ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Owning a business is hard enough, but for one Albuquerque business owner she’s had to move not once, not twice but three times due to break-ins, drug use, human feces, and homeless encampments blocking entrances.
“People are closing down left and right, and one of the number one reasons that I’m reading homelessness, break ins, you know, nobody wants to deal with that anymore,” Taren Archibeque said.
Taren Archibeque’s passion is candy but the Stick Fingers Candy owner told KOB 4 recent setbacks are making her dream turn sour.
“Nobody makes us do this, right? Nobody’s making me make candy. I do it because I like doing it. I do it because I want to do it. And when it comes to a point where you don’t even want to do it anymore, making candy is not even fun, you know. Like, how is candy not fun?” she said.
Archibeque said at every turn, she’s faced hurdles.
“Oh, man, if the stories I could tell from having a business in Albuquerque would just go on for hours.,” she said. “Every time I go I feel like I have to restart all over again.”
The latest problem
The latest issue? Homeless encampments blocking her storage unit by Bennie Hargrove Park, which is known to be a popular sleeping spot.
“I’m trying to get my supplies out, you know, I got shipping boxes. I got to get my tape, I got to refill this, get that I don’t want my back turned to, you know, people that I don’t know. And especially people that have already been hostile in the past.” Archibeque said. “You’d be walking, you see somebody squatting, going poop. I mean, nobody wants to see that.”
Archibeque has had contact with the city about this problem but says they can’t solve it alone.
“The city is not really responsible for people at the same time, so it’s hard to put it onto the city as well, right? Like, yes, I want them to move people along. But you can’t just keep shuffling them, right? It’s not solving a problem. They have to find a place to go,” she said.
Archibeque said she doesn’t have all the answers but believes part of the solution is including our homeless population in the process of finding one.
KOB 4 reached out to the city for comment. A spokesperson tells us they’re aware of the concerns in the area and are actively responding with Albuquerque Police, Albuquerque Community Safety and the Encampment Interaction Team. The city’s full statement is below.
The City os Albuquerque’s statement on the encampments
The City of Albuquerque is aware of concerns regarding encampments near Bennie Hargrove Park and is actively responding through coordinated efforts by APD, ACS, and the Encampment Interaction Team.
APD’s Downtown officers patrol this area daily and respond to calls throughout the day. This year, officers have handled 35 calls for service, the majority of which were proactive checks, and have made seven arrests connected to this location. Officers were on-site today and arrested an individual, Will Hickman, who had an active misdemeanor warrant and is well-known to officers working in the area. APD’s Valley Command staff continue to engage nearby business owners during routine patrols.
ACS has also been actively working in the area. Between October 28 and November 15, ACS teams engaged 86 individuals, including 54 meaningful engagements where people accepted services, resources, or referrals. 32 individuals declined services, which ACS documents during each outreach effort.
Additionally, the City’s Encampment Interaction Team conducts daily patrols in and around the park. When an encampment is identified, either through 311 reports or field observation, the team issues a notice to vacate and takes appropriate action based on ordinance violations.
The City remains committed to addressing encampments through a balanced approach that includes enforcement, outreach, and ongoing engagement with nearby residents and businesses.
