New Braunfels voters keep the 'can ban'

NEW BRAUNFELS (KXAN) - Voters in New Braunfels overwhelmingly voted to keep the prohibition on containers for people who ride the river.

And the high turnout in the race dubbed the “ ban the can” and “can the ban ” campaigns have crushed voter apathy.

In the end, the can-ban ordinance was upheld by a margin of 58 percent to 42 percent in an election that drew nearly 9,000 voters.

During early voting, 5,494 ballots were cast before election day. By contrast, only 1,502 early voting ballots were cast in May when the city elected a mayor.

Supporters and opponents of the ban both agree that voter turnout can be attributed to a hot issue concerning New Braunfels biggest resource.

“One way or the other, we should have a voice. Let’s stand for it. Let’s vote,” said Debbie Strong, who voted against the ban.

Opponents of the ban petitioned to have the ordinance put on a ballot rather than leave the decision to the city council.

Campaign signs can be seen all over town and voters have been hit from just about all angles.

“We have done our part in the media, Facebook, websites,” said Emily Coleman. “There have been a ton of events.”

By the time polls closed, lines formed outside polling locations and those voters were still allowed to cast their votes.

In August, the New Braunfels City Council approved the disposable container ban saying it was an effort to cut down on the amount of beer cans and litter left behind by tubers and cut back on the amount the city has to pay to remove the trash.

Then a group against the ban formed and collected enough signatures to get a vote on the issue on Tuesday's ballot.

Ban the Can supporters say this summer nearly 700,000 gallons of trash were removed from the rivers and that 90 percent of that was aluminum cans.

But those who formed the group called Can the Ban said the litter problem was not as bad as ban supporters made it out to be.  Opponents also said if the ban stayed in affect it would keep tubers away and drive down tourism dollars.

After the polls closed, it looked like a majority of voters had cast their ballot in favor of keeping the disposable container ban.

"I think it means that New Braunfels cares about its rivers.  I think it means that we want to preserve those rivers for the next generations," said ban supporter Kathy Krueger.

"We're not done.  We're going to take it if it goes the wrong way, if it goes the other way, there's a court.  It's not anything new.  There are cases that are three, four, five years old that are just stuck in process," said ban opponent Mark McGonigal.

If the ban ultimately passes city leaders say people can still bring whatever food or drink they want so long as it is not in a disposable container.

The ban does not apply to the Guadalupe River outside the New Braunfels city limits.