Neighbors saddled with alley mess

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) - People are using one Albuquerque alley as their personal dump and now the neighbors whose property backs up to the alley have been told they're responsible for cleaning it up.

The alley is located a block west of Wyoming and just south of Lomas.

When KRQE went to check it out on Monday, News 13 found six old beat up couches, two mattresses and a lot of trash.

Bob Hole's property backs up to the alley he said everything back there was illegally dumped there.

"To go out there and confront somebody that's dumping a bunch of stuff is a good way to get your head knocked off consequently I don't do that," Hole said.

In addition to the trash and old furniture, Hole said the alley also attracts a lot of unsavory characters doing some unsavory things like drinking and having sex.

Hole said the alley activity has become such a hassle he's had to build up his backyard fence more and more over the years and even added razor wire on top of the wall.

"It wouldn't take much for somebody to stand on the couch and jump over there, that's the reason for my razor wire and it has worked," said Hole.

The 80-year-old told KRQE News 13 the alley has been a problem off and on for years.

He said in the past he and his neighbors would call the city who would then send a crew to clean up the mess, but that wasn't the case this time.

Instead of getting help, Hole said the city sent him and at least one of his neighbors a violation notice.

"On the back is what really gets my goat it says violation, 'outdoor storage', that's what they've called it," Hole said.

The letter goes on to say Hole should place the 'outdoor storage' inside of a building.

According to city ordinance if your property backs up to an alley you are responsible for keeping at least half of it weed and litter free.

"They can dump it there, then it's my responsibility to pick it up take it to the dump which I would be charged for and to me that doesn't make any sense," Hole said.

A city zoning enforcement manager told KRQE News 13 over the phone in the past they used grant money to help property owners clean up alleys but that money has run out.

That means property owners have to take care of the mess themselves, something Hole said he cannot do even if he wanted to.

"There is no way am I physically able to lift that stuff up even if I had a truck or something," Hole said.

The city said it is willing to work with Hole and his neighbors to give them some more time to clean up the alley-way.

Hole and his neighbors say ultimately they would like to see the alley closed off so people can't get back there to commit crimes and dump their old furniture and trash.