The "this has nothing to do with Tulsa" mega-post

[rebound]

The pact does automatically renew, but the intent was to allow renegotiation of rates every 15 years while the compact renews. There's no teeth forcing either party to renegotiate. I don't like how Stitt is handling it at all, but I am glad he is trying to fight for more revenue and offer more games. The tribes do have an amazing deal here compared to other states.

This was/is my basic point from earlier.  Intuitively, it makes no sense to allow for renegotiation if there is a no "stick", no power provided to either side as a means of leverage in the negotiation. Otherwise, it would never, ever, change and that cannot be the intent.

[TulsaGoldenHurriCAN]

This was/is my basic point from earlier.  Intuitively, it makes no sense to allow for renegotiation if there is a no "stick", no power provided to either side as a means of leverage in the negotiation. Otherwise, it would never, ever, change and that cannot be the intent.

It was the intent though as stated in the Oklahoma State legislature's summary of the compact:

Provides that the compact shall expire January 1, 2020, but will be
automatically renewed for fifteen years. Allows the fees and penalties to be
renegotiated at that time.

Let's be honest. Quite a few, if not the majority of Oklahoma legislators read the summary and not the actual compact before voting (more likely having one of their aides read the entire compact). They probably assumed the legalese was correct, but the writers of the compact messed up pretty badly with the actual wording.

Both sides should just sit down and discuss adding new games and that a slight adjustment to the rates could be on the table. They should be allowed to continue the pact as-is until they come up with a new agreement to add new games and slightly adjust the rates. The new agreement should have better verbiage and should supercede this one.

However, the tribes probably like their insanely good deal as-is and would rather have no new games and continue it indefinitely.

Does anyone know if the compact is voided, can the tribes still have any gambling at all or is that the under state's purview?

[heironymouspasparagus]

I'm well aware you don't like Stitt. I'm not a big fan either (the Trump worship during his campaign was concerning). This whole issue is on the original bill writers who left it so ambiguously worded. The pact does automatically renew, but the intent was to allow renegotiation of rates every 15 years while the compact renews. There's no teeth forcing either party to renegotiate. I don't like how Stitt is handling it at all, but I am glad he is trying to fight for more revenue and offer more games. The tribes do have an amazing deal here compared to other states.

Overall the casinos are a complete shame, but you're right that's another topic. I guess if people want to be surrounded by toxic air and throw their money away, might as well have it go to support the tribes who have been screwed over at every turn by every authority since European settlers arrived on this continent. I would hate commercial casinos and that's sort of an unrealistic threat by Stitt.


I saw one tribe said they would renegotiate rates if Stitt admitted it renews, but he refused to say that. He is wrong on that account. If he'd just meet them in the middle on that, he might actually have some success.

Did you watch the Greetham comments on this?  It's not exactly an insanely good deal.  It is a good deal for both sides, in particular when you look at the dollars per capita instead of just going after percentages.  The $402 per person vs a higher percentage state that gets about $60 something (memory fog on this one...)   And we are apparently located right in the neighborhood of all similar deals.  Except that one 25% outlier.

OK is getting a lot of money.   The Tribes get a lot of money.  Like someone said earlier, we could just burn it to the ground and nobody gets a whole lot of nothing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jbUY3VYFUc


In addition, there is only ONE automatic renewal.  At the end of the next 15 it becomes a whole new discussion from ground up.  If the Tribes see some benefit to be gained, then they will renegotiate.  Stitt obviously shows he thinks he a a great "deal maker" - but really he is just another Trump Sychophant.   (Yeah, that is the right spelling for his case.  Pronounced like Psycho-phant.)

[rebound]

Did you watch the Greetham comments on this?  It's not exactly an insanely good deal.  It is a good deal for both sides, in particular when you look at the dollars per capita instead of just going after percentages.  The $402 per person vs a higher percentage state that gets about $60 something (memory fog on this one...)   And we are apparently located right in the neighborhood of all similar deals.  Except that one 25% outlier.

OK is getting a lot of money.   The Tribes get a lot of money.  Like someone said earlier, we could just burn it to the ground and nobody gets a whole lot of nothing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jbUY3VYFUc


In addition, there is only ONE automatic renewal.  At the end of the next 15 it becomes a whole new discussion from ground up.  If the Tribes see some benefit to be gained, then they will renegotiate.  Stitt obviously shows he thinks he a a great "deal maker" - but really he is just another Trump Sychophant.   (Yeah, that is the right spelling for his case.  Pronounced like Psycho-phant.)

It will be interesting to see how it plays out.   Where I think Stitt messed up is going directly to the "stick" instead of the carrott.   But again, it makes no sense that it would automatically renew if one side wants to renegotiate. (IMHO,  the auto-renew was put in to alleviate any legislative action, assuming no issues, which makes sense.)  

Also, because I can't help myself,  it is "sick-a-fant", with a soft "i"...   (Edit:  OK, I get the joke now, my bad...)

[heironymouspasparagus]

It will be interesting to see how it plays out.   Where I think Stitt messed up is going directly to the "stick" instead of the carrott.   But again, it makes no sense that it would automatically renew if one side wants to renegotiate. (IMHO,  the auto-renew was put in to alleviate any legislative action, assuming no issues, which makes sense.)  

Also, because I can't help myself,  it is "sick-a-fant", with a soft "i"...   (Edit:  OK, I get the joke now, my bad...)

