I like Lubbock. It’s a nice size, there’s plenty to do, and it’s not all that expensive to make a nice life for your family here. Sadly, the last part is changing. As I’ve brought up in a few articles before, I’m not a fan of our illustrious mayor or most of the city council, with only two exceptions. Thanks to Mayor Miller, red light cameras are about to adorn 12 intersections, our taxes are higher, and he’s tried to flaunt the name of God wherever he can for his own personal gain. Unfortunately, some Lubbockites thought enough of his self-serving practice of dodging his ideas on policy through evangelism to bring him in as mayor.

Shortly after his installment, he began bringing in prayer and fasting days for Lubbock. This is no surprise due to his political track record so far, especially after trying to bully the local media into supporting his policies through sending out an actual prayer list. I couldn’t believe it at first, but after reading it, I was no longer surprised, just incredibly disappointed.

Miller begins his public prayer with one of the most arrogant statements I have ever heard from someone who actually holds an elected office, and isn’t a televangelist. “There is no question that we are getting some attention from the Enemy as the attacks are more frequent and personal. We are putting on the armor and taking refuge in Him everyday. Therefore, we are not discouraged or disheartened...but we are certainly challenged. Thanks to so many for lifting us up in prayer.”

I am not anti-religion by any means, but I do tend to think it’s unscrupulous to make public prayers condemning those that simply don’t agree with his policies. What one does in private on matters such as that is their personal business, but when it is emailed to quite a few churches in the area and made public for political gain, the practice is quite reprehensible.

Mayor Miller caught quite a bit of flack from constituents at Southcrest Baptist Church, here in Lubbock. According to NewsRadio 1420 AM here in Lubbock, members of South Crest Baptist Church peppered Mayor David Miller with questions about his support of the annexation. At one point a woman said, “What’s going on here is wrong.” That was followed by other members saying responsively “Amen. It is illegal. It is wrong.” And again, “Amen!”

Miller tried to reassure the somber sobers that the move was strictly about revenue, but it was refused by the congregants. “If the citizens want liquor inside the city limits of Lubbock they may chose to have it through the democratic process. I’m not offering that to them. I’m offering a way to generate a small amount of additional revenues that will offset the property taxes by half a penny per year at least and then let the chips fall where they may on all these other things.”

Annexing the strip is one of the few things that Miller said he would work to do while campaigning that he’s actually executed in office. While I don’t really care about annexing the strip too much, because I don’t know if it will be totally worth the delivering of city services out there, but I’m not angrily opposing it. While I could see how this would be interpreted as a step in the right direction for package liquor sales in the city, which I adamantly support, Miller removes most hope for that happening anytime soon. According to KCBD news, “Mayor Miller says turning Lubbock wet won’t be on a ballot any time soon.”

Southcrest Baptist Senior Pastor David Wilson said to NewsRadio 1420, “they fear this will be just the first step to city wide liquor sales. “It desensitizes people and they begin to use the argument ‘Well, it’s already technically in the city limits,’ if it’s annexed. And that will make it that much easier to bring it into the city limits. And that’s our biggest fear.” Miller worked his hardest to reassure them that the city would not be following Wolfforth’s lead in allowing package liquor sales.

I don’t see a problem in being able to buy beer and wine in a grocery store. That’s what many people are used to in their hometowns, and there have been no problems, other than things don’t have the exorbitant prices that they do at the strip. If Miller could do one decent thing for Lubbock, he wouldn’t hide from the idea of allowing us to get away from the strip’s monopoly.