LETTER: Too much trash on Texas roadways
During the recent holidays, I (a native Texan) drove across parts of West Texas (where my mom grew up) and was appalled by volumes of ugly, unpicked-up trash and litter along streets, roads (especially interstate 20) and private parking lots west and south of Odessa, notably the cities of Crane, Monahans and Pecos, and across Ector, Crane, Ward and Reeves Counties.
Litter breeds diseases and vermin and injures/kills both humans.
Unfortunately, Texas’ is now the tenth “worst” state for public spaces cleanliness and environmental performances in the American State Litter Scorecard. Over 90 Texans die each year from vehicle collisions from debris and litter not removed along public roads. Additionally, our beloved Gov. Perry, the “wannabe President,” is rated a bottom-five (No. 45) national state leader for a “Environmental Responsibility Reputation” by Greenopia.
It’s questionable that TxDOT and governmental personnel in the mentioned cities and counties are actually picking up litter and debris in a timely manner, as required under the Texas Litter Abatement Act and by related state laws and ordinances. The “DONT MESS WITH TEXAS” anti-litter campaign seems to have been forgotten “out here,” having little respect across parts of West Texas; the expectations by some Texas taxpayers for improved personal health and well–being gone with the wind as well.
Our great state’s citizenry needs to hold public officials responsible for allowing clumsy litter cleanups and less than good environmental quality by the use of stronger oversight and transparency — locally and at Austin.