Yeah...the real word is sycophant.   I just kinda liked the play on words/letters that gave...

[Laramie]

Stitt should have approached the Tribes with a concern that the state needs more money, what can we do for you to help us reach our goal where it's a win-win situation for both.   The State of Oklahoma has $600 million in its rainy day fund; economy continues to prosper; however Stitt decided he was going to push the tribes around with this awkward style bullying tactics.  

The state also has aging buildings on the capital grounds that need to be replaced b/c the cost of renovation may not be the desired way to go.

Well, when I was growing up we took on bullies and wife beaters--not going to go into detail; but a threat to all or one was our concern.  I'll let the tribes take it from here . . .

[Laramie]

Update on Omni Oklahoma City and the Oklahoma City Convention Center construction. The convention center is slated to open for business in late 2020 with  Omni Oklahoma City open slated for early 2021. It will be north of the new convention center and will offer 605 rooms with about 50,000-square-feet of meeting space.


Nearing completion is the Oklahoma City Convention Center.


Convention center garage under construction.


Omni has topped out at 17 stories with exterior finishing touches being applied.


The new Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott is now open.

Oklahoma City $635 million convention center complex:

           $288 million Oklahoma City Convention Center
         $ 25 million 1,100 space Convention Center Garage
         $241 million 605 room, Omni Oklahoma City
         $ 81 million 133 room, Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott


The Fairfield Inn & Suites will be 1 of 2 hotels on the OKC convention center complex that will make 738 rooms available (Omni 605) for convention attendees in walking distance of the new convention center south of The Peake across Oklahoma City Boulevard.

[Laramie]

Above pics by OKCTalk.com. Development Thread.  Join or view the discussions:  https://www.okctalk.com/forum.php

[Laramie]

Meet in OKC | What's New and What's Coming

YouTube video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4SRZ0H3Y8k

[Laramie]

Break time, funny stuff...

YouTube:  Summer of 1980 https://youtu.be/RkBuT6wMhEg

[swake]

A Pedestrian way is proposed for the new Oklahoma City convention center.

The Oklahoma City MAPS 3 Citizen Advisory Board voted to move forward with preliminary plans for a $4 million pedestrian walkway to be constructed between the new convention center, the Omni Hotel and parking garage.

Here are some pics via OKCTalk.com:

Fake Plastic Trees.....

[Laramie]

Oklahoma City's Historic Farmers Public Market






Shift in the Market

Oklahoma City - Farmers Public Market opened on June 16, 1928, on what had been the site of Delmar Gardens Amusement Park. The market, a two-story, 40,000-square foot mix of Spanish architecture with terracotta ornamentation, was built by John J. Harden in response to farmers selling their produce on downtown streets. The first floor was used by farmers selling produce, while the second floor hosted concerts, dances, boxing matches and roller-skating.

Before the start of its slow demise in the 1970s, the market also housed a grocery, meat market, candy store, bakery, cafe and a drug store. Legends like Hank Williams Sr., Count Basie and Bob Willis played in the secondfloor auditorium.

Once the OSU-OKC market closes, Farmers Public Market will be home to more than 40 vendors.

"Come March, we will not have a vacant spot," McAnally said.

Burch, who opened Urban Agrarian in 2012, said OSUOKC's actions are a bonanza for the Farmers Market district.

The changes coincide with traffic lights being added to the Klein Avenue and Oklahoma City Boulevard intersection and a change of Klein from one-way to two-way traffic next month, providing the landmark its best access and visibility in decades...

The market inside the building shut down in the 1970s and was replaced with an antique mall, though farmers still operated permanent stands surrounding the main building. The farmers stands continued to operate through the 1990s, but they virtually disappeared when the OSU-OKC market opened in 1996...

..."The market was a feather in their cap at OSU for almost 30 years," Burch said. "They were so proud of this. There will be public relations and some aspects of being downtown that might be good. But buying groceries and parking downtown, that's not what everyone wants."--Excerpts from the Oklahoman, Steve Lackmeyer - Business, February 2, 2020

[heironymouspasparagus]

Stitt should have approached the Tribes with a concern that the state needs more money, what can we do for you to help us reach our goal where it's a win-win situation for both.   The State of Oklahoma has $600 million in its rainy day fund; economy continues to prosper; however Stitt decided he was going to push the tribes around with this awkward style bullying tactics.  

The state also has aging buildings on the capital grounds that need to be replaced b/c the cost of renovation may not be the desired way to go.

Well, when I was growing up we took on bullies and wife beaters--not going to go into detail; but a threat to all or one was our concern.  I'll let the tribes take it from here . . .

Won't do any good or make any difference...too many sick-o-phants adore Stitt, just like they do Trump.

[Laramie]

Won't do any good or make any difference...too many sick-o-phants adore Stitt, just like they do Trump.

Agree 100%

Concerned to see a situation where one party dominates the U. S. or the State of Oklahoma where everything is done along party lines.  Do see a situation where Oklahoma has the potential to expand Medicaid because IMO the pros outweigh the cons.  

SQ 802: Medicaid Expansion – Information and resources:  https://okpolicy.org/sq-802-information-and-resources/

[Laramie]

City release video of September canal accident https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ljHJAOHm5w

The light bollards implicated in a fatal accident along Oklahoma City's Bricktown Canal will be replaced by safer, pole-mounted lights.

The $625,000 project could begin next month and be done in spring 2021. Plans are to have the city council award the contract February 18, 2020.