Many University Stadium area residents are enraged at the behavior of game day tailgaters and damage done to their property - a result of what they are calling out of control parties during home football games.
People park everywhere during the tailgating, over curbs, in no parking zones and in private driveways, said Isabel Cabrera, president of the Clayton Heights/Lomas del Cielo Neighborhood Association.
"The poor behavior is out of control and is spilling into our neighborhood," Cabrera said. "We know we live next to the stadium, but we expect respect for our property and our privacy."
Cabrera said UNM has policies in place forbidding many of the acts that have become common occurrences, including a ban on kegs, glass bottles and public intoxication.
"We've tried countless times to sit down with the UNM Athletics department and explain just how bad the situation is, but they don't want to address those issues," Cabrera said.
She said there is also a University policy that all tailgaters have to be inside the stadium half an hour before the game starts but a large portion of the crowd does not even have tickets.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
Cabrera said the neighborhood association has begun documenting the behaviors on film to turn the evidence into the Albuquerque Zoning Office in a last ditch effort to get help in solving the problem.
"We recognize the residents' situations and have taken steps to solve the problems," said Conrad Colbert, senior associate athletics director.
Colbert said the department has additional security patrolling the stadium area on game days and a special cleanup crew goes through the residential areas picking up trash after the tailgate parties.
"Most of the residents recognize our efforts to curb the problems caused by tailgaters and are happy with the progress we are making," Colbert said.
Colbert said he is aware of several UNM fraternities that just "party and leave" from the stadium with no intention of going to the game.
He said he would love to do something to stop that activity but those involved are elusive.
Corrine Melton, an Albuquerque resident, said she has lived near the stadium for many years and is unaware of any UNM programs in place to solve the alcohol or parking problems.
"The situation is completely out of hand," Melton said, adding that she has tried in vain to tell people not to park in her driveway so her disabled husband can park there.
"We're beginning to think that UNM cares more about the almighty dollar than respecting people's personal property."
Melton said she has seen tailgaters urinating on lawns, stealing property from residents and lewd behavior in front of families.
"It has become a free for all," she said. "Something has to be done. It's a miracle nobody has been killed."
Albuquerque Fire Marshal Phil Garcia said his department assessed the parking situation during the tailgate festivities last year and found that residential streets in the area were extremely congested.
"It was found that our units would have a difficult time responding due to the amount of cars parked in and around the neighborhood," Garcia said in a memorandum to the fire chief.
APD Det. Jeff Arbogast said the department has received several complaints regarding the parking situation and found cars blocking driveways and parked on the sidewalk.
"We've found lots of cars parked on people's property," Arbogast said. "We realize the severity of the problem and are currently working to curb the problem."
