When the Lubbock City Council started editing out citizen comments from the video record, they violated the AJ’s free speech and open government admonition. This blackout prevents viewing of the entire meeting, showing only Council business. Instead of voting to censor comments, they cowardly dredged up a resolution from 8 years ago when another Council also resented taxpayers’ input. This arrogant, anti- transparent action blocks out inconvenient facts, information and alternative viewpoints from being seen by those not attending Council meetings. The recording then appears that no citizens were even there at all, making speakers’ opinions irrevelent.
Our South Plains Advocates for Freedom (SPAFF) group and other concerned citizens have researched and spoken about issues like LP&L’s escalating rates, dangers from smart meters, utility hidden tax transfers, nonsensical expensive Imagine Lubbock Together proposals, diversion of City mineral revenues from the General Fund, and Tax Increment Finance districts preventing property taxes from increased values in the downtown Central Business District and North Overton TIFs from adding to the tax base until 2040 and 2031 respectively.
No wonder this Mayor and Council want to keep Lubbockites from knowing how their hard earned tax dollars and utility payments are being spent. The vast majority of our over $1 billion debt and all Council actions diverting money from basic City services into pet projects and areas have NOT been voter approved. If you want more accountability and less secrecy, you must demand that your elected officials restore filming and showing all civil citizen comments relevant to City issues. Don’t let censorship stop ALL views from being heard!
Sincerely,
Mikel Ward
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