ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – We are a day out from former President Trump’s rally in Albuquerque, and after a conflict over where people attending the rally will be able to park, the state’s Republican party said they have a solution.
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People were originally told they could park about two miles down the road at Isleta Amphitheater until a state official said that wasn’t allowed. Rally-goers are now being told to park in other areas around Mesa Del Sol in places like the Aperture Center.
Trump rally organizer originally made a deal with Live Nation, which operates shows at Isleta Amphitheater, to let people park there and take shuttles to the rally as CSI Aviation near the Sunport. However, the State Land Commissioner said the campaign could not use that parking lot because it’s actually owned by the state, and Live Nation’s lease agreement does not allow the lot’s use for events not held at the amphitheater.
The move drew strong criticism from state Republican leaders, accusing the land office of playing politics.
Now, rally organizers have announced a new plan to have people park in lots and parallel spaces around Mesa Del Sol which are privately owned but free for public use. The owner of Mesa Del Sol, Steve Chavez, told KRQE News 13 on Wednesday that since these spaces are designated for public parking, anyone is welcome to park here for the rally or otherwise.
The state GOP said the shuttles will now run from those areas to and from the rally location. “Shuttles are going to be running from not only aperture but also all of the other scattered lots, people parking on the streets buses will stop and pick them up so lots of ways to get to the hangar,” said Steve Pearce, Chairman of the Republican Party of New Mexico.
A spokesperson for the City of Albuquerque confirmed the parking spaces in question are privately owned and said the city has no role in maintaining them or regulating how they are used.
The Republican Party of New Mexico said they are expecting thousands of people to be in attendance. The rally is scheduled for Thursday at noon.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)