LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – The Lubbock City Council voted 4-3 to reject the repayment of $25,600 from the Civic Lubbock, Inc. Cultural Arts Grants program for the First Friday Art Trail, which was originally canceled in July. The grant funds come from the hotel occupancy tax.
The council also rejected an amended proposal by Councilman Tim Collins to allocate $20,000 solely for security personnel and trolleys at the event.
Following the two rejections, Lubbock Mayor Mark McBrayer made a motion to allocate $5,000 of the grant for security purposes only. The council voted 4-3 in favor of this amendment.
Tuesday’s vote was preceded by three hours of citizen comment, much of which focused on funding for the art trail.
“I pray that the City Council listens to its constituents and that the ghost of Louise Hopkins Underwood haunts you until you make the right decision,” said Gayle Modrall.
David Glasheen, councillor for District 3, spoke out against the grant proposal, saying drag performances are subsidised and funded by taxpayers’ money.
Longtime Lubbock artist Charles Adams says signs are always posted before shows with adult content.
“The only people who will be hurt by getting rid of the trolleys are not CASP and LHUCA, we’re going to get huge crowds. The people who will be hurt are the smaller off-campus venues, and some of them are going to go out of business,” Adams said.
One man who opposes the grants says the city needs to pay for its tax dollars. Other people who called for the grants to be reinstated said the programs at the venues were not funded with tax dollars from Civic Lubbock, Inc. or HOT.
“I have booked, directed and written free programs for families. I am a queer artist and I am not obscene,” said Mary Hogan, coordinator of the First Friday Art Trail.
Lubbock resident Gay Herrin says this advice encourages those concerned about the city’s debt and fiscal responsibility. She describes herself as a concerned grandmother who doesn’t want one group to change the city’s healthy culture.
“It takes courage and determination that should not be included in the city budget in the first place. I am for the Art Trail, but they are not eligible for this grant,” Herrin said.
While Herron says the majority of the city supports the City Council’s decision to reject the grant, that majority did not speak at Tuesday’s meeting. More than 30 people spoke in favor of funding the First Friday Art Trail, while only a handful spoke against it.
Editor’s note: Taylor Ernst, wife of KCBD News Director Matt Ernst, is a trustee at LHUCA. James Eppler, host of “Good Day Lubbock,” is on the board of directors of Civic Lubbock, Inc.
All rights reserved.
