City councilors to take up barbed wire issue
Posted at: 12/02/2012 8:45 PM
| Updated at: 12/02/2012 10:15 PM
By: Adam Camp, KOB Eyewitness News 4
Albuquerque wants to get rid of all barbed and razor wire in residential areas. A city ordinance already exists that prohibits the wiring in residential areas, but because of technical glitches in the wording of the ordinance, city zoning officials have not been able to enforce the code.
But City Councilor Isaac Benton said the ordinance that could be voted on Monday night will make it clear for anyone to take down their barbed and razor wiring
He said he empathizes with people in bad neighborhoods trying to protect their homes, but said the wires have to go.
"There's also a perception of what a neighborhood looks like, and when you see razor wire in a residential area, to me it sends a message, you're in a bad area," Benton said.
One woman in Southeastern Albuquerque had razor wire on her back fence for the last five years. "
We had people coming, it was an empty lot back there, and they would jump the wall, and one time they did rob my shed," Charmaine said.
But she said no one bothered her once the razor wire came up. And she had something to say about the city telling others to take down the specific wiring.
"I feel like if people want to protect themselves from any invaders or theft, you know, hey, you could put it up," she said.
But Charmaine said she would not fight the city if they told her to take it down.
"Not at all. Because I was told that it probably would be a deterrent to me selling the house," she said.
If the city council approves the proposal Monday night, Charmaine, along with other residents like her, would have six months to take down the wiring.
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