Proposed ‘Alleyway Ordinance’ Could Help Keep Areas Debris-Free
By Martin Bartlett
EL PASO — Local residents are responsible for alleyways in and around their own homes, but soon the city may be taking over the job ofensuring ‘debris-free’ alleys.
Members of city government are suggesting the city take charge over keeping certain areas clean. But the decision on the proposal will be determined ultimately, by cost.
Leaders with the city’s Environmental Servicescould have an estimate as early as Friday to determine whether toapprovean ordinance that would clean up hundreds of alleys.
It’s welcome news to some people ABC 7 spoke with.
Christmas trees, gutted guitars, and all sorts of refuse — all left by other people –have been a plague for Donald Jackson’s rear alley in Central El Paso, but now he’s glad that after 40 years, the city may be helping out.
“All kinds of sofas and chairs and a lot of different types of trash are dumped back there,” Jackson said.
Many residents felt it was unfair and more often than not, they would refuse to clean up the alleyways. Representative Susie Byrd said agreed that they shouldn’t have to do that.
“[Residents] feel like, you know, this isn’t my trash — and this is a public right of way — so why am I responsible for cleaning it up?” Byrd said.
“We spend a lot of time with inspectors out in our alleys giving tickets and then eventually we end up going out and cleaning it up,” Byrd said, while inspecting the area behind her own home.
No cityofficialwanted to speculate on the cost to take on such a burden, but the budget office is working to present the estimate as soon as possible.
