Southwest Public Policy Institute (SPPI) has been featured in multiple news outlets this past week, spotlighting our ongoing efforts to ensure government transparency in Albuquerque. Our recent lawsuit against the City of Albuquerque, which seeks to uncover potential misconduct in handling public records requests, has garnered significant attention in local media.
SPPI Files Lawsuit to Hold Albuquerque Accountable
News broke about SPPI’s lawsuit against the City of Albuquerque and City Clerk Ethan Watson. The lawsuit stems from the City’s refusal to comply with the New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA) after SPPI requested access to the CivicPlus NextRequest database, which tracks all public records requests.
This legal action has caught the attention of multiple publications because it raises serious concerns about how the City manages public records and whether certain individuals or organizations are being unfairly targeted with delays or denials.
“This lawsuit is crucial because it addresses potential misconduct in how the City handles public records requests… By denying access to the public records database, Ethan Watson and Mayor Tim Keller effectively blocked our efforts to investigate these concerns and undermined the public’s right to know.”
Why This Matters
Our lawsuit is part of a broader mission to uphold transparency and accountability in New Mexico’s government. Albuquerque’s refusal to release public records undermines the foundations of open government. The public has a right to know how their city processes records requests, and our efforts to access this database are crucial in exposing whether the City is fulfilling its legal obligations under IPRA.
Our initiative has highlighted disturbing patterns of non-compliance within Albuquerque’s government, further illustrated by a history of fines related to mishandled public records. As we told the press, this isn’t just about one request; it’s about ensuring that citizens have full access to information regarding how their government operates.
SPPI’s Commitment to Transparency
SPPI’s advocacy for open government is unwavering, and local and regional media outlets have now recognized our efforts to expose misconduct in managing public records. Our lawsuit has drawn attention to the urgent need for accountability within the City of Albuquerque, and we’re grateful for the media coverage that amplifies our message.
As a nonprofit research institute, we believe no one should be above the law, especially regarding transparency. The public deserves to know whether their government is acting in their best interest—and we are committed to ensuring they do.
What’s Next?
We are actively pursuing a court order to compel the City to release the CivicPlus NextRequest database and hold city officials accountable for their lack of transparency. We are also seeking damages and attorney’s fees to reinforce the seriousness of this violation of public trust.
For updates on the lawsuit and more information about our efforts, follow us on social media and visit our website. We will continue fighting for the public’s right to access vital information about their government’s operations.
Stay Informed
This is just the beginning of a larger conversation about transparency and accountability. We invite you to read more about our work and support SPPI’s mission by staying informed and advocating for open government in your own communities.
Together, we can ensure that public records remain accessible and that officials are held accountable to the people they serve.