reyAlbuquerque City Councilor Rey Garduño, who represents District 6, is introducing a resolution at tonight’s City Council meeting to recognize the city’s Southeast Heights in and around Louisiana Boulevard between Central Avenue and Zuni Road avenues as the International District.

His resolution is in conjunction with efforts by state Sen. Tim Keller, D-Albuquerque, to pass Senate Joint Memorial 24, which would do the same.

Renaming the area is the culmination of a long community-based process to re-brand it in light of the common reference to it in a derogatory manner, especially by the media. The same part of town was once (and by the media often is still) referred to as “the war zone.” Many residents think this moniker is insulting and that it doesn’t recognize the hard work over many years to redevelop the area.

Discussions about the idea began nearly six years ago in neighborhood association meetings, health coalition meetings and every community meeting in the Southeast Heights, a statement from Garduño’s office said.

Those discussions culminated in two recent Town Hall meetings with Keller and Garduño, where the community settled on the name.

“The population is the most diverse in the city, and possibly the state,” Garduño said. “Native Americans and New Mexicans whose families have been in New Mexico for hundreds of years live alongside recent immigrants from Mexico, Central and South America, Asia, Europe, Africa, and many other countries.”

So, Albuquerque, say hello to the International District.