Lubbock Times

A group of 20 Lubbock community leaders led by Steve Massengle and Robert Taylor is taking a multi-pronged approach to the challenges create by the COVID-19 crisis, from economics to health care.

Mayor Dan Pope announced the Lubbock Economic Recovery Task Force (LERT) in a news conference, stating that the task force members are, "on the front line of all that’s going on with the coronavirus,” according to KCBD. The role of the task force will be to advise the Lubbock City Council on the process of reopening the local economy. 

As of April 23, Texas reported 21,944 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, including 561 deaths. Lubbock County has 470 confirmed cases of COVID-19.

Both Taylor and Massengle have long-standing experience in the business community, Pope said.

“Robert runs Lubbock’s largest private business," the mayor said. "When you go into a United store it’s like walking into your own den, it’s that comfortable for us. They’ve had to change their business to keep customers and team members safe. Their goals are to make sure our plans save lives and livelihoods.”

Though they have a background in business, Massengele said they will work toward a responsible approach for reopening the economy.

“We will collaborate and find the best strategy to get Lubbock open for business," he said. "Our task is clear, but our challenges are not yet. The Mayor has given us full authority to access whatever resources we need."

The primary focus for the task force will center around commerce, health care, education and communication.

“We will work on connecting people with jobs and jobs with people,” Massengale said.

Yet they will also work toward betting students – from elementary to universities – back to studying. And they will do all of it with an eye to the keeping the community healthy.

“We have to be able to track our fight against the virus as we open back up,” he said. "We need their data to make good decisions."