Texas Utility Help Program

Receives More Bill Assistance Funding

The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) announced it is directing an additional $48 million from the Federal Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act to the Texas Utility Help program to support homeowners and renters who need help paying energy bills.

Through Texas Utility Help, homeowners and renters can pay off total past due utility bills for electricity, natural gas, propane, water, and wastewater, plus get up to $2,400 in prospective payments. All approved payments are issued directly to the utility company on the applicant’s behalf.

Applicants must meet the following criteria to qualify:

• Household income must be at or below 150% of Federal Poverty Income Guidelines.

• At least one occupant in the household must be a United States citizen or Qualified Alien.

“The past year was hard on Texans, with rising food, housing and transportation costs and higher energy bills due to extreme heat over the summer. With the additional funds, we hope to ease some of the burden for as many renters and homeowners as possible,” said Bobby Wilkinson, TDHCA Executive Director. “We anticipate receiving more funding this year, although it’s unclear when or how much that will be, so we encourage everyone to apply now if they need help.”

Texas Utility Help also introduced a program change that adds future payments for water and wastewater assistance at $85 per month, through Sept. 30, 2023. Previously, water assistance was only available for past- due balances. Going forward, Texas Utility Help will send a payment to the approved applicant’s water and wastewater provider as one lump sum equal to:

• The applicant’s past-due balance (if any) plus

• $85 per month for future water and wastewater bills, through September 30, 2023

TDHCA advises anyone who qualifies for water and wastewater assistance to apply as soon as possible in order to receive the maximum possible benefit. The total amount of future payments will depend on when an application is approved. Applications approved in January will have $765 for future bills, while those approved in March will have $595 ($85/ month for seven months).

People who applied and were approved for water bill assistance prior to the program change will receive $765 in future payments, which Texas Utility Help will send to applicable water providers this month. Applicants that fall into this category will receive an email from the program so they are aware of the credit being applied to their accounts.

To date, Texas Utility Help has distributed more than $28 million and assisted more than 13,350 households. Funding for the program comes from the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and federal Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP).

For more information and questions, the call center is staffed Monday- Friday 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. and can be reached toll free at 855566-2057. Help is available in multiple languages.

Budget Changes to Help Eligible Residents with Utility Bill Assistance

The Lubbock City Council approved a budget amendment that allows the Community Development Department to add $25,723 from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs to its Comprehensive Energy Assistance Grant Budget. That brings the budget to a total of $1,525,723 for citizens in need of help paying electric bills.

“These are for vulnerable populations, low income, actually poverty level that can apply,” Karen Murfee, Community Development Director, told the Council.

“It’s normally people that are on a fixed income that can’t afford it.”

Murfee said Neighborhood House, in- side the YWCA building at 6501 University Avenue, handles the applications. They are now available until they run out.

“They can either get online and download those applications and submit them by email, or they can make an appointment with Neighborhood House, come to their office, pick up a paper application,” Murfee said. “Then they will go in for an interview and they’ll go through the process with them and get them approved.”

For those who need to set an appointment with Neighborhood House, Murfee encourages them to call first at 806-5891907.

792-1212

(By appointment only)

Advertising

544-6526

MONTHLY DEADLINE

News & Info - 18th

Ad Submissions - 21st - 23rd

To submit news and info: www.latinolubbock.net/have-a-story

Or, email: news@latinolubbock.net

Website: www.latinolubbock.net

Social Media: www.facebook.com/LatinoLubbock twitter.com/latinolubbock www.instagram.com/latinolubbock

Write us at: Latino Lubbock Magazine

P. O. Box 6473 Lubbock, TX 79493

Online Calendar www.latinolubbock.net/events

STAFF

Publisher/Owner

Christy Martinez-Garcia

Sales Consultants

Bridge Communications

Distribution

Frank Garcia, Rosario Smith, Luis & Amanda Peralez, Chris Arteaga, Nancy Alvarado, Nohemi Aradillas, Kevin Gonzalez

CONTRIBUTORS

En Aquellos Días

Rosario Smith

Forward in Christ Pastor Josh Ramirez

My College Experience

Bailee Alonzo

A Teen's View

Blaise Martinez

Opinion Pieces

Individuals interested in writing an Opinion piece* may contact news@latinolubbock.net. Please include your name, contact number, and subject.

