Twelve days into the New Year, and we already have stuff going on; let’s go “Cruzing” to see who or what we can run into:



First Stop City Hall

Where we find Council member Gary Boren lacing up the gloves and getting ready to rumble with those gasbags from ATMOS. According to an email received from Mr. Boren, ATMOS is a “monopoly” and it’s time to go to the mat for the consumer. Boren will introduce two resolutions at this week’s council meeting to try and change the law and he seems ready to rumble all the way to the state legislature.

Boren says: “Look at your gas bill, explain to me how working families, retirees, sr.citizens, folks on fixed incomes, single parents, singles, small businesses, contractors, ag producers, farmers, are going to survive if no one challenges this Lubbock Monopoly that literally rips the economic guts out of everyone in Lubbock and West Texas. We can challenge, there is risk, but to turn one's head while the monopoly Atmos runs rampant in

its charges would be a worse character flaw at this time!" “We need to understand our times and have the wisdom and courage to know what to do.”

I don’t want to get carried away here, especially since I have taken the councilman to task on other issues; but I have to give this round to Councilman Boren for at least taking the fight to ATMOS.



Second Stop, the Lubbock Hispanic Chamber

Where is everybody? Hello, anybody in? Just “Cruzing” by to see if anybody’s home; haven’t heard much from you lately. Guess they’re all out roasting somebody or the other…



Right Turn to my old Neighborhood; Washington, DC

Anyone who believes that Supreme Court nominee, Judge Samuel Alito, will not shift the court to the right even more if the Senate confirms him, has probably been dipping into that bottle of hooch left over from their New Year’s celebration.



Back to LULAC Central

According to local LULAC treasurer Modesto Rodriguez, this week’s LULAC meeting finds David Miller speaking to the organization’s membership. Does Tom Martin know about this?



Quick Detour to Federal Prison

Just stopped by to make sure Tom DeLay’s new digs are ready; he’s used to such lavish surroundings, just wanted to make sure his cot was made up nicely. Ran into three term lifer Big Jake; said he’d wait up for him!



On the Road Again

As we “cruz” on down the road

in North and East Lubbock, we see that the landscape has not changed much over the years, and in fact some areas seem to be in desperate need of new economic development. We still see the evidence of low wages and economic instability. My friend the accountant tells me he’s hoping that we can make some progress in this area in 2006; and he’s right.

This is an area that has not received as much emphasis as it should. Whatever side of the political aisle you are on, we have to realize that this is an issue in which we must be more aggressive. It is time to realize that economic handouts from the powers that be are not enough to impact our neighborhoods. We must look for ways to advance our economic situation by investing in our own culture and our own neighborhoods. For those that think it’s impossible, think again. There are many business people in this community who still care about this area of the city. Any investors out there ready to take a leap of faith?



Quick Bathroom Break at the Hispanic Cultural Center Anyone?

Wait, do they have one yet? The buildings here, but seems like nobody’s in. For what seems like an eternity, we have been like an expectant father, waiting to see what this effort by the Fiestas del Llano organization has produced. Guess the stork is running late…



We Come to a Screeching Halt!

Is that the Governor we see on the Tech campus? It seems that our self described conservative Governor, Rick Perry, decided to announce his candidacy in person, here in conservative West Texas. Saying he’s a true conservative is the one thing he says that I believe. He conserves the status quo, he conserves his brain energy by not acting creatively and boldly on school financing; he conserves his support by telling his supporters only what they want to hear, and he conserves his status as “Bush’s yes man”. Better get out of here before he sees us!



Final Stop District One

Whoa! Stop! Did I hear that right? Is former Councilman Victor Hernandez planning to try and unseat Councilwoman Linda DeLeon? Could this be true? Time will tell, but I would offer this gentle word of advice to the former council member: people will want to know where he has been over the past two years while others have been at the forefront

of the battle, ahem, getting beat up. You get my meaning?



Better get home, unlike the ATMOS folks, I’m out of gas; and at today’s gas prices, who’s idea was it to go “Cruzing” anyway?



Email: acruztsc@aol.com