Landfill problems lingering

The Highway 6 Landfill causes a potential threat to Prairie View A&M University's image as well as the city's, according to Mayor Frank Jackson.

Mayor Jackson said, "The idea of a landfill comes with a lot of negative weight."

PVAMU plays a huge role in the city's economy. The association with a landfill could scare away potential business developers.

Mayor Jackson described a red line surrounding Prairie View making it difficult to lure developers and requiring even more effort to persuade maintenance of their business.

"Folks know it's us and takes a lot for them to come in and force them to keep up," Mayor Jackson said.

In order to combat the inevitable landfill arrival to continue economic growth, the university has been polishing the campus.

"We need a landscape university to make us look welcoming. We need apartments with amenities to attract developers," Mayor Jackson said.

Prairie View students can make a contribution to the school's image by breaking the mold according to Mayor Jackson.

"We want students to make entrepreneurships. We want them to go and learn small business development in Hobart Taylor," said Jackson.

Student Government President Harrison Blair calls the approaching landfill, environmental racism, which is inescapable due to the lack of voting, Blair indicates that SGA is working on bringing in revenue to counteract the landfill's arrival.

"We are trying to get an initiative with the stadium. When we get 1500 seats we will be able to host NCAA games, which will generate revenue and add to our image. People will want to live in the neighborhood," said Blair.

He also noted that the landfill is commonly mentioned next to Prairie View.

"Waller County needs to stop calling it the Prairie View landfill," Blair said.