*NOTE: Op-ed pieces are scheduled one to two months ahead, and are at the discretion of the publisher. Latino Lubbock Magazine is published monthly, 12 months per year, and distributed usually the first and second day of each month. With 100,000 readers per month. Over 300 distributions points in LBK, and in out of town delivery in Plainview, Hale Center, Cotton Center, Abernathy, New Deal, Idalou, Wolfforth, Morton, Ralls, Crosbyton, Lamesa, Slaton, Littlefield, Brownfield, Shallowater, O'Donnell, Tahoka, Anton, Lorenzo, and Levelland. Now in Midland and Odessa. Bilingual (English 60%/Spanish 40%). This publication is Hispanic, woman-owned and locally operated.

Copyright 2023 by Latino Lubbock Magazine, LLC

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Absolutely no part of this periodical may be reproduced without the consent of Latino Lubbock Magazine. This periodical’s name and logo, and the various concepts, titles and headings therein, are trademarks of Latino Lubbock Magazine.

Editor’s Note: The terms “Latino” and “Hispanic” are used interchangeably by the U.S. Census Bureau and by Latino Lub- bock throughout this publication to identify persons of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central and South American, Dominican, and Spanish descent; they may be of any race.

“When you are finished changing, you're finished.” ~ Benjamin Franklin As we embark on a new year I thought this was a perfect quote to remind us that adaptability is about the ability to embrace change with openness and creativity. It’s the most important skill in life and business because it’s the one that has the ability to keep us in the game when it feels as though the game is ending. Happy 2023! ~ Christy

Martinez-Garcia

Dicho

"The shrimp that falls asleep is swept away by the current." Meaning: You snooze, you lose.

¡Feliz cumpleaños! Happy Birthday!

February/febrero

February

On the Cover "Puppy Love"

Cover By Christy Martinez-Garcia

This month's February cover is deliberate. St. Francis de Sales is known for encouraging Valentine’s Day. And St. Francis of Assisi is associated with patronage of animals. Both encouraged love! Now more than ever, we must love dogs – especially strays. The growing stray dog populations are impacting cities across the U.S. – including, Lubbock! While there is no 'easy answer' to the growing number of strays, this is an issue that requires more public responsibility and involvement. The supply of stray dogs greatly outweighs the demand to be adopted or cared for. Lubbock Animal Services (LAS) needs the public's help to lowering the stray population. On average this past quarter, 150 more animals were brought into the LAS in comparison to this same time last year. Is it a problem? Yes! While many encourage pet adoption, strays and pets alike need to be spayed and neutered. LAS has programs for those who can’t afford to get them fixed and thank goodness for the P.E.T.S. Clinic of Lubbock, a low-cost spay-and-neuter clinic that has also been helpful in addressing the issue. There is no easy answer to the problem. You can help by getting your pet spayed or neutered, microchipped, and safe.

Contents

Word from the Publisher Page 4

Political Page 7

Opportunity/Business Page 8-9

Health/Salud Page 10-11

"Crystal City 1969" Page 12

Education/Youth Page 14-15

Faith & Religion Page 18

Memorials Page 22

Latino Lubbock Magazine's Mission Statement:

"Provide Lubbock news from a Latino perspective for the emerging voice of Lubbock with objectivity, professionalism, cultural competency and understanding, and accuracy; and, give Latinos a publication by, about, and for them that they can take pride in; as well as the community a tool for better understanding and creating dialogue."

