The Tulsa Forum by TulsaNow

The Chicago Tribune ran a Bloomberg article that summarizes the factors that lead to only a handful of cities getting most of the good jobs.

Education and leadership.

There is a ray of hope for the rest of us based on quality of life factors. The article cites a book and a series of magazine articles as point and counterpoint. Sadly, the Oklahoma legislature, being unrelentingly hostile to education and to "quality of life," which it considers to be a dog-whistle for socialism, will continue to work at cross purposes no matter what, because that is what Oklahoma voters want.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-why-some-cities-get-good-jobs-20160215-story.html (http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-why-some-cities-get-good-jobs-20160215-story.html)

Aahhhyeppp!!  Dat der is watt's we wants arright....




The ongoing ignorance and stupidstition makes me just wanna slap an Okie at times....!!

Tulsa & Oklahoma City has taken some hard hits with the layoff of employees tied to the oil & energy sector.   The Oklahoma Quality Jobs program incentive may be all we have going at this time to attract some high paying jobs through relocation &/or expansion by firms.  The Quality Jobs program has fallen short of its projections.

Questions Surround State Subsidies Aimed at Saving Jobs | Oklahoma Watch (http://oklahomawatch.org/2015/03/24/state-pays-companies-to-preserve-existing-jobs/)

One year ago IIRC there were reports of jobs being created by a number of firms in Tulsa & OKC.  Now, with the change in the price of oil; Oklahoma isn't generating the projected revenue from that sector--the energy sector is laying of workers.



Four companies qualify for Oklahoma Quality Jobs Program incentives | News OK (http://newsok.com/article/5470004)

It's a tough sell to continue with a program like this with the state facing a possible 1 billion dollar shortfall.  I'm not sure what expansion or new firms we've been able to attract.  Oklahoma has the new $110 million (95,000 square foot building) General Electric Global Research Center almost complete which will employ 130 high tech jobs.  

GE qualifies for millions in job creation incentives from Oklahoma | News OK (http://newsok.com/article/5382021)

The Quality Jobs Program is one that could eventually pay dividends to the state if we can attract the quality job creation firms to our state.  It's one of those areas where we have to decide if the 'incentives' are a worthwhile investment.  

Isn’t the Thunder billionaire ownership benefitting from quality jobs act credits for employing millionaires?

You are correct Conan71:

The Oklahoma Legislature did amend a state law known as the Oklahoma Quality Jobs Program, a program which gives tax breaks to companies which bring high-paying jobs to Oklahoma, to specifically include the basketball team.

Why This Okie Doesn?t Support the OKC Thunder : Daniel Jeffries (http://djeffries.com/why-this-okie-doesnt-support-the-okc-thunder/)

Greater Oklahoma City Economic Development - Quality Jobs Program boosts its numbers (http://www.greateroklahomacity.com/index.php?src=news&submenu=SiteSelector&srctype=detail&category=The%20Journal%20Record&refno=430)

Most states that possess MLB, NFL, NBA & NHL franchises in their larger markets have some type of incentives to assist its major professional sports franchises with player payrolls.  Without it, it would be difficult for an NBA franchise in a small market like OKC to compete for player free agency or to keep competitive players in the market.

I love it! If Oklahoma tax payers didn't kick in $3.2 Million a year, then the billionaires couldn't employ millionaires to play with their balls in a competitive manner.

First of all, shenanigans.  They have 14 players with a salary cap of $70mil. They then employ 155 coaches, assistants, trainers, doctors, marketing directors, presidents, GMs, etc. etc. etc.  The $3.2 million gift from Oklahoma tax payers covers 15% of Kevin Durant's salary. That makes or breaks the team? Second, the ownership group bought the team for $350 mil and moved it to OKC at a cost of an additional $50mil. If they thought that was a poor investment and they didn't have the capital to be competitive, too bad. It isn't on the tax payers of Oklahoma to make sure billionaires gambles pay off.

Finally - so what? Lets pretend that without the subsidy they couldn't survive. How does that justify anything regarding State economic incentives? If Oklahoma City needs an extra $3.2 million a year, why can't OKC fans kick in an extra $3.2mil per year?

