Joaquín Baca criticizes Albuquerque over canceled luminaria bus tour

Albuquerque City Councilor Joaquín Baca criticized city leaders Monday over the cancellation of the annual luminaria bus tour. Baca said the city should have consulted district representatives before scrapping the holiday transit service in Albuquerque.

The city said ABQ RIDE will not operate the luminaria bus tour this year. Officials cited weak revenue from the 2025 tour and a desire to let employees stay home with their families on Christmas Eve.

Baca pushed back on both reasons during a Monday night Albuquerque City Council meeting. He said the revenue argument ignored what the tour meant to working families.

“I grew up on the luminaria tour; I rode those buses every Christmas because my dad drove the tour,” Baca said. “We did not grow up wealthy. This is how my parents paid for Christmas.”

Baca also questioned whether the city sought input from affected councilors before ending the ride. He named three councilors who, he said, should have been consulted on related holiday events.

“What’s next? Are we going to take away the Christmas parade and not call Councilor Rogers?” Baca asked. He raised the same point about Councilor Pena and Councilor Bassan.

The city said it will work with neighborhoods to keep the luminaria tradition going without the bus tours. That plan raised safety concerns for Baca.

He warned that without traffic control or signage, walkers could face danger on city streets. Baca said the change was poorly planned and short on community input.

ABQ RIDE is the city’s public transit agency. The luminaria tour has carried riders through Albuquerque neighborhoods to view holiday light displays.

No replacement bus tour date has been set. The city has not said whether future tours will return under ABQ RIDE.