Lubbock Left

At last night’s District 3 Town Hall meeting, several people spoke eloquently about taking care of our existing streets and other infrastructure. 19th, 34th, and 50th streets in particular were mentioned. Dr. Ho, owner of an eye clinic on 34th St., spoke on behalf of the 34th St. Association — a group of 150+ business owners on 34th St. He says that the Association has a plan to revitalize 34th St. beginning with the intersection of 34th and University and working outward in both directions, but past City Councils have declined to act on the plan.

I believe that our city has been led by developers for so long that we’ve lost sight of saving and maintaining what we’ve already built. We continue to build out and out and out, and we can’t afford it. Currently the City maintains less than 10% of our streets at the level they need to be maintained. And what do we see on our forthcoming bond proposal? More brand new streets in Southwest Lubbock to make the builders, landowners, and developers happy.

Don’t get me wrong — I’m all for growth and increasing our tax base. But, we have to grow responsibly, in a way that doesn’t rip off the folks who are already taxpayers by depriving them of basic services. 34th St. is cracked, partially sidewalk-less, and a difficult place to run a business. We need creative solutions — and funding — to address these problems.

Like the picture of the water tower just east of 34th and University indicates, opportunity exists in central and downtown Lubbock.

Let’s slow our outward building so that we can look inward.