Jordan Wheatley urges Lubbock council to end costly program after $5M investment

A call for change echoed through the Lubbock City Council meeting on July 8, 2025, as community leader Jordan Wheatley urged the council to reconsider a long-standing program that has consumed significant time and resources. Representing a coalition of local organizations, including the West Texas Homebuilders Association and the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce, Wheatley expressed frustration over the program's inefficiency, highlighting that over six years, $5 million has been spent with minimal results.

Wheatley praised the city’s engineering and planning staff but questioned the effectiveness of the current program, stating, "I cannot believe how much time and money we have spent on this program." He emphasized that despite the investment, only 14 projects have been completed, prompting him to suggest it might be time to "turn the light out" on the initiative.

The discussion underscored a broader concern about the gaps in project funding and execution, particularly noting a significant hiatus between bond approvals from 2009 to 2022. Wheatley called for a more proactive approach to avoid such delays in the future, urging the council to leverage the expertise of local leaders and businesses to drive progress.

As the meeting concluded, the sentiment was clear: stakeholders are eager for a shift in strategy to ensure that Lubbock's resources are utilized more effectively, paving the way for future growth and development. The council's next steps will be crucial in determining the future of the program and the community's trust in local governance.