THE FATE OF ALBUQUERQUE'S OLD DOWNTOWN JAIL HAS YET TO BE DECIDED. BERNALILLO COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WERE EXPECTED TO VOTE ON A PLAN TO TEAR DOWN THE VACANT BUILDING AT THEIR MEETING TUESDAY NIGHT … BUT DELAYED THE VOTE.
COMMISSIONER WAYNE JOHNSON SAYS DEMOLISHING THE JAIL WOULD COST THREE AND-A-HALF MILLION DOLLARS. BUT IT MAY BE PREFERABLE TO THE ALTERNATIVE. JOHNSON SAYS IT NEEDS 26 MILLION TO 27 MILLION DOLLARS TO BRING THE FACILITY UP TO STANDARD THAT WOULD ALLOW THE COUNTY TO USE IT AS A JAIL AGAIN. PLUS, IT COSTS BERNALILLO COUNTY HALF-A-MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR TO MAINTAIN THE BUILDING.
JOHNSON SAYS HE WISHES THE PROPERTY COULD HAVE BEEN SOLD…BUT THAT NEVER HAPPENED. COMMISSIONER ART DE LA CRUZ SAYS THE COUNTY NEEDS TO STUDY OPTIONS OTHER THAN TEARING DOWN THE JAIL.
