To support economic growth in District 2 and the rest of Lubbock in order to bring the city into the 21st century.
He said, “I think Lubbock, Texas is 50 years behind.” “Where is our Riverwalk?” Where is the sixth street? Where is our big elm? Where is our market in downtown Houston? We don’t want any of that.
People not in his district but in a district next to it don’t like this about him.
Harris said he voted yes because it was his mission, even though many people in the community and Texas Tech students asked the council to vote no. He said this both on and off the podium.
Harris said, “That’s my job: to make the city grow.” “We need to find a way to keep Tech graduates in Lubbock after they graduate.” Lubbock will be better because of that.
Harris also said he might try to get Lubbock’s downtown area revitalised. This has been the talk of the town for years, but not many projects have moved forward.
Harris said that he has learnt a lot while being on the council and that he has other big goals he wants to reach in the next three years. He is now in the second year of his first term.
The first problem is with prairie dogs, which come from a park in his district and cause problems all over Lubbock.
He said, “I mean, they’re destroying the city, the parks and all that.” “There are holes and other things all over the park that kids can’t even walk through.” You can’t run in them. That’s not good enough for us.
He is working with city staff and other council members to see what can be done because prairie dogs are starting to show up miles away from Prairie Dog Town, where they belong. Harris talked about some of his very creative ideas.
Some are in south Lubbock and some are as far west as Milwaukee Avenue.
Another big goal of Harris’s is to get young people in Lubbock involved in politics again. He said that he has personally encouraged young people to vote in both federal and local elections.
“People in Lubbock need to change the way they think because half of the people who vote are scared that if you do something new, their taxes will go up.” He said, “And that’s not true.”
He also said that he wants people to be involved in their government so that they can know how things will affect them and so that a new generation of leaders can be inspired.
Which brings us to his possibly biggest idea, one that would completely change the way politics work in Lubbock.
Harris said, “I’m looking into trying to find a way that we can change the city charter so that council members get paid.”
Harris said that he wants council members to make a “livable wage,” just like in other Texas cities. He hopes that this will encourage younger people, not just the rich or retired, to run for city council.
“You know someone who works for FedEx or UPS? They drive every day around town.” They know what needs to be fixed up in this city. Harris said, “They need to be able to get together so they can help this city.”
But no matter what happens, Harris said he will keep working to help Lubbock and his district grow and get more opportunities.
