their motion to quash our subpoena is yet another brazen move to shield City Hall from scrutiny, defying the letter and spirit of openness and transparency in government. This is not just a technical dispute over records—it’s a fundamental challenge to open government.”
In its motion to quash, the City offers vague and unsubstantiated claims that the database might contain privileged or sensitive information. IPRA and established case law allow the City to redact exempt content while releasing the remainder. Instead of following these well-established rules, the City has stonewalled legitimate oversight, forcing SPPI into a costly and time-consuming legal battle.
“The City’s legal maneuvering is a slap in the face to residents who deserve honesty and accountability from their elected officials,” Brenner added. “By obstructing our subpoena, Mayor Keller and Clerk Watson are telling the public: ‘We have something to hide, and we will use every legal loophole to keep it hidden.’ This is a far cry from the transparency and good governance that Albuquerque citizens deserve.”
SPPI has filed its response in opposition. SPPI remains resolute in its mission to illuminate the workings of local government. With this latest attempt to thwart public oversight, the Institute will continue to pursue all legal remedies, seeking a court order compelling the City to release the database.
This press release is also available as a PDF.