Description

While I have noticed the littering of empty alcohol containers throughout Eldorado my specific concern is with the heavy concentration of littering on Avenida de Compadres between Avenida Eldorado and Herrada Road. Over the past year I have collected hundreds (yes hundreds) of discarded cans, bottles (glass and plastic) and 1 ounce "shooters" primarily alcoholic in nature. The saturation and nature of the litter indicates more than casual drinking and drinking by more than a couple of individuals. One can assume a large portion of this drinking takes place during the day and by parties who are frequently in Eldorado. This stretch of road has four greenbelt access crossings. It's also an area where the prevailing 35 MPH speed limit is routinely violated. Visibility is poor at the Herrada Road intersection. I have discussed this situation with Eldorado Security (personally showing one of the personnel beer cans I had just collected), the ECIA, Neighborhood Watch, the Eldorado Road Committee as well as the Sheriff's Department. This is a serious issue with huge downside potential. It's illegal to drink and drive and litter—period. It's especially worrisome in a RESIDENTIAL area particularly given the concentration and saturation of the drinking and littering.

While I have adopted the stretch of road and virtually eliminated all tall weeds and related littering opportunities the problem persists. I continue to bring the problem to the attention and anyone remotely concerned. The simple fact is that alcoholism and littering seem to be an integral part of the New Mexico culture and there is a perverse acceptance, tolerance and certainly enabling of the situation. DWIs with death resulting continue to accumulate. This is a RESIDENTIAL neighborhood that will, unfortunately, experience some preventable tragedy before the problem is adequately considered.