The Thunder reportedly bring in 169 jobs to Oklahoma City. So we are paying $19,000 per job for the privilege of subsidizing Oklahoma City's NBA team. In addition to the subsidies given by the City of Oklahoma City.  Many of those 169 jobs don't actually live in Oklahoma City. Many more will retire and move away or hop to some other team (on the Court and off). Still many others are jobs that would exist in entertainment in some other manner if it weren't for the Thunder. Overall, economic studies indicate pro sports teams are not the boom to the economy people think they are.

Amending the "quality jobs" act to include entertainers is a farce.  Making people outside of Oklahoma City pay for their orange balls is insulting.  Pro sports make most of their money extorting tax payers. Not a penny more for schools, millions for the NBA.

You will have no argument here.  Do away with the Oklahoma Quality Jobs Act.

In fairness, it should be noted that Tulsa entertainers are included as well (e.g., the Tulsa Shock).  Presumably it is equally insulting to make people outside of Tulsa pay for their orange balls?

Tulsa to OKC...

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Oklahoma is growing, you will have claims where the feelings are that one city gets the meat while the other rations.  Is it this; or is it based on populations or some other needs formula.

Tulsa & Oklahoma City (101 miles) could be drawn closer together where both cites complement each other along with those on the Turner Turnpike route.  Working together on high speed rail transit & light rail to serve Oklahoma's to largest communities should be our future.  How can the Port of Catoosa better benefit our two largest metro area.   Both cities have momentum through Vision 2025 (Tulsa) & MAPS (OKC) where investments has spurred  private development that doubles or triples the initial sales tax investment.

What's happening in twin cities like Minneapolis-St. Paul & Dallas-Fort Worth?  State cities in close proximity like St. Louis-Kansas City (235 miles), Nashville-Memphis (196 miles),  Charlotte-Raleigh (130 miles), San Antonio-Austin (75 miles) & Cleveland-Columbus (125 miles).  Interstate cities like Boston-Harftord, Indianapolis-Louisville & Portland-Seattle--are there innovations, what can we learn...  

We can work together for the benefit of both communities.

Any suggestions on what should be done; the directions we should take from here--lets enjoy a win-win situation.

  

The Triad/Triangle areas scuff at Charlotte outside of pro sports teams.

Tulsa>Okc.....

Very much so.

To me, we win on appearance, air quality and greenery. They win on the expressways that get you where you need to go and amenities offered to their population. For instance, I went to my grandchildren's birthday party at the OKC Science Museum. It is designed with hands on activities for children and adults. Sits right next to a very popular zoo. We should be ashamed to not have such a museum in a city this size. Their kids get introduced to how exciting science is at an early age and will keep coming back for years. So will the adults.

We have the Aquarium and the Zoo. Pay a steep price and visit once every few years and you're good.

Agree,

Tulsa (Oklahoma Aquarium) is second to none among many cities in our region.

Tulsa has a lot more going in quality retail and overall cleanliness (to name a few) than OKC,  which suffered neglect for nearly three decades (1960-1990); don't know how OKC managed to keep growing.  Oklahoma City has seen a turnaround in the last 15 years (1991-2016) with an estimated 1,350,000 metro population that ranks right up there with Jacksonville, Memphis, (OKC), Louisville, Richmond & New Orleans.  A central city population of 630,000 comparable to Nashville, Baltimore (OKC), Portland & Las Vegas.  Tulsa's metro population has probably eclipsed 1 million residents; with  a central city population that is currently larger than Cleveland, New Orleans & Tampa.

Tulsa has better population density & a higher per capita income than Oklahoma City.

Tulsa & OKC has midsize airports (Tulsa International/Will Rogers World).   We should be pushing for international flights to Mexico and other places instead of going to Dallas (DFW) or Kansas City for some (non stop) U.S. flight connections.

The Turner Turnpike is a 91 mile stretch; both cities could benefit if they worked together in many areas--especially light & commuter rail.  The rivalry between both of Oklahoma's largest cities could be used to serve both cities in a proactive manner.  Just imagine a high speed bullet train (150 mph), your transit time between both cities would be less than 45 minutes.

Time to work together in a manner beneficial to our communities.