ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico — Small-business owners, community advocates and youth-sports volunteers told state lawmakers Monday that drug activity, property crime and public disorder have become routine in many Albuquerque neighborhoods, creating safety concerns for families and financial strain for local businesses.

The testimony came during a legislative crime task force hearing examining the effects of drug trafficking and repeat offenders on communities statewide.

Walter Bracken, owner of BMC Tactical, said drug-related crime outside his business has increased sharply in recent years. He told lawmakers his staff regularly encounters vehicle break-ins, attempted thefts and people using drugs near the storefront.

“We see hand-to-hand drug deals in broad daylight,” Bracken said. He added that customers have expressed reluctance to visit the shop because of safety concerns. Bracken said he has spent thousands of dollars on reinforced doors, upgraded cameras and fencing. “Even after arrests, we see the same offenders back within days,” he said.

Kelly Opp, an advocate with Keep NM Alive, testified about the growing prevalence of fentanyl and methamphetamine in communities statewide. Opp said drug availability has outpaced prevention and treatment resources, particularly among youth. She urged lawmakers to view drug trafficking and addiction as central drivers of property crime and neighborhood instability.

Joshua Price, a former Little League president, described finding used needles, drug paraphernalia and evidence of overnight camping near youth baseball fields he helped maintain. Price said volunteers would arrive early on game days to clear the grounds before children arrived. “We were constantly worried a kid would pick up a needle,” he said.

Price added that repeated calls to law enforcement rarely led to long-term solutions because offenders were typically removed and returned to the same area shortly after. “Nothing stayed fixed for more than a day,” he told lawmakers.

The witnesses said the problems they encounter daily reflect broader concerns about repeat offenders, substance abuse and insufficient accountability within the justice system.

Lawmakers said the testimony would help shape a package of public-safety proposals for the 2025 legislative session.