Alíviate pronto... Get well soon Our Prayers are with you

Lupe Ramirez

Jesse Madrid

Anna Brito

Rebecca Bustamante

Juan Contreras

Beatrice Hernandez

Coach Edward Hernandez

Manuel Posadas

Raymond Rodriguez

Robert Narvaiz

Pinkie Mungia

Vicky Torres

Henry Castellano

Eloisa Abeyta

Janie Castañeda

Beto Castañeda

Rene M. Dominguez, Sr.

Martin Rivera

Evie Williams

Tavita Dorow

To add names, and to keep us updated on the condition of those listed in the Get Well List please call (806)792-1212.

Copyright 2023 by Latino Lubbock Magazine

NLNA Members Concerned with Pending Permit of Batch Company

Discrepancies, Location, Air Quality Issues and Close Proximity Listed by Residents

BY LATINO LUBBOCK MAGAZINE STAFF WRITER

Members of the North Lubbock Neighborhood Association (NLNA) and residents and business owners of the Jackson neighborhood area, along with their District 1 representative, Councilwoman Christy Martinez-Garcia, held an emergency action meeting to discuss opposition to pending permit #170767 made by Wilbert Funeral Services (WFS), requesting a batch company at 2301 Auburn.

About 100 neighborhood members showed up to contest the construction of the pending batch plant permit in their area concerned about air pollution emissions, as well as received a presentation from Adam Pirtle a staff attorney for Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas who represents NLNA.

As neighborhood members spoke out in opposition to the permit, they expressed concerns ranging from the R2 zoning that was established in 1941, to the lack of effort made by the company to make residents aware of their request, including not posting the information in an alternative language. The neighborhood is predominantly Hispanic, and many of the families speak English or Spanish. Signs posted at the business were in English only.

Martinez-Garcia said that numerous single- and multi-family homes are within 440 yards of this location in all directions. Also, well was added that Cavazos Middle School and the Cavazos athletic facilities are immediately north of the facility. She said that two grocery stores are less than 1,000 feet from the site and a City Park, Hollins Park, shares a common boundary. In addition, a large milk processing facility is also within 440 yards.

“The location proposed in permit #170767 is not separated by such logical barriers but rather is part and parcel of active neighborhoods, parks, schools, and grocery stores,” said the district 1 Councilwoman.

The nearest permitted concrete batch plant is located approximately 4,800 feet to the northwest. This facility is separated from the users and neighbors described above by an active railroad line and Highway 84.

“A concrete plant in the proposed location poses additional air quality and other issues that are not acceptable in such close proximity to homes, schools, and similar existing uses,” she added.

Earlier that evening WFS released a statement claiming they were renewing a permit for an operation that they’ve had for over 30 years:

“Wilbert is committed to being a good community partner and complying with all requirements. We are not changing or expanding our operations at this time, nor are we adding a concrete batch operation. We are simply in the process of renewing our permit with TCEQ for the same operations we have maintained since 1990 which qualifies for permit coverage from the state with a Standard permit.”

In reviewing the application there were several discrepancies in the application including the company not answering questions properly. One such question asked was if there were schools around them. The company responded “no.”

Across the street from WFS is Cavazos Middle School.

“The discrepancy list is one after the other, and it’s very disappointing and concerning, and the public should be alarmed because if this is allowed in this neighborhood, it can happen in any neighborhood,” Martinez-Garcia said.

Several comments were submitted by the residents who also asked for a contested case hearing. According to Councilwoman Martinez-Garcia, Lubbock ISD Superintended Kathy Rollo contacted her to let her know that a letter in opposition to the batch company was also submitted on behalf of the school district.

She also reminded participating members that Texas Tech's Environmental Toxicology Ph.D. Program students were currently making efforts to assess contaminates/pollution in the air around Guadalupe, Jackson-Mayon, and possibly Arnett Benson neighborhoods to begin searching for possible contaminates of interest.

Alize Lozada, president of the NLNA added that they would be waiting for TCEQ to provide a date for a contested case hearing and said that they will be working to assure the neighborhood is well represented.

Visit https://www.tceq.texas.gov/ and include permit #170767 to learn more or submit your comments.