Well, the development community lobbied for a delay, so there's going to be an additional public hearing on Tues, March 23 @ 6:00 PM. (I agree with Michael Bates. It's totally bogus, considering how many people from the development, real estate, and business community were invited to participate at every level of the process, and given every opportunity to be a part of PLANiTULSA from day one. As someone who's attended almost every PLANiTULSA meeting and event, I can state that a lot of folks who are now complaining couldn't be bothered to attend meetings during the past two years...even after they were personally invited.)
The TMAPC scheduled an evening start time, so more working people could come show their support.
If you've been meaning to write a letter, or show up and speak, you've got another chance. Do it. It matters.
more info at:
http://www.planitulsa.org/Ponder.... I have read and agree with the fact that the entities that are attacking the "PlaniTulsa" project at the last minute are doing so as an organized attempt to
"minimize" it's impact.
That being said....
I have a hard time understanding the actions that some "Okies" find logical and acceptable.
In the Bates article he quotes a portion of a letter from Jamie Jamison. Someone who's opinion and knowledge of "urban planning" I have long been a fan of.
**below is a portion of that letter.**
It's starkly clear that the homebuilders, realtors and the Chamber, all of whom showed up to complain yesterday, are mounting a serious effort to torpedo key features of PLANiTULSA. They give the impression of having lain in wait for two years. It looks as if the strategy is to drag out, obfuscate, confuse, conflate, alienate, discredit and ultimately emasculate the Plan to suit a myopic view of their own narrow interests, at the expense of Tulsa and Tulsans. A tactic in this is (i) to show up at the tail-end of the process when normal people have made their contribution to the process, and are at their day jobs, (ii) to gradually wear everyone else out to a point where no one else shows up except them, and (iii) to connive and lobby behind closed doors. They are now variously asking for a 60 or more days delay for their 'members' to consider PLANiTULSA's 200 pages. Never mind that everyone else has already read it. Perhaps - being charitable - they're just slow readers.
The Chamber, of which I am a long-time and slightly embarrassed member in particular made itself look hopelessly out of touch: it sent a new and floundering employee along to ask for a delay with the flimsiest of rationales. It seemed pretty clear that it's been 'got at' by the Home Builders, who merely succeeded in making the Chamber look stupid - to the extent that the audience laughed at the Chamber's first utterances. Their representative left early. 'Mission accomplished'. Engagement Over. This is, sadly, a fight that in my view will determine whether Tulsa has much of a future.
So let's see if I can just begin to wrap my tiny little brain around yhese facts....
a. The Tulsa Metro Chamber has taken a more than slightly vocal stance of opposition to the "PlaniTulsa".
b. We the taxpayers of Tulsa ie the City of Tulsa, Pay the Tulsa Metro Chamber to lobby for economic development in Tulsa$
c. The Tulsa Metro Chamber, possibly using funds from the "Hotel Motel Tax" monies that they are paid with, has decided that irregardless of the opinion and position taken by the Citizenry of Tulsa that "PlaniTulsa" is not something that we need to have.
Well...... we pay them a lot of money$ for their expertise.
Maybe "The Metro Knows Best"$$
Herein lies my confusion. And if someone can explain this as being either a rational or ethical agenda item for the "Chamber", I'm all ears.
This has to be one of those "Okie" things that just doesn't translate.
Of course I have the very same problem with the following action taken in OKC by a paid public representative.... So maybe I just try to find logic where there is none.
Oklahoma Republican says he switched Obama photo at Capitol
By Associated Press
Published: 3/16/2010 3:00 PM
Last Modified: 3/16/2010 3:00 PM
OKLAHOMA CITY — A Republican state lawmaker says he is responsible for moving a portrait of Democratic President Barack Obama that hangs in the state House chamber.
Rep. Lewis Moore of Arcadia issued a statement Tuesday in which he says he swapped Obama's portrait with a portrait of Democratic Gov. Brad Henry that also hangs in the chamber. Moore's seat in the House is near where Obama's portrait hangs on a wall.
The switch angered a Democratic lawmaker, Rep. Mike Shelton of Oklahoma City. Shelton, who is black, says he was offended and believes the act was childish.
Moore says he respects the office of president but disagrees with Obama's policies. Moore says his opposition to Obama's health care overhaul bill was his sole motivation for moving the photo. rico
