SAN ANTONIO — A group of volunteers led by South Side business owner Norman Velez cleaned up trash along Southwest Military Drive from Pleasanton Road to Commercial Avenue on Sunday morning after a Spurs playoff victory celebration on Saturday night. The cleanup was expected to take about three hours as volunteers walked the route, collecting bags of trash and returning later to haul them away.
Velez, a lifelong South Side resident who owns Brewster's Backyard Ice House near the cleanup route, said, "I don't think I've ever been this happy to pick up trash because that tells me that the Spurs won last night and everyone celebrated." He added, "When I drive through and I see it, it just bothers me to see our community looking dirty."
Fans often gather along Southwest Military Drive from Pleasanton Road to Commercial Avenue after big Spurs wins, honking horns and celebrating late into the night. The amount of trash increases after major Spurs playoff victories, leaving litter that might otherwise be left for nearby businesses and property owners to handle.
The volunteer group typically consists of between five and 15 people, depending on the day and the level of community participation. Velez encouraged fans to celebrate responsibly, saying, "Have a good time, but let's have another celebration and clean our city the next day and represent the San Antonio Spurs the Spurs way." Those interested in helping with future cleanup efforts can contact Velez through Brewster's Backyard Ice House.