Breaking Bad Statues Celebrated by Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller

The mayor of Albuquerque is just as stoked as the fans to see statues erected in the city honoring Breaking Bad. On July 29, several members of the cast and creatives from Breaking Bad and its spinoff series Better Call Saul were present for the unveiling of the statues of Bryan Cranston’s Walter White and Aaron Paul’s Jesse Pinkman. Both Cranston and Paul had traveled back to ABQ for the occasion alongside Breaking Bad‘s Dean Norris (Hank Schrader) and Better Call Saul‘s Michael Mando (Nacho Varga), Patrick Fabian (Howard Hamlin), and Rhea Seehorn (Kim Wexler).

Mayor Tim Keller had also taken to Twitter to bring the celebration of the statues’ unveiling online. The mayor explained why it was so important to memorialize the fictional characters as they represent the TV series that had a tremendously positive impact on the local economy. Keller also expressed how grateful he is for all of the good things that the city’s association with Breaking Bad continues to bring.

“The positive impact that the cast and crew of Breaking Bad have had on our economy and film industry can’t be minimized,” Keller said on Twitter. “The franchise has had over $385 million in economic impact, helped elevate local businesses, and employed over 200 locals per episode.”

In a follow-up tweet, Keller added, “The cast and crew of Breaking Bad will always be friends to Albuquerque, and we will be forever grateful to this production for its positive influences on our city.”

Related: Better Call Saul Showrunner Shares the Story Behind Jeff the Cab Driver’s Recasting

Breaking Bad Has Turned Albuquerque Into a Tourist Attraction for Fans

For better or for worse, Breaking Bad has made Albuquerque a hot spot for fans of the franchise. Many have traveled long distances to take part in tours of filming locations. They also bring business to local restaurants that have been featured in the series, such as the Twisters restaurant used to represent Gus Fring’s chicken joint Los Pollos Hermanos.

However, some fans have been known to take their fandom a bit too far when visiting the house used as Walter White’s home in the TV series. In one particularly memorable Breaking Bad scene, Walter tosses a full pizza onto the garage roof. That inspired many fans to toss pizzas onto the rooftop of the house, much to the chagrin of the residents who have since installed a privacy fence surrounding the house.

“There is nothing original or funny or cool about throwing a pizza on this lady’s roof,” series creator Vince Gilligan previously said on the Better Call Saul Insider Podcast, pleading with fans to stop tossing pizza on the house’s roof.

Gilligan added, “People live in these houses. They’re trying to go about their lives just like we all are.”